Framing Calculator
Calculate wall studs, top and bottom plates, and total lumber for framing projects. Supports 16" and 24" OC spacing with door and window openings.
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Studs Needed
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Plates (linear feet) —
Total Board Feet —
Extended More scenarios, charts & detailed breakdown ▾
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Field Studs
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Corner Studs —
Plates (LF) —
Professional Full parameters & maximum detail ▾
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Stud Breakdown
Field Studs —
Corner Assembly Studs —
Opening Studs (king/jack/cripple) —
Blocking Pieces —
Totals
Plates (LF) —
Total 2×4 Pieces —
Lumber Cost —
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter wall length and wall height in feet.
- Select stud spacing (16" or 24" OC).
- Results show studs, plates, and total board feet.
Formula
Studs = (Wall length ÷ spacing) + 1 (always round up, add 1 for each corner)
Plates = 3 × wall length (bottom + double top plate)
Example
Example: 20-ft wall, 9-ft height, 16" OC → 16 studs + 3 plates (60 LF) + corner assembly → ~19 total 2×4s.
Frequently Asked Questions
- At 16" OC spacing, you need approximately 0.75 studs per linear foot of wall (plus 1 extra for each end). At 24" OC, about 0.5 studs per foot.
- 16-inch on-center means studs are spaced 16 inches apart from the center of one stud to the center of the next. This is the most common residential spacing.
- Each wall needs 3 plates of the same length as the wall: one bottom plate and two top plates (double top plate is code in most areas).
- A door rough opening requires 2 king studs (full height), 2 jack studs (support header), a header beam, and cripple studs above. This calculator counts all of them.
- Cripple studs are short studs above a window or door header (or below a window sill) that complete the stud wall in those sections.