PreConstruct AIFree calculator
Wood wall framing calculator — studs, plates and sheathing
Type the wall length and height, the spacing from the wall type, the openings and corners. Get the studs, the plates in stock lengths, the sheathing sheets, and the arithmetic to check it.
125 studs, 25 plates, 31 sheets of sheathing.
Studs
125
8 ft walls (2.44 m)
Plates
25 pcs
360 LF (109.73 m) before waste
Sheathing
31 sheets
880 SF (81.75 m²) before waste
Layout studs
91
before openings and corners
The working
- layout 120 LF × 12 ÷ 16" = 90, + 1 = 91 studs
- openings 4 × 4 + corners and tees 6 × 2 = 28
- (91 + 28) × waste of 5 per cent = 125 studs at 8 ft
- plates 120 LF × 3 rows = 360 LF × waste of 10 per cent ÷ 16 ft = 25 pieces
- sheathing (120 × 8 − 80 SF) × 1 side = 880 SF × waste of 10 per cent ÷ 32 SF = 31 sheets
A starting figure, not an engineered quantity. Sizes, reinforcing and code requirements come from your drawings, your specifications and your engineer — check them before you order.
Where a calculator stops
This does one run, from numbers you type. A bid is every run on every sheet.
- — It doesn't read the drawing set or its schedules
- — It doesn't measure on the PDF or keep the lengths
- — It doesn't show what an addendum changed
- — It doesn't price, add labour or build a proposal
How to do a wall framing takeoff
Take each wall's length from the plan and its stud size, spacing and height from the wall type and the sections. Studs are the length in inches divided by the spacing, rounded up, plus one, plus the extra studs at each opening and corner. Plates are the wall length times the rows of plate, usually three: a bottom plate and a double top plate. Sheathing is the wall area, less openings, on each sheathed side, divided by the sheet. Add your waste to each.
Carried through the worked wall below (40 ft, 8 ft high, at 16 in): 46 studs, 9 plates of 16 ft and 10 sheets of sheathing on one side.
Layout studs
Wall length in inches divided by the spacing, rounded up, plus one to close the run: LF × 12 ÷ o.c. + 1. A 20 ft wall at 16 in is 240 ÷ 16 = 15, plus 1 = 16 studs. Figure each wall on its own if they are separate runs.
Openings, corners and tees
Each door or window adds king and jack studs and cripples above and below; each corner and each tee where a wall meets another adds two or three. How many depends on the framing details, so the calculator asks you.
Plates
Three rows is the usual wall: one bottom plate and a double top plate. A wall on a sill or with a single top plate is different, so type the rows the details show. Plates come in stock lengths; type the length you buy.
A worked wall
A 40 ft exterior wall (12.19 m), 8 ft high, at 16 in (406 mm) centres, with 2 openings (50 SF between them) and 2 corners, sheathed on one side.
- Layout: 480 ÷ 16 = 30, plus one to close the run: 31 studs.
- Extras: 2 openings × 4 and 2 corners × 2 = 12 studs.
- With 5 per cent waste: (31 + 12) × 1.05, rounded up = 46 studs.
- Plates: 40 ft × 3 rows = 120 LF, with 10 per cent waste, in 16 ft pieces = 9 pieces.
- Sheathing: 40 × 8 − 50 = 270 SF, with 10 per cent waste, in 4 × 8 sheets = 10 sheets.
Type the same wall into the calculator above and it gives the same counts, with the working beside each.
What this does not choose
It never sizes a stud, a plate or a header. Stud size and grade, spacing, wall height and every header and beam come from the drawings, the engineer and, for engineered lumber, the supplier. Headers are not counted here: take their sizes and lengths from the drawings. This counts the pieces for the wall you read.
Questions estimators ask
- How many studs do I need for a 10 ft wall?
- At 16 inches on centre, 9 studs: 120 ÷ 16 = 7.5, rounded up to 8, plus one to close the run. At 24 inches, 6. Then add the studs at openings, corners and tees, and your waste.
- How many studs per linear foot of wall?
- At 16 inches on centre, 0.75 a foot plus one per run; at 24 inches, 0.5 a foot plus one. Add studs at openings, corners and tees, then waste.
- How much plate do I need for a wall?
- The wall length times the rows of plate: three rows (a bottom plate and a double top plate) is the usual wall, so 100 ft of wall takes 300 LF of plate before waste. Divide by the stock length you buy.
- How many sheets of sheathing for a wall?
- The wall length times the height, less the openings, on each sheathed side, divided by 32 SF for a 4 × 8 sheet, plus waste for the cuts at openings and corners.
- Does this size headers or tell me what studs to use?
- No. It never sizes a member. Stud size, spacing, height and every header come from the drawings and the engineer; this counts the pieces for the wall you read off them.
Stop retyping sizes into a calculator
On PreConstruct AI you measure on the PDF, type the sizes the drawings print, and the concrete, forms, bars, board and stringers come out with the arithmetic beside every line — in imperial, metric or both. Your first bid is free, with no card.