How many studs for a 20 foot wall?

16 studs at 16 in on center: 20 x 12 = 240 in, divided by 16 = 15, plus 1 = 16. At 24 in on center it is 240 / 24 = 10, plus 1 = 11.

16 or 24 inches on center?

16 in O.C. is the standard; 24 in O.C. is also used. Follow the drawings and your local code.

What length are precut studs?

92-5/8 in for an 8 ft wall, 104-5/8 in for 9 ft and 116-5/8 in for 10 ft.

Does it count corners, openings and plates?

Openings and corners need extra studs that depend on your details, so enter them as extras. Plates are not counted; take the wall lengths as linear feet of plate.

Is this number a quote?

No. It is an estimate to help you plan and build your bid. Confirm the final quantity with your supplier before you order.

Free calculator

Stud calculator (16 or 24 in O.C.)

Studs = wall length in inches divided by the spacing, rounded up, plus 1. A 20 ft wall at 16 in O.C. is 240 / 16 = 15, plus 1 = 16 studs, before corners and openings.

Your job

Walls

Wall 1 length

Spacing and height

Precut stud for a 8 ft wall: 92-5/8 in.

Corners, openings, intersections

Extra studs

Add the studs your details call for: corners, king and jack studs at openings, and wall intersections.

The first wall in elevation, studs at your spacing.

Studs

16studs

Precut length 92-5/8 in

Layout studs

16studs

1 wall, 20.0 ft

Extras

0studs

Corners, openings, intersections

Plate run

20.0LF

Per plate, along every wall

The working, with your numbers

1. Wall 120.00 x 12 / 16, rounded up, + 1= 16 studs
2. Extrasentered= 0 studs
3. Total16 + 0= 16 studs

Typed those measurements in by hand?MetreMate measures them straight off your PDF plans. Free to start.

The formula, in plain words

1Wall length in inches = wall length in feet times 12.
2Spaces = wall length in inches divided by the stud spacing (16 or 24 in on center), rounded up.
3Studs for the wall = spaces plus 1 (the stud at the far end).
4Add the extra studs your details call for at corners, openings and intersections.

Worked example

One 20 ft wall framed at 16 in on center.

1.Length in inches: 20 x 12 = 240 in.
2.Spaces: 240 / 16 = 15.
3.Studs: 15 + 1 = 16.
4.At 24 in O.C. instead: 240 / 24 = 10, plus 1 = 11 studs.

Answer: 16 studs at 16 in O.C. (11 at 24 in), before corners and openings.

Measured this off a plan? Do it in MetreMate

Upload the PDF, set the scale and measure on screen. MetreMate gives you the square feet, linear feet and counts off the plan; then you apply the thickness, pitch, waste or sheet size here. Runs in your browser, free to start, no credit card.

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How to measure it

Measure each wall's length in feet off the floor plan. Add one row per wall.
Count the corners, door and window openings and wall intersections, and add the studs your framing details need for them as extras.
Pick the wall height to see the matching precut stud length.

Where the numbers come from

Every default in the calculator comes from a published source. We list the source next to it so you can check.

What	Value	Source
Standard stud spacing (24 in O.C. is also used)	16 in O.C.	Home Project Calculator, stud calculator (checked 2026-09-20)
Precut stud: 92-5/8 in for 8 ft walls, 104-5/8 in for 9 ft, 116-5/8 in for 10 ft	92.625 in (8 ft wall)	Hansen Pole Buildings, why precut studs are 92-5/8 long (checked 2026-09-20)
Inches in one foot (the foot is exactly 12 inches)	12 in per ft	Wikipedia, Foot (unit) (checked 2026-10-01)

Manufacturers named here are the source of the number, not a recommendation. Confirm quantities with your supplier.

Frequently asked questions

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