Stud Wall Framing Calculator — m, studs, cost
How to use this calculator
Enter wall length and height in metres or centimetres, choose stud size and spacing, then configure plates, corner posts and each opening. The takeoff returns net and waste-adjusted stud counts, plate boards, doubled headers, jacks, cripples, timber volume in m³ and an interactive elevation plus plan view.
Openings — click "Add Opening" to add doors and windows. Set the type, width, height, and offset from the left edge. The calculator figures king studs, jack studs, cripples, headers, and sill plates per opening.
Corners — standard 3-stud or California 4-stud assemblies.
Sheathing — optional 1220×2440 mm plywood/OSB sheet count.
Saved Calculations
| Time | Wall | Studs | Plates | Volume m³ | Sheets | Total |
|---|
Lumber Size Reference
Common timber sizes (metric):
| Size (mm) | Common Use |
|---|---|
| 38 × 89 | Interior walls, non-load-bearing |
| 38 × 140 | Exterior walls, load-bearing |
| 38 × 184 | Headers (short spans up to 1.2 m) |
| 38 × 235 | Headers (medium spans up to 1.8 m) |
| 38 × 286 | Headers (long spans up to 2.4 m) |
Imperial equivalents:
| Nominal | Actual | Metric Equiv. |
|---|---|---|
| 2×4 | 1.5" × 3.5" | 38 × 89 mm |
| 2×6 | 1.5" × 5.5" | 38 × 140 mm |
| 2×8 | 1.5" × 7.25" | 38 × 184 mm |
| 2×10 | 1.5" × 9.25" | 38 × 235 mm |
| 2×12 | 1.5" × 11.25" | 38 × 286 mm |
Standard lengths: 2.4 m, 3.0 m, 3.6 m, 4.2 m, 4.8 m. Pre-cut studs: 2352 mm (for 2.4 m walls with plates).
Stud Wall Framing Takeoff (Metric)
Studs are spaced 400 mm o.c. for load-bearing 38×140 mm exterior walls and 600 mm o.c. for non-bearing 38×89 mm partitions or where Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1) advanced framing applies. Timber volume uses the planed cross-section (38 mm × 89 or 140 mm) multiplied by the clear member length, so quantities translate directly into m³ for ordering. A 10–15% framing waste covers cull, end-trim and crown sorting; sheathing carries a separate 10% factor for cuts around the 1220×2440 mm sheet grid.
How to Use
Enter wall length and height (m, cm or mm), pick stud size and spacing, then add each door and window with its offset from the left end. The takeoff resolves king studs, double jacks, the doubled header, cripples above it and (for windows) the sill plate plus cripples below, and subtracts field studs the opening displaces. Pull pricing from the timber volume calculator and confirm sheet quantities with the plywood & OSB calculator.
Formulas
Field studs = floor(length ÷ spacing) + 1, minus studs inside openings. Plates = ceil(length ÷ 2.4 m timber) × (top plates + bottom plate). Member volume = (0.038 × width) m² × clear length, where clear stud length = wall height − plate thicknesses. Header volume = 2 × 0.038 × depth × opening width for the doubled member. Pre-cut studs run 2352 mm for a 2.4 m wall.
On framing day
Three things estimators forget. Top plates run long — the lap of the double top plate at corners and intersections eats 1–2 m on a long wall, so always order one extra 2.4 m length for runs over 7 m. Pre-cut studs save labour — 2352 mm studs for a 2.4 m wall (with one bottom + double top plate) cost €3–€5 each at 2025 EU pricing for C16/C24 38×89 and €5–€8 for 38×140; ripping random 3 m lengths wastes a day. Header callouts — Eurocode 5 sizes the doubled header off opening width and the load above; a 1.8 m window typically needs a 38×235 mm doubled section for single-storey load, larger for two-storey or roof load. Verify any opening over 1.2 m with the joist span calculator when floor or roof load bears on the header. Tie-in calcs for adjoining work: deck, fence and railing. Confirm structural members against national annex tables before purchasing.
FAQ
Do I count a stud at each end of the wall? Yes — the +1 in the field-stud formula is the closing stud; corner posts are tallied separately. Why are headers doubled? Two members with a packing piece fill the stud width, so the takeoff bills two lengths per opening. Does waste apply to plates? Plates round up per 2.4 m length rather than waste-factored, which already absorbs offcuts.
