If you are considering hanging a picture or two on the wall or some art piece. Before doing this though, you should ask an important question. How far apart are studs? With the answer known, there’s no risk of property damage, injury and the chance that your fasteners will pop out the wall.
In this article, we will take a look at how far apart are studs, and several things to consider when trying to find them.
1) What Are Wall Studs
Wall studs are vertical boards (2 x4) that sit behind your wall. They act as a wall framework. If you've ever seen a picture of the studs when a house is in progress, or a general renovation site, the studs are the wood boards that stand where the walls should be. When complete the walls are covered with drywall, lath or exterior sheathing.
You need to position studs precise enough so that 4′ by 8′ sheets of drywall or exterior sheathing can be laid flat and evenly across the center of each stud to complete the wall assembly.
2) How Far Apart Are Studs?
a) Sixteen-Inch on Center
This means that they are precisely 16 inches from the center of the narrow side of one stud to the center of the next stud. Two-by-four studs are approximately 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.
These are installed in vertical rows between the top and bottom plates of a wall. Most interior and exterior load and non load bearing walls use studs that are set 16' on center. The 1 1/2 inch edges of every stud are nailed in place parallel to the faces of the wall.
b) Proper Wall Stud Spacing
In older homes, you will commonly find interior walls with studs spaced 24″ or 12″ on center, or someplace in between. Framing didn't have to conform to a 4′ by 8′ panel, because walls of old houses were usually lath and plaster, so studs were spaced accordingly. Today, stud placement is entirely dictated by building codes according to what the walls can support.
c) Load-Bearing Studs
Some interior and exterior walls are load-bearing. In multilevel structures, it means that the walls support the roof and ceiling as well as the upper floors. So, it’s an important factor to be thought through when imagining how far apart are studs.
Walls studs are usually spaced 16 inches on load bearing walls. In certain circumstances, however, 24 inches of spacing is permitted for two-by-four stud walls that span only to a roof above or for two-by-six stud walls that span one story and also to a roof above.
Considering how far apart are studs, it’s good to go to the local building department about the specific needs for your area. Inadequate bed spacing of studs through the wall can weaken the stability and strength of its construction.
Some exterior walls have three studs on each end, or a combination of at least one extra stud and lumber blocking backing up to wall panels. If you use any extra studs or blocking, it doesn't change the 16-inch center layout.
d) Laying Out a Stud Wall
When it comes to wall stud spacing, the first two are typically spaced at 16 inches on center: The wall studs center is only 15 1/4 inches apart and the drywall or panel material spans the entire 1 1/2 – inch edge of the first stud. The wall studs behind the remaining wall are 16 inches apart on center, and each panel breaks, or stops, at the middle of the stud.
To determine how far apart are studs, a tape measure, square and pencil will be needed to layout a stud location. Do this by shaping the left end of the wall plate, stretching the tape measure to 15 1/4″, and marking it. Then, use the square to draw a pencil line on the plate across the top (3 1/2-inch side) of the plate. Lastly, mark an "X" on the right side of the line the wall stud goes in, it will cover the X.
3) How To Find Wall Studs
There are various methods you can actually use to find studs. Fortunately, you can do this with or without a stud finder. We explored both options.
Most tape measures have their own notations for indicating stud spacing. For example, there is usually a red mark or "STUD" or both every 16 inches. With these markings knowledge, you will only need to remember from center to center when you measure. Plus, your stud spacing will probably satisfy the local building codes and heating installation demands.
The first order of business is to know how walls are built.
Every house is different, but there are a couple things you can count on. Most modern stick framed houses ( any built after 1920) almost certainly have 2×4 or 2×6 wall studs. Here are some top things to take note of on walls are framed:
- Studs are generally spaced 16-24 inches on center (from the middle of one cross piece of wood to the middle of the one next to it.) 16-inch on center is the most common dimension.
- Studs are usually on the side of a window or door, but where they're placed is dictated by the floor plans, so they will likely be anywhere but 16 inches apart.
- Most electrical outlets (switches or boxes) are anchored on one side to a stud.
- The size of 2x4 lumber varies, depending on the exact date the 2x4 was purchased to build around. Take, for instance, between 1900-1950, and rough cut 2x4's were most common and they were two inches by four inches.
- Trim (crown molding, baseboard and shoe molding) is usually nailed to a stud
i) Use an electronic stud finder
Generally, electronic stud finders make it easier to locate studs. They are available to purchase at hardware shops or online, and you can get them for anything from $10 to $50. Most models can tell the difference between wood and metal studs (such as steel studs). Moreover, they will warn you of electrical wires in your vicinity.
Although, it’s worth pointing out that if you are using a stud finder to find studs through plaster walls it’s not as accurate, therefore if you are subject to plaster walls, use a stud finder coupled with other means to get the most accurate read.
The easiest way to do it is to have an electronic stud finder and scan along the wall. It will easily work if your wall is made from drywall. But if your walls are lath or plaster, you'll need a specific stud finder with metal-scanning capabilities.
ii) Tap it out
Another way to find studs is by knock test. If you want to, you would unroll a tape measure from the otherwise unused corner of your home and mark the wall with a pencil at 12, 16, and 24 inches, and knock the wall at each marked point. A low, hollow noise comes out of areas without studs. However, when you tap a wall stud you get a higher tone and a more solid sound.
iii) Follow the outlets
One of the best places to start looking for wall studs when you’re looking for them is in the electrical box or light switch. This is because they are normally bolted into studs which make them a great stud guide. Fortunately, removing the electrical outlet or light switch cover is going to need to happen. Next, shine a flashlight inside until you find which edge of the stud is connected to the box.
The next thing you want to do is to measure out 3/4 of an inch from there to find the center of the stud. In the rare cases that you’ll notice a wall outlet possibly added later, it’ll usually be with a special remodeling box not needing to be nailed to a wall stud. Adjacent studs are these types of studs.
iv) Break out the magnets
Do you collect magnets? Select the strongest one and hang it on a tape or string along the wall. This allows it to get hung off of your stud at the nail. Measure out 16 or 24 inches once you have pulled the magnet to the nail for finding studs in the rest of your room.
v) Shine a light
A flashlight can come in handy when trying to find a stud. It gives you an idea where fasteners were run to secure the panels to the wall studs. Raised or recessed imperfections that run vertically on drywall are something to be on the lookout for.
vi) Trace your trim
Your baseboard is likely attached to wall studs, and if you study it carefully you will find where it was nailed. They’ve already caulked and painted over the test holes, so they’ll probably look like dimples, but if you examine close enough you may be able to tell where they are. Then, remember to knock along the line that you pencil traced up your wall to hear if it's hollow or solids, and use a magnet to look for your stud's nail.
Why It’s Important To Locate Wall Studs
If looking to hang a piece of art or shelves, it's important to secure these heavy objects to a stud. With no wall stud to secure your fastener to, your fasteners can pull out of the wall, potentially destroying your property, the object you’re attempting to fasten, and maybe even hurting someone. The tips above tell you how to do this with a stud finder or how to do it in a non technical way.
