How to Use a Magnet to Find Studs

Studs are the framework of any house. Therefore every stud will have at least one nail driven into it. Some studs may have dozens of nails. Using a magnet to find the studs is one of the easiest methods.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Magnet
• Pencil
• Measuring Tape (optional)

1. Start in a corner of the wall you wish to find the studs. Run the magnet from the top of the wall to the bottom. You will feel a resistance to move or the magnet will hold in place when it locates a nail in the stud.

2. Move across the wall approximately 12 inches. Run the magnet from the top of the wall to the bottom. If the magnet doesn’t hold, your studs are further apart than 12 inches on center.

3. Move an additional 6 inches from the last checkpoint. By moving the magnet up and down, you should be able to detect where the stud is exactly as the magnet will be drawn to the nails. This is the more common measurement of studs, centered 18 inches apart.

4. Make a light mark, using the pencil, where you find the stud. This can be used as a reference point to finding other studs if needed.

5. Measure from the pencil mark to the corner to determine exactly how far apart the studs in the wall are. You can use a measuring tape, your arm or a piece of string. This will make using the magnet to find other studs easier as you will not have to scan the wall in the empty places between studs.

Tips & Warnings

• Most studs can be easily located with a magnet at either the top of the wall or the bottom. This is where the builders put the majority of nails.
• Magnets are just as reliable for finding studs, as are the more expensive stud finders on the market.
• Some older homes and outbuildings may have studs as far apart as 24 inches on center.