How to Figure How Many Studs Are in a Wall
Wall studs form the structure of a wall. Knowing exactly how many studs are in a wall and where they are located can be helpful when you're planning on securing items to the wall or performing home renovations. Large televisions or cabinets need to be secured to several studs to be installed safely. Counting every stud in a wall by hand would be tedious. Fortunately, building codes require studs to be placed at consistent intervals. You can quickly figure out how many studs are in a wall by figuring out the distance between the studs, then doing a little math. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Knock on the wall, starting in one corner and working your way in, until you hear a solid thud rather than a hollow knock. The solid thud indicates a stud in that area.
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Continue knocking along the wall until you hear another solid thud.
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Measure the distance between the two studs with a measuring tape. Determine if the studs are spaced apart at 16-inch or 24-inch intervals.
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Measure the length of the wall with a measuring tape. Convert the measurement to inches. Divide the total number of wall inches by 16 or 24---whichever is the distance between the studs---using a calculator.
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Add two to the number of studs calculated to account for every corner or end in the wall. Walls have extra studs at intersections to help add structural support. Add another two studs to the count for every opening, such as a door or window. The total number calculated is the number of studs in the wall.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use a stud finder to locate the wall studs if knocking doesn't work for you.
References
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