Framing Calculator

1. Enter the wall length in feet.
2. Pick the wall height and stud spacing.
3. Enter the number of corners, doors and windows.
4. Enter the rough opening width for doors and windows.
5. Optionally enter a stud price for a cost estimate.
6. Read the full material list: studs, plates, headers.

Here is what each result line means:

For a simpler stud-only count, see the rebar weight calculator and the concrete formwork calculator.

A framing calculator estimates all the lumber in a wall: field studs at the chosen spacing, extra studs for corners and openings, cripple studs, plate stock and header sizes. It gives a more complete material list than a simple stud calculator by including cripples and headers.

General contractors, framers and owner-builders use it to produce a lumber order before the build starts.

Field studs are the on-center studs along the wall. Each opening adds 2 king studs (full height) and 2 jack studs (trimmers supporting the header). Cripple studs fill the space above a door header or above and below a window opening. The calculator estimates cripple count from the opening width and stud spacing.

1. Calculate field studs: ceil(wall length / spacing) + 1.
2. Add 1 per corner post.
3. Add 4 per opening (2 king + 2 jack).
4. Add cripple studs: ceil(opening width / spacing) above each door header, and twice that for each window (above and below).
5. Multiply wall length by 3 for plate stock.
6. Suggest a header size from the opening width (conservative IRC-based rule).

A 20-ft wall at 16 in OC, with 2 corners, 1 door (36 in opening) and 2 windows (36 in opening).

Calculation: field = ceil(20/1.333) + 1 = 16. Corners = 2. King/jack = 3 openings x 4 = 12. Door cripples = 1 x ceil(36/16) = 3. Window cripples = 2 x ceil(36/16) x 2 = 6. Total cripples = 9. Wait, let me recalculate: door cripples = 1 x max(1, ceil(36/16)) = 1 x 3 = 3. Window cripples = 2 x 3 x 2 = 12. Actual total = 16 + 2 + 12 + 3 + 12 = 45 studs. Plates = 60 linear ft. Headers: 1 x 2-2×6 (door) + 2 x 2-2×6 (windows).

At $4.50 per stud, cost is about $202.50 for studs alone, plus plates and headers.

Number and Size of Openings

More or wider openings mean more king, jack and cripple studs, plus larger headers.

Stud Spacing

24-inch spacing uses fewer studs than 16-inch but is only allowed on non-bearing walls or walls supporting only a roof.

Wall Height

Taller walls use longer (and more expensive) studs. They may also need taller cripples below windows.

Bearing vs Non-bearing

Bearing walls need stronger headers and usually 16-inch spacing. Non-bearing walls can use a flat 2×4 header for most openings.

Intersecting Walls

T-intersections and partition connections add backing studs not included in this estimate.

The table below shows conservative doubled header sizes for bearing walls, based on IRC Table R502.5(2) at a 32-foot building width.

These are conservative defaults. Actual sizing depends on species, grade, building width and load. Always confirm with your local building department.

New Home Construction

Build a complete lumber list for every wall in the plan.

Room Additions

Estimate studs, plates and headers for one or two new walls.

Garage or Workshop

Simple rectangular structures with a few large openings.

Renovation Bidding

Price the framing portion of a remodel without a full take-off.

1. Forgetting Cripple Studs

Cripples fill the space above and below openings and can add 20 to 30 percent to the stud count on a wall with many windows.

2. Undersizing Headers

A header that is too small can sag and crack the finish above the opening. When in doubt, go one size up.

3. No Plate Waste

Plates come in standard lengths (8, 10, 12, 16 ft). A 20-foot wall needs a splice, wasting the off-cut. Order extra.

4. Mixing Bearing and Non-bearing Rules

Non-bearing walls can use smaller headers and wider spacing, but bearing walls cannot. Mislabeling a wall saves studs at the cost of structural safety.

5. Ignoring Backing

Backing for cabinets, grab bars and heavy fixtures adds studs that a basic framing calculator does not count.

This calculator estimates lumber for a single straight wall. For a whole house, run it once per wall and total the lists. Complex layouts with angled walls, curved walls or non-standard framing need a manual take-off.

It depends on the length and spacing. A 20-foot wall at 16 inches OC has about 16 field studs, plus extras for corners and openings.

A short stud that fills the space above a door or window header, or below a window sill, maintaining the stud spacing for sheathing and drywall nailing.

For bearing walls, use a doubled member sized to the opening width: 2-2×6 for up to 4 feet, 2-2×8 for up to 5 feet, 2-2×10 for up to 6 feet. Wider openings need engineering.

A flat 2×4 can span up to 8 feet in a non-bearing wall. True headers are only needed when the wall carries load from above.

Three times the wall length: one bottom plate and two top plates. For a 20-foot wall, that is 60 linear feet.

For a 30-inch interior door, the rough opening is about 32 inches wide and 82 inches tall. For a 36-inch door, it is about 38 inches wide.

Use 16 inches for load-bearing walls. Use 24 inches for non-bearing partitions to save material.

At least one extra per corner end for a drywall nailer. Some builders use two- or three-stud corners for more nailing surface.

No. Use the plywood calculator for sheathing quantity.

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.

• International Code Council, IRC Table R602.3(5) (stud size, height and spacing for bearing and non-bearing walls).
• International Code Council, IRC Table R502.5(2) (header span tables for bearing walls).
• Fine Homebuilding, wall framing basics (king, jack and cripple stud layout).
• InchCalculator, framing calculator method (stud count and opening extras).