Rake Wall Calculator

1. Enter the base wall height in inches (shortest stud at the eave).
2. Pick the roof pitch.
3. Enter the wall run from eave to ridge in inches.
4. Pick the stud spacing (16 or 24 in OC).
5. Read the stud count, increment and per-stud cut list.

Here is what each result line means:

For a flat wall stud count, see the stud calculator. For header sizing, see the header size calculator.

A rake wall is the triangular gable end of a building where the top plate follows the roof slope instead of running level. Each stud in a rake wall has a different length because the roofline rises from the eave to the ridge.

Framers build rake walls by calculating each stud length from the pitch and spacing, then cutting a full set before standing the wall.

H is the base wall height (shortest stud), n is the stud number counting from zero at the eave, rise is the pitch rise per foot, s is the stud spacing in inches, and 12 converts rise-per-foot to rise-per-inch.

1. Calculate the increment: (rise / 12) x spacing.
2. Count the studs: floor(run / spacing) + 1.
3. For each stud, add n times the increment to the base height.
4. Report the full cut list.

A gable wall with a 7/12 pitch, 92-5/8 in base height, 144-in run (12 ft to the ridge), 16 in OC.

Calculation: increment = (7/12) x 16 = 9.333 in per stud. Stud count = floor(144/16) + 1 = 10 studs. Shortest = 92.625 in. Stud 5 = 92.625 + 5 x 9.333 = 139.29 in. Longest (stud 9) = 92.625 + 9 x 9.333 = 176.625 in.

Roof Pitch

Steeper pitches mean bigger increments. A 12/12 pitch adds 16 inches per stud at 16 in OC, while a 4/12 pitch adds only 5-1/3 inches.

Stud Spacing

24-inch spacing increases the increment by 50 percent compared to 16-inch, but uses fewer studs.

Wall Run

A longer run to the ridge means more studs and a taller last stud. For a centered gable, the run is half the building width.

Base Height

The base height sets the starting point. Using 92-5/8 (pre-cut for 8 ft) instead of 96 shortens every stud by 3-3/8 inches.

Top Plate Angle

The sloped top plate is cut at an angle. Stud lengths in this calculator are to the long point; adjust for the plate thickness and bevel as needed.

The table below shows how many inches each stud gains over the previous one at 16 and 24 in OC.

Gable End Framing

Generate a cut list for the triangular gable wall above the top plate line.

Shed Roof Walls

A shed roof has a single slope, so one wall is taller than the other. The rake calculator gives the stud lengths for the sloped side.

Dormer Cheek Walls

Dormer side walls follow a roof slope and need individually cut studs.

Material Ordering

Knowing the longest stud tells you what stock length to buy (10, 12, 14 or 16 ft).

1. Using Cosine Instead of Tangent

The stud increment uses the slope ratio (rise/12), not the cosine of the pitch angle. Using cosine gives the wrong lengths.

2. Forgetting the Plate Thickness

The angled top plate sits on the studs. Subtract the plate thickness (1.5 in for a 2x) from the long-point length if measuring to the roof sheathing line.

3. Not Accounting for a Centered Ridge

For a centered gable, the run is half the building width, not the full width. Studs go up from both sides.

4. Rounding Too Early

The increment is often a repeating decimal (e.g. 9.333 in). Rounding each stud individually accumulates error. Calculate the exact length, then round once at the end.

5. Cutting Studs Without Verifying on Site

Framing lumber varies. Measure the actual base height and check the first few studs before cutting the full set.

The calculator uses standard pitch geometry (rise/12 x spacing) verified against Fine Homebuilding and JLC references. It assumes a single slope from eave to ridge and does not account for hip or valley intersections.

A rake wall is the triangular gable end of a building where the top plate slopes to follow the roof pitch. Each stud has a different length.

Multiply the pitch rise by the spacing and divide by 12. For a 7/12 pitch at 16 in OC: (7/12) x 16 = 9.333 inches per stud.

The first stud at the eave end. It equals the base wall height you enter (for example 92-5/8 in for a standard 8-ft wall).

Base height plus (number of spaces x increment). For 10 studs at 9.333 in per stud: 92.625 + 9 x 9.333 = 176.6 in.

Enter half the building width as the run. The other half is a mirror image with the same cut list in reverse.

Use tangent (rise/12). Cosine would give the wrong result. For standard pitches, you do not need a trig function, just divide rise by 12.

The top plate runs along the slope. Its angle is arctan(rise/12). Set your miter saw to that angle for the plumb cuts on the studs.

No. The lengths are to the top of the stud. Subtract 1.5 in (one 2x plate) if you are measuring to the sheathing line.

Yes. A single-slope shed roof is one half of a gable. Enter the full run from the low wall to the high wall.

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

• Fine Homebuilding, Rake Wall Stud Lengths Forum (increment formula and worked examples for gable end walls).
• Journal of Light Construction, Framing Rake Walls (step-by-step rake wall layout method).
• Fine Homebuilding, Building Rake Walls (1992) (top plate angle, stud geometry, on-site layout technique).