How Far Apart Are Studs?

How Far Apart Are Studs

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How far apart are studs? If you are trying to hang a picture on your wall or secure some fasteners to the wall studs, this is an important question to ask.

Typically, in the United States, wall studs are spaced 16 inches apart. On older homes, they may be spaced as far apart as 24 inches, but rarely more than that.

Wall Studs Defined

Wall studs are vertical 2x4 boards that sit behind your wall, functioning as the framework of your wall. Have you ever seen a picture of a home in-progress or a construction site? You’ll usually recognize the studs as the wood boards that stand where the walls should be. Once they are assembled, drywall, lath, or exterior sheathing will be installed over the studs to finish the walls. 

So, why are wall studs necessary? First of all, they are vital to the construction of your walls. Load bearing wall studs carry the weight of the rafters, ceiling, or the second floor above the room. Non-bearing wall studs hold your walls, windows, doors, insulation, and more in place. In other words, they are the backbone of your home. 

But wall studs also fulfill an important function aside from forming the structure of your home. To hang a heavy object on your wall, you must figure out where the studs are. Mounting a large picture, wall mirror, shelf, or TV wall mount to the section of wall without a stud can cause the object to fall off or damage the wall. Studs provide the support to secure hanging objects. 

What’s the 16 on Center Standard?

Sixteen-inch on center is a framing term you may hear on a building or renovation site in reference to the spacing of wall studs. What it means is that the distance from the center of one stud to the next should always be 16 inches. Most building codes adhere to the standard 16-inch spacing because, in most cases, it is the highest form of structural integrity. 

Why Homeowners Should Locate Their Wall Studs

Whether you’re hanging floating shelves in the corner of your bedroom or looking to hang a piece of modern art in your dining room, it’s important to secure these objects to a stud. Without the security of a wall stud, your fasteners could pull out of the wall, ruining your property, the object, and possibly even causing injury. 

How to Find a Wall Stud

Thankfully, locating wall studs is not rocket science. The simplest way to do it is by using an electronic stud finder to scan along the wall. If your walls are made from drywall, the stud finder will work well. For lath or plaster walls, you may need a special stud finder with metal-scanning capabilities. 

There are some DIY ways to check for wall studs without using a stud finder. But these methods can be time-consuming and are often inaccurate. You’ll save time and energy in the long run by investing in a stud finder — and you can use it again and again whenever you renovate or redecorate. 

Using a Stud Finder to Hang Things on the Wall

Step #1 - Prep

Decide where on the wall you want to hang the object in question. Once you’ve decided, mark that spot. Now pull out your stud finder. If you’ve never used it before, you will probably need to calibrate it to the density of your wall. 

In order to calibrate the stud finder, you will usually need to place the device in a position on the wall where there is no stud. If you accidentally cross it over a stud, most models will beep or light up. You can then move it a few inches to the right or left and start calibrating again. You should refer to your manual or manufacturer for specific instructions for your model. 

Step #2 - Locate 

Next, slide the stud finder across the wall. When it crosses over a stud, the device will beep or start flashing. 

Step #3 - Confirm

The stud finder has beeped, you’ve found the center, and it’s in the perfect place for you to hang your mirror or picture. So you can start hammering away, right? 

Wrong! Before you pull out a hammer and nails, take the time to scan the wall and locate at least one stud to the left and right of this one. Measure to make sure that there is either 16 or 24 inches of distance between the studs. Next, scan vertically to make sure that the stud goes all the way up and down.

If you are unable to find adjacent studs, or if the beam doesn’t run vertically, you’ve probably found a pipe or an electrical conduit. By figuring this out before you start hammering into the wall, you’ve saved yourself from making a costly mistake.

Step #4 - Hang Your Object

Now that you’ve verified that this is a wall stud, you’re ready to secure your object to the wall. Make sure to drive your nails or fasteners into the center of the stud. To do this, it’s important to know what type of stud finder you are working with. 

There are two types of stud finder models. The center-sensing model makes this step extremely easy. It will signal when you are at the center of the stud, so you can simply mark the location and get going. 

The second type, an edge-finding model, will light up or beep when it comes to the edge of a stud or another dense object. Simply mark the spot when the device starts beeping, then place the device on the other side and move it toward your mark to find the opposite edge. Once you’ve found both edges, use a ruler or eyeball it to split the distance in half. That’s your center.

The Importance of Wall Studs 

You’ve probably never thought in this much detail about your wall studs before. But now that you know how to locate your studs, you don’t have to worry about hammering holes in your walls to no avail. With the right stud finder, you will easily be able to determine how far apart the studs are in your home. 

Brandon Hubbard, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C