How many studs do I need for a wall?

Field studs come from wall length at 16 or 24 inch centers, then kings, jacks and cripples are added per opening and corners get their own assemblies.

What header size does my opening need?

The takeoff sizes header material from the opening width and whether the wall is load bearing, and flags spans that need local review.

Are sheathing and fasteners included?

Yes — sheathing sheets, nails at the required pattern, and plate stock are all counted with a waste allowance.

Are the material costs accurate for my area?

Costs are regional estimates only, indexed by ZIP against national material averages. Always confirm current prices with your supplier before buying — the numbers here are for planning and budgeting, not a quote.

Do I need to confirm my measurements first?

Yes. The calculator asks you to verify key dimensions before it will produce material, cut, or shopping lists, because a single mistyped dimension changes every quantity downstream.

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Wall framing · Step 1 of 5 · Wall run

How much wall are you framing?

Add up the linear feet of every wall in the scope — a 12×14 room enclosed on all four sides is 52 linear ft. Height is floor deck to underside of the joists above.

Total wall length

Wall height

Live estimate

Prices for your area

Enter your ZIP to re-price materials, or keep national averages.

Reviewed weekly · price book updated 2026-07-27See what changed

DIY vs. hiring a pro

Free

Save about $1,135 (61%)

building this wall framing yourself.

You build it$732

Materials only, your sweat.

A contractor builds it$1,867

Typical bids land $1,643–$2,203.

Materials: $915
Labor: $952
Est. hours: 17

Contractor figures assume a $55/hr blended labor rate (national average). Estimates only — use them to sanity-check a bid, not as a quote.

Cut-list optimizer

Free

Buy 11 boards · 0% offcut

132 linear ft purchased, 132 ft used — 0 ft ($0) left over.

11 × 2 × 4 @ 12'
Bottom plate, Top plates (doubled) · 1 piece per board
0 ft scrap (0%)

Sheet goods and pre-built parts (Field studs, King studs, Jack studs, Headers, Cripples) aren't cut from stock lengths — see the shopping list for those.

Estimates only. Includes a 1/8" blade kerf per cut. Measure your own site and check board lengths at the yard before buying.

Check a contractor bid

Free

Enter what a pro quoted you. We'll break it down against this project's materials and national labor rates.

Bid totalMaterials (optional)Labor (optional)

$732

incl. 10% waste

Materials

Wall area: 320 sqft
Studs: 61
Plate boards: 11
Headers: 3
Cripples: 12

Wall framing calculator questions

Common questions about this takeoff. All output is an estimate only — confirm quantities and prices before you buy.