What is the code for stud walls?

Author: Adolphus Stroman PhD  |  Last update: Sunday, September 21, 2025

Utility-grade studs shall not be spaced more than 16 inches on center or support more than a roof and ceiling, or exceed 8 feet in height for exterior walls and load-bearing walls or 10 feet for interior nonload-bearing walls.

Why are wall studs cut to 92 5 8?

92 5/8 studs are for time savings of commercial framing crews. Are you doing a double top plate and hanging 5/8 rock on the ceiling? If not, then it's not going to come out to an 8' wall anyway.

What is the code for stud spacing in interior walls?

When a home is framed, the wall studs are usually spaced 16 or 24 inches apart. If you start in a corner and measure out 16 inches and you don't find a stud, you should find one at 24 inches.

What is the maximum height for a 2x4 stud wall?

In general, 2 x 4 wall framing is structurally sufficient for many small garages and sheds. When bearing wall heights do not exceed 10 ft. 2 x 4 framing is generally code compliant.

Are wall studs 16 or 24?

16” o.c. is the traditional spacing, but 24” o.c. can often be more economical and decrease construction time. The proper solution often depends on the project's structural, financial, and performance goals.

Review the parts of a wall with rough openings - A mini lesson from TradeSkillsU.com Framing Course

Is 24 inch stud spacing bad?

To summarize, studs at 24-inch spacing will save money and resources, and are safe.

Can a 2x6 wall be 24 on center?

Research has shown exterior framed walls can be adequately supported by 2x6 studs spaced 24-inches on-center.

What is the code for studs in a wall?

Utility-grade studs shall not be spaced more than 16 inches on center or support more than a roof and ceiling, or exceed 8 feet in height for exterior walls and load-bearing walls or 10 feet for interior nonload-bearing walls.

Why use 2x6 instead of 2x4?

2×6 construction creates more room for wall insulation, which can help enhance home efficiency and reduce cooling and heating bills throughout the warmest and coldest months of the year. Keep in mind, though, this is dependent on the climate you are building in.

Can wall studs be 20 inches apart?

In residential construction, wall studs are usually spaced 16 or 24 inches apart on center. This means that there are 16 or 24 inches from the center of one stud to the center of the next. Knowing this standard distance can help you determine where to place your next stud once you've found the first one.

How far apart do holes in studs need to be?

Holes are centre of the stud and the spacing between holes is 1 1/2" between centre or greater.

How high can a 2x6 wall be?

In nonbearing exterior walls, 2x6 studs spaced at 24 in. on center can be up to 20 feet in height (Table 3). Framers and builders may be reluctant to switch to 24 in.

What is the standard gap between wall studs?

They are usually placed 16 inches apart on all walls. It can vary in older homes, but rarely would you find studs more than 24 inches apart. Windows and doors are also framed by studs for support. Above wide windows and doors, you might even find a wide header board.

What is the best wood for framing studs?

Southern Yellow Pine, Douglas Fir, Hem-Fir (a combined species of Western Hemlock and a variety of firs), and SPF (dimensional lumber produced from mixed stands of spruce, pine and fir) are most commonly used for framing in the United States.

Why are my studs not 16 inches apart?

Locate several studs and measure between them to confirm they have typical wall stud spacing of 16 or 24 inches. If you get a different measurement, you've likely located something other than a stud. Items such as ducts, electrical wires and water pipes may be in the walls in your work area.

What is the strongest framing for a house?

1. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) ICF wall systems produce strong, energy-efficient, durable, and disaster-resistant framing for a house. Building an ICF wall involves pouring reinforced concrete into hollow panels (made of expanded polystyrene or EPS), with reinforcing bars.

Why is a 2x4 not a two by four?

Now, most timber is milled and planed to give it a little more of a finished look, and a little more of a consistent size and profile. Because of this extra milling, a 2x4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches. Instead, a 2x4 is really only 1 1/2" by 3 1/2". The same is true of pine.

What is the maximum height for stud walls?

Utility grade studs shall not be spaced more than 16 inches (406 mm) on center, shall not support more than a roof and ceiling, and shall not exceed 8 feet (2438 mm) in height for exterior walls and load-bearing walls or 10 feet (3048 mm) for interior nonload-bearing walls. 2.

What is the rule of thumb for wall studs?

So even if you're building a wall that was completely non-load bearing, you should still layout your wall studs at 16 inches on center. This way when it comes time to hang drywall or nail up trim, you'll always have a stud right where you need it.

Should stud spacing be 16 or 24?

Spacing studs at 24 inches can save you on lumber costs and improve energy efficiency by reducing thermal bridging cold air from outside transferring through the studs.

Can you drill holes in load bearing studs?

Holes in bearing wall studs (exterior and interior walls that bear the weight of the roof and/or other stories above) may not exceed 40 percent of the width of the stud. Notches in bearing wall studs may not exceed 25 percent of the stud's width. Holes in non-bearing walls can't exceed 60 percent of their width.

How far can a 2x6 extend without support?

For example, a 2x6 joist would have a 12-foot, 6-inch maximum span, and a 2x10 joist would have a 21-foot maximum span. Additionally, wood species and grading determines how far apart floor joists can be spaced. Harder woods can be spaced farther apart, and can be cut into larger joists.

How much stronger is a 2x6 than a 2x4?

There is almost no difference in the bearing capacity — the wall's ability to support a compressive load, which is how most walls are loaded.

Can you hang drywall on 24 inch centers?

Regular 1/2-inch drywall has always been approved for use on 24-inch spacing on ceiling framing, but because of heavy sagging insulation, wet ceiling textures, or higher humidity, either a 1/2-inch ceiling board or 5/8-inch drywall was usually the best choice.

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