Wall Framing Cost Calculator
Installed cost of framed walls: lumber by the stick and a carpenter by the square foot of wall. Sheathing, headers, nails and drywall are separate lines.
Order 127 studs + 23 plates — precut 92⅝″ studs come in lifts of 100; plates in 16 ft sticks.
- Wall length
- 120.0 ft
- Studs @ 16″ o.c.
- 91
- Corners (6) + openings (6)
- + 24
- Waste 10%
- + 12
- Studs to buy
- 127
- Plates (2 top + 1 bottom), 16 ft
- 23 sticks
- Sheathing, 4×8 sheets960 ft² one side
- 33 sheets
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Get 3 quotes for this stud wall job
The estimate above is a national range. A local framing & lumber contractor who sees your site can give you a firm price, and comparing 3 bids is the single biggest lever on what you pay. Tell us where the job is and we will match you with up to 3 contractors who serve your ZIP.
- Your quantities and this estimate go with the request, so you are not starting over.
- No account, no app. Contractors call or text you directly.
- One request. We do not resell your details beyond the matched contractors.
How to calculate stud wall by hand
Studs = Length (ft) × 12 ÷ spacing (in) + 1 + 2 × corners + 2 × openings, × (1 + waste) · Plates = 3 × length ÷ 16 ft
Worked example
- Field studs: 40 ft × 12 ÷ 16″ = 30, plus 1 end stud = 31.
- Corners: 2 × 2 = 4 · Openings: 2 × 2 = 4 → 39 net.
- Waste 10%: 39 × 1.10 = 43 studs.
- Plates: 3 × 40 ft = 120 lf ÷ 16 ft = 8 sticks · Sheathing: 320 ft² ÷ 32 × 1.10 = 11 sheets.
- Studs per foot @ 16″ o.c.
- 0.75 + extras
- Studs per foot @ 24″ o.c.
- 0.5 + extras
- Precut stud, 8 ft ceiling
- 92⅝″
- Precut stud, 9 ft ceiling
- 104⅝″
How we price this
The low, typical and high columns are the 20th, 50th and 80th percentile of published us national averages for 2×4 precut studs (spf), delivery and labor. They are estimates for budgeting, not quotes — enter your own supplier and crew prices above to replace them. Ranges are re-checked monthly; see the methodology page for how every number on this site is derived.
- HomeAdvisor cost guides — framing labor per ft² and per linear foot
- Home Depot / Lowe’s lumber pricing — stud and plate prices
Questions crews ask
How much does it cost to frame a wall?
$7–$16 per square foot of wall installed, or $15–$30 per linear foot for an 8 ft interior wall — $2,000–$4,500 to frame a 120 ft run with six corners and six openings. Lumber is a third; labor the rest.
How much does a 2x4 stud cost?
$3–$7 for an 8 ft precut SPF stud in 2026, more for kiln-dried Douglas fir or select studs. Prices swing 30% or more with the lumber market; check the yard the week you buy.
How much do framers charge per square foot?
$4–$12 per square foot of wall, or $8–$20 per square foot of floor area for a whole house shell. Small remodel jobs run to a day rate of $400–$800 per carpenter.