How to Find Studs in a Wall: 7 Methods for Finding Studs

Wall studs are structural elements in the construction of homes. Studs are part of the framing of the building and are typically vertical beams (usually made of wood) that run from floor to ceiling. Housing codes regulate the construction material and spacing of studs and dictate how studs attach to the rest of the structure. Interior drywall, exterior sheathing, crown molding, and baseboards all attach to studs. Studs are structurally supportive, making them ideal for hanging heavy decor on a wall. Studs are invisible after walls are constructed, so finding them in the wall can be a challenge.

Studs are generally spaced every sixteen inches. In some cases, particularly in older homes, studs might be as far apart as twenty-four inches. In construction parlance, stud spacing is measured in inches “on center,” meaning that the center of one stud in a wall will be sixteen (or twenty-four) inches from the next stud’s center. This is an important distinction to keep in mind when you’re looking for studs.

Modern, electrical stud finders take some of the guesswork out of the process of finding studs. Follow these steps to use a stud finder to locate a stud:

1. 1. Place the stud finder. To use an electronic stud finder, place the handheld device flat on the wall near where you want to hang your object.
2. 2. Slowly move the stud finder. Move the stud finder slowly in a straight, horizontal line in one direction. When it reaches the edge of a stud, it will often make a beeping sound, and the light will switch on or change color.
3. 3. Find the opposite end of the stud. Skip ahead on your horizontal path and move the stud finder in the reverse direction. When it beeps again, you have likely located the opposite edge of the stud.

If your house has plaster walls (which involve plaster being spread upon a grid of wood lath), electronic stud finders are less reliable. You may need to use your stud finder in addition to other methods to locate studs.

Finding wall studs can be a bit of an art, especially without a stud finder. Follow these measurements and methods to precisely locate studs behind drywall or plaster:

1. 1. Measure from the corner. Most studs are sixteen inches apart on center. Since a stud will always be at the edge of a wall or window, you can measure away from the edge to where the next stud ought to be.
2. 2. Measure from a light switch. Light switches, electrical outlets, or electrical boxes are likely attached to a stud. Using a tape measure, you can gauge the distance to the next stud.
3. 3. Measure from a window. Windows also have studs on either side, which allows you to measure from their edges to find the location of the next studs. This method is somewhat imprecise: the studs flanking windows are sometimes doubled and it can be unclear where the framing edge of the window is behind the wall.
4. 4. Look for dimples in the wall. Sometimes, the fasteners that attach the interior wall surface to studs can be seen on the surface of the wall in the form of small impressions or dimples. If you see more than one in a vertical line, there is likely a stud behind the wall.
5. 5. Knock on the wall. Lightly knock on the walls with something hard, like the handle of your hammer or your knuckles. Listen for a change in the sound—the open wall space will have a hollow sound, while the studs will produce a muffled, solid sound.
6. 6. Use magnets. A DIY version of the battery-powered magnetic stud finder is to simply use a strong magnet (like a magnet for fastening things to the refrigerator) to find the small nails or screws that attach the drywall to the studs. By dangling the magnet from a string close to the wall, you can see where it is drawn to the metal beneath.

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