Single-material calculator

Lumber Calculator

Wall framing estimates with stud spacing, openings, corners, sheathing, board-foot totals, and linear-foot totals built in.

Quick presets

Start from a typical North American scenario, then tune the job-specific inputs.

Inputs

Geometry

Wall Length (ft) Type it the way you measured it - 16' 6" or 16.5 both work. For an L-shaped or multi-segment wall, enter the combined length of all segments and count each turn under Corner Count. Planning a full room or building? The Garage / ADU and Shed material calculators model all walls together. Wall Height (ft)

Framing settings

Stud Spacing Sixteen inches on center is the common prescriptive baseline for many residential walls. 19.2 and 24 in layouts can work in some assemblies but need tighter design review. Stud Size 2×6 studs leave more room for insulation and are common in colder-climate exterior walls. Wall Type Plate Count Most load-bearing residential walls use a double top plate and single bottom plate. Corner Count (corners) Use zero for one straight partition and add corners only where the wall actually turns. Each corner adds the extra corner-framing studs for that turn.

Openings

Door Count (doors) Window Count (windows)

Advanced settings

Exterior Sheathing Extra Cover Area (sq ft) Use this when you want to carry sheathing for returns, rim areas, or layout overage outside the main wall rectangle. Framing Waste (%) Carry extra for cutoffs, bowed studs, header build-up, and general framing cleanup. Sheathing Waste (%) Exterior sheet layouts usually need around 10% once openings, edge cuts, and panel layout cleanup are included.

Regional settings

State / Pricing Region Selecting a state adjusts material prices by a state-level cost index, not by store listings in your city. States without an index keep the national baseline, and the estimate says so.

This calculator sizes wall framing and sheet sheathing only, not beams, joists, rafters, or engineered member schedules.

Reset inputs

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2D plan

Schematic quantity basis

2D and 3D previews are schematic. Drag to orbit, and scroll or pinch to zoom when 3D is open.

3D assembly

Optional 3D check

3D is optional here. Use it to sanity-check the base profile after the 2D quantity path is clear.

Stud count 22

Total linear feet 248 lf

Plate boards 9

Board feet 165 bd ft

Sheathing sheets 6

Framing nails 1

Plan details & review

Planning assumptions

Included scope: Wall framing, Opening framing, Wall sheathing.

Planning assumptions · 5

Exterior mode only carries framing and structural sheathing. House wrap, flashing, anchors, insulation, siding, and structural hold-down design stay outside this calculator.
Opening deductions use simple rectangular door and window areas, plus directional header / sill framing allowances, and do not replace engineered lintel or point-load design.
Stud, plate, and header counts follow common U.S. nominal lumber conventions and standard wall-framing heuristics rather than a sealed framing plan or permit set.
Exterior mode includes structural sheathing only. Weather barrier, flashing tape, cladding, insulation, connectors, anchors, and exact fastener schedules remain outside this takeoff.
The BOM rounds packaged materials to whole purchase units such as gallons, bags, boxes, buckets, rolls, cartons, tubes, jars, bundles, or kits, so bought quantity can exceed the exact theoretical coverage shown by the area metrics.

Not included / Trade review

2 total scope notes to read before ordering or contractor handoff.

How pricing works

Schematic exterior wall framing for a 20 ft x 8 ft wall at 16 in o.c. with 0 doors, 0 windows, 2 corners, and 7/16 in OSB wall sheathing.

Material estimate for the quantities in this plan.

Need local install pricing?

Save this estimate to reopen it later, share the link or the plain-text takeoff, or export a PDF. Pin to compare stacks alternate inputs side by side.

Compare contractor quotes

Material list

Your build list

Each line shows a purchase quantity, a coverage amount, or a planning allowance - the line says which. Check pack sizes and your site conditions before you order.

Material	Assembly	Unit	Qty	Unit price	Total	Source
2x4 studs (8 ft) Stock 8 ft	wall framing	board	22	$3.65	$80.30	Home Depot Shopping-ready Price source: Retailer pricePrice as of: 06/05/2026 — price may have changed - verify before orderingRetailer: Home Depot
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is a purchase or ordering quantity. Qty: 22 Quantity type: Purchase quantity Purchase quantity: 22 Coverage: 16 in o.c. Waste factor: 8%
2x4 plates Stock 8 ft	wall framing	board	9	$3.65	$32.85	Home Depot Shopping-ready Price source: Retailer pricePrice as of: 06/05/2026 — price may have changed - verify before orderingRetailer: Home Depot
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is a purchase or ordering quantity. Qty: 9 Quantity type: Purchase quantity Purchase quantity: 9 Coverage: 3 plates across 20.00 lf Waste factor: 8%
Framing nails Calculator default	wall framing	box	1	$57.28	$57.28	Home Depot Shopping-ready Price source: Retailer pricePrice as of: 06/05/2026 — price may have changed - verify before orderingRetailer: Home Depot
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is a purchase or ordering quantity. Qty: 1 Quantity type: Purchase quantity Purchase quantity: 1 Coverage: Approx. 1 box / 75 framing pieces Waste factor: 8%
7/16 in OSB wall sheathing Calculator default	wall sheathing	sheet	6	$9.72	$58.32	Home Depot Shopping-ready Price source: Retailer pricePrice as of: 06/05/2026 — price may have changed - verify before orderingRetailer: Home Depot
Quantity basis The visible row quantity is a purchase or ordering quantity. Qty: 6 Quantity type: Purchase quantity Purchase quantity: 6 Coverage: Sheet cover area + gables, large openings only Waste factor: 10%

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Estimated materials total$228.75

Material guide

Wall Framing Terms

Switch between tabs to see how this calculator works and what stays outside its scope.

Common wall-framing terms used in this estimate

Quick reference only. Sizing, spans, and connections still follow your local code review.

Board foot (bd ft): The lumber industry pricing volume: 1 board foot = a 12 in x 12 in x 1 in nominal piece. Suppliers often quote framing packages in board feet.
On center (o.c.): The spacing between the centers of neighboring studs. 16 in o.c. is the common residential baseline.
Stud: The vertical framing member of the wall. 2x4 and 2x6 are nominal sizes; actual dimensions are smaller (1.5 in x 3.5 in for a 2x4).
Plate: The horizontal members at the top and bottom of the wall. Load-bearing walls commonly use a double top plate plus a single bottom plate.
Header: The beam over a door or window opening that carries load around the opening. This calculator carries a directional allowance only; actual header sizing needs local verification.
Sheathing: The structural sheet layer (OSB or plywood) on the outside of exterior walls that stiffens the wall and backs the weather barrier and siding.

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Current takeoff: 22 studs and 6 sheathing sheets for 160 sq ft of exterior wall framing. This calculator sizes wall framing and sheet sheathing only, not beams, joists, rafters, or engineered member schedules.

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