how to frame a wall 16 inch on center (CC)

Bob Schmidt shows you how and why to lay-out a wall during construction to a standard 16 inch on center lay-out. When laying out a top and bottom plate for a typical wall a framing square is usually the most appropriate tool. To begin, flush up top & bottom plate ends, hook tape on flush ends. The first measurement is 15 1/4 inches to side of first stud placement. Each corresponding measurement should be 3/4 of an inch shy of stud marks on typical tape measure. This will give you studs that are on 16 inch center layouts. Sixteen inch center layouts are important for several reasons: many building materials are designed to fit in a 16 inch layout, ie. insulation, medicine cabinets some tile backing inserts & ironing board inserts; when installing cabinets or trim ie. crown, baseboard, these materials need to be attached to framing. If you stay true to 16 inch centers, all you really need to do in a wall is find the first stud and the rest of the studs in the wall are always multiples of 16 inches away. Another consideration when framing a wall is to match the existing structure as far as floor joist layouts, so as to allow space to run heat ducts, plumbing pipes, wiring to electrical panels, without having wall studs in the way and saving you time and money.Hi I'm Bob Schmidt with HomeRemodelWorksho
I've made videos on how to lay out on
how to build your wall square inside
a space how to build plumb walls how to put
your framing members in so your wall is
nice and flat
but has been brought to my attention
that I've never actually showed you how to
do a typical sixteen inch layout
on a stud wall
Let's get to work
A couple of basic tools that you're
going to need to do a typical plate
layout
is a couple of straight plates of course
one representing a top plate of the wall
one representing the bottom plate
but the other tools that are going to be
required is either a framing square or
this is called a speed square
either one will work for doing what we're
going to do
When doing a typical layout for a wall
as to where you're going to put your
studs
first thing you do is lay your two plates
next to each other your top and bottom
plates so they are nice and flush hear on the end
just about every standard layout tape
that i've ever seen
has these red marks at the typical
wall stud layout a typical mistake
someone makes is they say
well I'll go ahead and I'll mark the sixteen
and then I'll put my stud one side
or the other
and we're going to be good
these marks are for centers
so basically what you have to do is
since the width of a typical wall
stud is an inch and a half
which is three-quarters and three
quarters
as your tapes hooked on the end of the
board
go ahead and make your first mark at
three-quarters back
from every red stud mark
so that would be fifteen and a quarter
put an X over top of where the
red is
then come down to thirty one and a
quarter
put your X over top where the red is
forty seven and a quarter
and so forth and so on Every wall has
to start with a stud you automatically
just put an X on the end of your wall
you're beginning of your wall
then you go ahead and take your framing square there's a thin side to your
framing square
there's a fat side to your framing square
the thin side to your framing square is
exactly the same as an inch and a half
typical stud
so what you do is you take your framing
square line it up on your first mark
over top of both plates
and you put a mark
on both sides of the framing square
you put an X
in between both of them
and you know when these plates go into
place or when you're building your wall
that wall framing stud needs to sit
right between these marks a very good
question to ask would be is
why do I have to concern myself with
laying these out sixteen inch on
center
why not just throw enough in there that
it looks good
well there's several reasons the
basic most important
reason is
most building material comes in two foot
increments
drywall comes in four foot widths
eight-foot widths or eight foot lengts
twelve-foot lengths
if you start a sheet of drywall in this very
beginning when you get down to the other
side that sheet of drywall should break
right in the center of the stud having you
ready for the next sheet to come off but you
also have to concern yourself with what
goes in the wall
insulation for one example
is designed
to have exactly the right size to fit
inbetween a sixteen inch on center
layout
not only is insulation a concern
but also medicine cabinets are designed
to fit in a typical sixteen inch layout
as are ironing board fold downs as
are
pre premade forms for tile backers in showers
so that basically a a single piece can
slip into this space
and give you a more of a watertight
in time saving in putting some of your
stuff together another huge advantage
about sticking with the sixteen inch
lay out

[@IYamElGuapo]

The majority of these comments make me realize that not everyone was made to do this. Bob, this is the very first video I saw on how to do this and you explained yourself very clearly. I literally know nothing on this topic and I understood perfectly. Great job!!!

[@paluszek390]

Good video The most common spacing is 16 inches on center (OC). This means the distance from the center of one stud to the center of the next is 16 inches. The space between studs that are 16 inches OC is 14-1/2 inches. The first and last studs in a wall are exceptions to the rule. The first stud is shifted over 3/4 inch as its center-line corresponds with the end of the wall, so its side is flush with the ends of the plates. This makes the space between the first and second studs 13-3/4 inches.

[@mikethole2877]

Thanks, Bob! I'm new to home repairs and remodeling. My wife and I just bought our first house and we're building an interior wall between two rooms. This was very helpful. Thanks again!

[@JasonJonesoriginal]

This video is amazingly clear and informative. Thank you for going the extra mile and explaining WHY the studs have to be spaced like they are.

[@chemamole]

thank you bob there are plenty of us folks looking for advice simple and straight beginers, apreciate your time and help

[@tilrock]

I think moving back 3/4" is more confusing than just starting at the edge of the top/bottom plate and measuring over 16", 32", etc. Then when you go to nail your studs in, just make sure that the correct edge of the stud lines up with your mark. So if you start at the left and work to the right, you would line the left side of the stud up with the mark. If the studs are 16" edge to edge, then they are also 16" center to center.

[@biggsexxxy19]

These videos are fantastic! Bob you're a great teacher! I feel much more confident in my DIY's when I watch your videos! Thanks a million! Adam

[@doughboy09bravo]

You know, I am not a carpenter by any means of the word however after watching this I feel like I can build my garage. The trick with the square was awesome!! I showed this to my uncle (who IS a carpenter) and he had a look like ohh yeah! I didn't realize the skinny side was 1 1/2". Thanks Bob!!!!

[@stephtrader4662]

I refer to this video every time I prepare for a framing job. It is perfectly explained and helps me figure out how much material I need to buy. Thanks!

[@playdrums]

MAN Bob sir, i wish my boss 2 years ago could have seen this video. of course old home re-models are always a little different, but my old bass WOULD NOT LISTEN to me and ended up paying me a lot of overtime fixing framing mistakes. you can imagine what other mistakes arose from poor framing layout. oh well, i did what the boss said and got a lot of overtime!!! LOL, Great video, as always.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

I worked on a framing crew for 3 years and we sheeted many outside walls and gable trusses in my time. +++Bob

[@JFLOATE28]

Kind of like measuring twice and cutting once, I had to watch this twice before I got it. Thank you for the information, I think I can build a wall now.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Being a good employee is half the battle. Show up on time and be willing to work hard and learn! Good Luck +++Bob

[@displayfireworks1]

Now I know why the number 16 is used it will accommodate everything else in the industry. I like your video style.

[@MusicHeartofMine2012]

40 years of working on residential construction. I learned early on please teach me a trick. Ive learned both ways watching others mistakes and the right way. I want every way I can find from any source I can get. When a person says my way is the only way they are talking in ego mode. What a person does on a daily bases day after day makes them fast =routine.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@sgtleroym Interesting that you asked. I am planning on purchasing a HD camera and was planning on remaking many of my videos This may well be the first one! I stand behind my video as being a proper way of starting a lay-out at 15 1/4 then set stud ahead! It is truly not that difficult to understand why all you have to consider are standard material sizes! +++Bob

[@troutt99]

Bob, thank you so much. You put the cookies down on the shelf I could reach. You answered questions I didn't realize I was even asking. Great video!!! I'll stay tuned.

[@Fred196407]

Well i`m a Welder/Fabricator and though we do simular things when setting out Balustrading & railings & the like, it was good to see this. I`m about to build a Studded type walled timber garage using 4"X2".. The size is 8M X 5Metre`s & height is 2.5M to the eaves & 4 Metre`s to the peak of the roof. The roof is going to be 18mm Ply with flatroof fibreglass type finish. T&G will clad external walls and ply sheets on the inside. Insulation will be installed but not sure what yet. Thanks for post.

[@loontalkweaver6329]

You can no longer click on the like button so I wanted to let you know that I have loved all your videos. I know it's been a while since you posted one but if you would consider making any more I know they are much needed as it seems most the people posting how to video's skip a lot of info that is important. I'm am going to attempt to build my own small home on my property and have been watching hundreds of video's and your video's are more valuable and informative than any others I've seen. Thank you, Jeanne.

[@dandanpete]

Very good video. I am building my first stud wall and your video helped me do it perfectly.

[@MRSketch09]

@Vid I am taking Carpentry this semester in College... pretty fast paced.. One thing I have to say is, we were laying out roof joist, and one of the guys was telling me what to mark down. I really did not get time to ponder on why, he was doing it the way he was doing it. After watching this video. I get it. Makes sense. Of course he didn't explain any of the stuff that was mentioned in this video, which I found to be extremely important and informative info.

[@tyseng9629]

If I'm not mistaken, this method will produce a gap of 13.75" between the first and second stud which means 15.25" on center for that first section.

[@EmptyPsychosis]

The way they showed in your DIY video is right to. They just have you adding 3/4" rather then subtracting the 3/4" as bob says here. So in that case you would just put the stud before the line and still get the same results.

[@geraldbennett7035]

Mark the studs every 16". No needed to draw lots of marks or lines. Do this with the boards on-edge not on-face. Attached the studs to the middle of the marks. You get within 1/8" no problem,

[@skweekah]

Really good video. You pointed out some simple but very important considerations. Cheers.

[@JerodSlay]

This was really helpful. Thank you for explaining this in a really practical way. It makes a lot of sense.

[@blakkatacc]

@Etsuki519 you're right..that first gap will be 15 1/4 and every other one will be 14 1/2....its much better just to measure 16 inches from the end of the first stud to the end of the following stud...will produce an even space between studs

[@FlansLand]

Thanks for this video, Bob. I purchased a Do-It-Yourself vid and they instructed me to make the first mark at 16 3/4, 32 3/4, and so on. I don't know why but I came to this video and did it your way. Every stud was on center. Well Of course, I'll give you the credit on KZbin but If anyone asks me I'll lOOk at them and say, "I just knew." ...HAHAHA! Thanks again

[@semco72057]

I see now why you need a 16" spacing after you explained the part about the insulation which is cut to fit perfectly in between the wall joints. Thanks so much for this information.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

What you need to do is measure across the diagonals of your framing if they measure the same its square, if not rack (physically move) the frame until the measurements are the same. Hope this helps +++Bob If its small enough pick frame up and drop it on one of the longest measurement corners then remeasure.

[@5150hs]

Your videos are so helpful! Being a novice, I appreciate your efforts to help me understand the "how to" process better.

[@TechDad46]

Easy to follow. To the point. Nice tips, especially aligning to floor joist and why.

[@novicabozunovich]

Exactly what I needed. I love when that happens!

[@ziggle314]

As always, nice work. I have to tell you about your stain cleaning technique that uses an iron. I have used it twice now. It is great! You have saved me some money and hassle.

[@dclistheman]

thank you so much. this has helped me so mmuch. i remember my grandfather saying i remember when 2x4 were actually 2x4. thanks again

[@6sxpressdotcom]

Thanks, I love when I find useful videos.

[@iLikeToDrum1]

you explained it perfect dont get why people can understand it

[@jeremybear14]

I own a speed square and work with it daily they are magnificent I don't think i could work without it

[@cw300mag]

This guy is a pro he knows his shit. i am pretty smart at building stuff but he gave me the tips to do it better.

[@MrVicTPA]

Thanks Bob, I have to replace an interior wall due to old termite damage and you helped a lot!

[@eicas100]

Thank you for the helpful video and great clear explanation. However, I noticed that the first stud when starting the wall will never be 16" on center. If measured from center of first stud (edge of plates) the next one would actually be 15" on center. (after the first one all will be ok) I see that everyone in the industry does that. But if looking for the first stud from a wall measured like this,(and taking into account the drywall (1/2") the 16" on center measurement (on first stud) will always be off and the nail would miss by 1/2" past the stud. Any reason why this is not mentioned.

[@danieln.siskron8980]

This video was very helpful on some of my future projects.....Thank you for making this Instruction Video on a standard 16 inch wall frame.

[@Wannagobackto1980]

Bob..... I need to borrow you for a weekend to help me frame my 12x10 shed!!!!!

[@phillipsneko]

The best video on any field ,just gave the information and to the point Thank you,

[@rogerg0834]

WoW...freakin AWESOME instruction on what the hell is tool are for and how to do this type of stuff!! Thank you SOO much for the FYI.

[@1LonePuma]

Although it wasn't mentioned you must put the framing square over the center of the mark indicating 15 and 1/4; 31 and 1/4, then you can mark both sides of the square.

[@404gatito]

Thanks a lot Bob this video was very usefull for me saying I don't know anything about framing and I want to build a shed and car garage down here in Mexico American style. I also wish I could build a house later on.

[@JosephPonikvar]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the first on center occur at 3/4? If you add 16 to that you get 16 3/4.for your next on center. Measure 3/4 back and you get 16 not 15 1/4.from the end of the plate to the beginning line. The first line should be at 16 and then put the stud on the correct side.

[@Th3Catch22]

Haha, this guy likes the word 'typical.' But jokes aside this was a very good video. Very informative with good in-depth explanations. Thanks for sharing.

[@britty67]

In the UK timber sheets are in imperial, plaster board in metric which is a complete pain when doing flat roofs.

[@Newconsciousera2012]

I just recently purchased some new tools and I will make another attempt at this.. Thank you for your answer :)

[@havenoneatall]

There I go, simplistic, too the point and a great start to wall building. THANKS!

[@toonybrain3871]

Thanks, Bob. Organized, clear, simple, instructive video.

[@peyoteprince]

thats was perefect, been looking for something like that for a while. awesome job!

[@PreBigBanger]

This was a great video - very informative. I "almost" feel like I can fix my floor and wall now... almost. If there are any contractors in Central Pennsylvania looking for work, please contact me!

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

If the material that you are putting on the studs span the entire wall then no problem doing it the way you described however if you are standing 4 ft material up be prepared to trim your first sheet by 1/2 inch+++Bob

[@DavidPhillipsAustin]

Super information, as usual. Great production values, too. Thank you!

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

If you mean walls first then floors the answer is yes, be sure to use treated bottom plates against concrete. +++Bob

[@ddoffroad8430]

OK. I'm confused. If you measure from the edge of the board and put it center then you attach a board at the beginning, that would not be 16" on center to the next board. Sorry I'm new to this

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop Thanks for the quick response Bob! Ill check the clips out asap!

[@travisgrimm]

And I've thought 18" center was standard. Good to learn basics, thanks

[@EmptyPsychosis]

What he means is that after you mark your first stud at the 15-1/4" mark, remove your tape measure the using an awl or nail at that mark, reset your tape measure. Then you can just mark right on the 16's which will automatically set you at the right spacing. No need to subtract the 3/4" off the 16". Just a lot faster to do it that way.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

The first stud is 15 1/4 inch to lead edge of stud+++Bob

[@TomSawyerPainting]

Ahh, So Basically your saying that, "Bob Is The Best !!! " Well, I Couldn't Agree with You More !!!

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

If you are talking about two walls that form a T all you need to do is install horizontal blocking between the studs at the intersection.+++Bob

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

One way is to place two studs together with small blocking in between studs, if an outside corner is required. The second way is what is called a Western Lap, you could Google it, but all it is, is a corner stud and a flat stud against the adjacent side of the opposing wall stud. The third way is exactly the same as two walls that form a T with horizontal blocking. Keep in mind the only way I would consider a corner structural, is if it was built the first way. +++Bob

[@myoldreteacher]

Simple, clear and informative - Thank you!

[@jerry1UT]

The way you show laying out the studs shows that the spacing between the first stud and the second stud is not 16" on center but actually 15 1/4 ". Is this what you really want?

[@littlefreak8]

@brian1969a one thing you can do is if you have any pictures hanging on the wall and you know that the nail that they are on are in a stud than you can measure over and figure out where all the other studs are.

[@EchosFromaBlankMind]

@BEASTsatisfaction You would nail it with two nails per stud top and bottom, side nailing only where access to the bottom of the stud is not possible. You would than add a top plate (2X4) to cover the first top plate, taking care to overlap anywhere that two studs meet so as not to have any butted studs lining up. As for your corners, see if your local codes allow the use of short sections of 2x4's to make up space so as to minimize using full length studs .

[@donfoley5780]

Thank you for such great info and in an easy format to understand..... I really appreciate it.... think I will just subscribe to you.

[@OrionTheHunterNS]

Great job!! Makes total sense to me now! Your method makes it way quicker too.

[@BiOhArArDvsElement]

Just to clarify, lets say your building a 10x10 room out of 2x4, your going to have 2 outside walls and 2 inside walls. This means on each of your outside walls you need to compensate for the inside walls which are 3 1/2" thick. So on the outside wall at the first stud to the second stud you'll need to account 3 1/2" and put another stud on the opposite side of that measurement, same for the opposite end of the outside wall.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Get a square and a piece of 2x4 and try it. You will see that at 4ft,8ft,12ft, you will have a stud center to break a piece of standard material on, Every stud in the middle of the wall will be spaced at 16 inch centers. +++Bob

[@1habicher]

You sure explain things very well but I could tell many stories of hanging shelves and using studfinders and most of them did not do it right. I used several and finished drilling little holes sometime too many and became most annoyed at it. I hope I can learn but this is Australia so perhaps I need to learn a bit more!

[@nisha145ns]

i am such a visual person i wish when you stared to put your marks on the wood u would have shwed a close up. because i could not see it

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@MFRoosy16 The standard is 16 inch centers for most typical projects, there are occasions that 12 inch centers may be required due to load restrictions ect. Hope this cleared things up a bit+++Bob

[@petrpumpkineater]

WTF??? Whoever did the captions is genius! LMFAO!

[@rjsaunders92]

really helpful video's... thank you. although, you say about measuring half the stud width from the 16" mark, not necessary, if you measure from the end of the plate (right end) then that will be the right side of the stud, so, every 16" mark will be the right of the stud so you can position each one to the left of the mark. make sense? by the way, im not complaining, your video's are really helpful, just thought i'd say as its needless time spent measuring half the stud with and calculating...

[@SelenaRox5546]

Thank you. I'm building a model in architecture class, and I was always confused about 16'' O.C Now I know how :D

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@awdiostuff I know that your thought process is if you have 1/2 inch drywall in corner you will need to adjust for that amount,however, no-one knows exactly the order the drywall will be hung so I start all my wall with the same lay-out from the corner,the small amount of trimming that is needed for any sheetgoods is worth the ease of doing exactly the same lay-out from corners every time.+++Bob

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Hi Storm Trek, Thanks for the nice words. We are planning to remake some of our videos in a new HD format. Trying to stay up to date. Can you make any suggestions to improve this video or any other that you have seen, that would help make a better final product for future viewers. Thanks in advance, Bob-HomeRemodelWorkshop

[@petrpumpkineater]

BTW - good info. I'm buying a townhome, going to add a bathroom and bedroom in the basement. ty

[@USRimfireShooter]

Thanks. I'm about to build a shed and this will come in useful

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Hi FenceTampa, Thanks for the nice words. We are planning to remake some of our videos in a new HD format. Trying to stay up to date. Can you make any suggestions to improve this video or any other that you have seen, that would help make a better final product for future viewers. Thanks in advance, Bob-HomeRemodelWorkshop

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@Etsuki519 The first stud in the wall is not going to have material centered on it, it will begin at the lead edge of it , that is why there is a smaller space to begin with. I hope this is as clear to you as it seems to me +++Bob

[@DeceptiveSoul]

you measure from the edge of your frame 15" 1/4 because you are taking in consideration the 3/4 measurement that is half of your first stud. From there you can measure 16" along for each stud's center. You only need to take away the 3/4 of an inch from the first stud because you are measuring from it's edge and not it's center. Your measurements from then on in will be your stud centers.

[@dogface97754]

Oh ok. Like siding ,so the seems hit on the studs. Thanks alot.

[@Tisiphonni]

great video, all infomations was so very helpful, ty for posting and taking your time to make the film. However... the subtitles are killing me, lol. "drywall comes in for publicity fruitless particular place twelve foot lights"

[@danielhunter2670]

Very good tips on the studs...

[@Wilbert103]

Thank you this video was exactly what I was looking for.

[@SwinginJohnson74]

Thank you for the video. Simple and direct.

[@11219tt]

I am confused. You are measuring from the edge of the plates yet coming in for the 16 on center. Given that there is a stud on the edge of all plate shouldn't you be measuring from half of a 2x4 from the edge of the plates? However, your measuring is from the edge. Furthermore, if I measure from the edge of the plates to 16 inches and always put the stud the the outer of my mark wouldn't all studs be 16 on center because each stud including the first one are to the left of the line therefore equal distance therefore 16 on center? Lastly, once I get the the far side of the plate what happens if a stud did not reach the end and is less than 16 inches from the end? Do I just have the last two studs closer together?

[@roxydog2004]

Yeah, you're almost always going to have studs sister/married together at both ends of a wall , it's all about having them positioned for insulation and nailing dry wall which is the important step you can always cut to fit the insulation, and again the finished work you now where the stud are for add on's cabinets and things

[@Hector8751]

Hay Bob you are dynamic teacher ,I will like to work on framing with you ,gracias amigo Bob

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Hi OrionTheHunterNS, Thanks for the nice words. We are planning to remake some of our videos in a new HD format. Trying to stay up to date. Can you make any suggestions to improve this video or any other that you have seen, that would help make a better final product for future viewers. Thanks in advance, Bob - HomeRemodelWorkshop

[@almeece]

Nice. Well explained. Great tips, good video. Thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@nmff3577]

Great video! Thanks for the help.

[@benjaminmassie2978]

Nathan Fronczak your welcome

[@alohachristine]

Wow! that helps me soooooo much! I finally get it! Do you have a video about a 2x4 built in wall bookshelves with do it yourself cabinet doors....do You?? I have 5 children and I want to contain and control things in a locked and neat looking way.

[@highcountrytimber]

16" is one of the three common lay measurements. There also is 19.2" OC and 24" OC. The lay out can be different depending on load an the timber dimensions as well.