Framing a wall takes far more than the field studs spaced across it. This calculator does a full takeoff: field studs, end and corner studs, king studs and trimmers around every opening, plate linear footage, and header pieces, then adds a waste factor so your lumber order covers the real job.
How it works
The stud count starts from the spacing and adds the framing members openings require:
field studs = ceil(wall length inches / spacing) + 1
opening studs = openings × (2 king + 2 trimmer)
corner/ends = 3 (two end studs + a corner stud)
total studs = field studs + opening studs + corner/ends
plate feet = wall length × 3 (1 bottom + 2 top plates)
headers = openings × 2 (built-up two-ply header)
with waste = total studs × (1 + waste %)Each opening removes some field studs in reality, but the king and trimmer studs more than replace them, so counting both gives a safe, slightly conservative order.
Example and tips
A 20-foot wall at 16 inch on-center has 240 / 16 = 15, plus one, so 16 field studs. Add two doors and one window: three openings need 6 king and 6 trimmer studs, plus 3 for ends and corners, giving 31 studs before waste. At 10 percent waste round up to about 35 studs. Order plates as long stock to minimize splices, and keep headers continuous over each opening.