The Stud Costs for a Room calculator computes the cost of stud boards required for a room based on the length of the four walls and and on the unit price of the boards.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (L) Length of Room
- (W) Width of Room
- (oC) Spacing of Studs
- (uP) Unit price of Studs (default from price survey below)
Cost of Studs in a Room(TC): The calculator returns the number and total cost of studs in U.S. dollars. However, this can be automatically converted into other currency units via the pull-down menu.
The Math/Science
Computing the number of studs in a room is done by computing the number of studs needed in the four walls. Each wall has the first stud (1) plus the number of studs needed for spacing (oC) AND one additional stud in each corner (green in diagram). This additional stud is often forgotten by non-professionals. It is spaced two inches (2") away from the last stud and makes a nailing base in the corner with the first stud from the adjacent wall.
Unit Pricing
You should used the pricing of boards that is truly available to you. The most recent surveyed 2x4 price data is:
- Date of Pricing Survey: 4/10/24
- Name of Store: Menards
- Price by 2x4 length:
- Studs for a Wall: Computes the number of studs (e.g., 2x4s) needed to build a wall based on the length of the wall and spacing.
- Stud Cost for a Wall: Computes the cost of studs in a wall based on the number of studs needed to frame a wall and the unit price of a stud.
- Blocking for a Wall: Compute the number and length of blocking boards.
- Studs for a Room: Computes the number of stud boards required to frame a room based on the length of the four walls. Note: the stud count includes the extra studs at the corners where the walls meet.
- Stud Cost for a Room: Computes the cost of stud boards required for a room based on the length of the four walls and and on the unit price of the boards.
- Plate Boards for Room: Computes the number of top and bottom plate boards required for a room based on the length of the four walls and whether the top plate is doubled or single.
- Plate Boards Cost for a Room: Computes the cost of plate boards required for a room based on the length of the four walls and whether the top plate is doubled or single and on the unit price of the boards.
- Room Framing Cost: Computes the cost of studs and plate boards required for a room based on the length of the four walls and and on the unit price of the boards used for studs and plates.
- Volume of a Room: Computes the cubic feet (volume) of a room based on its height, length and width.
- Areas of a Room: Computes the total square feet (area) of a room based on its height, length and width. This includes the total area of the ceiling and walls for things like paint. It also individually includes the area of the ceiling, walls and floor of a room.
- Room Paint Cost: Estimates the gallons of paint needed and associated cost to paint a room based on the room dimensions, number of coats and the unit cost of paint per gallon.
- Wallpaper for a Room: Computes the number of rolls of wallpaper needed to cover the walls of a room based on the dimensions of the room and the rolls of wallpaper.
- BTUs per Hour to Heat a Room: Computes the energy (heat) required to heat a space of a certain volume by a specified temperature variance.
- Insulation Rolls for Walls of a Room: Computes the number of rolls or batts of insulation needed for the WALLS of a room based on the length and height of the four walls. The calculator assumes standard 16" spacing on the studs.
- Drywall Materials for a Room: Computes the number of drywall boards (4x8 or 4x12), number of drywall nails or screws and gallons of joint compound need for a room based on the room's dimensions.
- Ceiling Tiles for a Room: Computes the number of ceiling tiles needed to cover the ceiling of a room based on the dimensions of the room and the tiles.
- Cost of Flooring a Room: Computes the square feet of a room and then applies the price per square feet of different flooring products (e.g., hardwood, carpeting, tile)
- Room Framing Cost: Computes the number of studs and plate boards for a room and estimates the cost of framing based on the unit price of the lumber.
- Outlets and Wiring for Room: Computes the number of outlets (boxes) and length of wire to connect them in a room based on the room dimensions and the outlet spacing.