The Cost to Frame a Room calculator computes the cost of stud and plate 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
- (uPS) Unit price of Studs (default 92 5/8 " from price survey below)
- (pL) Plate Board Length (default 10')
- (uPC) Unit price of Plates (default 10' from below)
Lumber Cost to Frame a Room(TC): The calculator returns the number and total cost of studs and plates 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.
Plate boards are the top and bottom boards of a wall. They are used as the anchors to which the studs are nailed. For non-load bearing walls, a single plate on the top can suffice. However, a double top plate is required for any wall that bears a load (weight). It provides additional span strength between the studs. If you are adding a wall to an existing structure, that typically means that it is not a load bearing wall, but simply a wall used to divide an area (e.g. new room in a basement).
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:
- Price of a 925/8" 2x4 : $3.65
- Price of an 8' 2x4: $3.65
- Price of a 10' 2x4 : $6.34
- Price of a 12' 2x4 : $7.72
- Price of a 16' 2x4 : $10.84
Stud Framing Calculators
- 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.
Room Calculators
- Number of gallons to paint or primer a room.
- Cost to paint or prime a room.
- Surface area of the interior walls of a room
- Surface area of the interior walls and ceiling of a room.
- Floor area of a room
- Volume of a room
- Energy (BTUs/hr) needed to heat a room
- Number of Studs in a Room
- Number of drywall sheets needed for a room
- Cost of studs needed to frame a room