Height of a Wall Stud

Anatomy of a Stud Wall

• A basic stud wall consists of vertical studs fastened at each end to horizontal boards, called top and bottom plates. Stud walls may have one bottom and one top plate, two bottom plates and one top plate or two bottom plates and two top plates. Single top- and bottom-plate construction sometimes appears in partition walls -- interior walls that do not bear structural loads. In dual bottom-plate construction, the lowest plate is called a "sill plate," and in dual top-plate construction, the uppermost plate is called a "tie plate." Sill plates anchor stud walls to foundations or sub-floors, and tie plates overlap and connect adjacent stud-wall units.

Pre-Cut Stud Heights

• The finished, interior height of a wall equals the height of the studs plus the thickness of the plates minus the thickness of the ceiling covering. Therefore, to achieve an interior height of 8 feet, a wall stud must measure less than 8 feet. Lumberyards offer pre-cut lumber to accommodate common construction methods, such as two bottom plates, one top plate and 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch ceiling drywall. The most common lengths of pre-cut studs for 8-foot walls are 92-1/4 inches and 92-5/8 inches. Depending on the thickness of ceiling coverings, both pre-cut lengths create walls with interior heights of roughly 8 feet. Similarly, lumberyards offer pre-cut studs for 9-foot and 10-foot walls.

Alternative Wall Heights

• Although 8 feet and 9 feet are common heights for walls, many home designs incorporate substantially taller walls. While construction methods and lumber dimensions vary according to engineering requirements, builders often use stud-walls to construct wall units up to 20 feet in height. Regardless of height, the term "stud" applies to the upright boards sandwiched between top and bottom plates.

Purchasing Framing Materials

• You should always specify the exact dimensions of lumber when ordering framing materials. Although the term "stud" technically refers to boards of any height, salespeople and builders often use the word to refer to both pre-cut and full-length framing lumber. Therefore, if you want pre-cut, 92 5/8-inch studs, you should specifically request those dimensions instead of simply asking for "pre-cut studs" or "8-foot wall studs." It is risky to assume that your idea of "stud" matches the salesperson's definition.