How to Find Studs in a Plaster Ceiling

Using an Electronic Stud Finder

• 1

  Position the ladder under the desired area of the ceiling. Have your electronic stud finder and pencil handy before climbing the ladder.

• 2

  Power on the stud finder. Place the finder's sensor (located at the front or on the underside of the tool) against the plaster ceiling and move it about two feet in any direction. An LCD will flash or the tool will beep when the edge of a stud has been located. When the LCD or beeping stops, the finder has reached the other edge of the stud. Most mid-range electronic stud finders will be able to penetrate thick plaster.

• 3

  Mark the center of the stud with a pencil according to the stud finder's reading. If you need to anchor to multiple studs, repeat this and the above step.

Using the Knocking Method

• 4

  Place the ladder underneath the desired part of the ceiling.

• 5

  Knock on the ceiling, inching horizontally across the desired area. Listen for a change in pitch as you knock--a low "thud" indicates a stud.

• 6

  Approximate the location of the edges of the stud with further knocking and label them with a pencil.

Using the "16 Inches on Center" Rule

• 7

  Set the ladder near any corner of the room. Have your tape measure and pencil handy before climbing the ladder.

• 8

  Pull out the tape and lock it at 16 inches.

• 9

  Place the tape at the edge of the ceiling and lay it flat against the plaster.

• 10

  Mark the ceiling at the 16-inch line. When studs are placed, they are positioned so that their centers are 16 inches away from each other on either side. Knock lightly around the pencil mark to ensure that you have located a stud.