Stud Wall Materials List: Timber, Plasterboard, Screws (UK)
A stud partition 4 m long and 2.4 m high, at 400 mm centres with a door, needs 13 studs, 8 m of head and sole plate, 10 noggins and 8 sheets of plasterboard (2400 × 1200 mm, both sides), with 253 screws. The stud wall calculator does your own wall.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Studs, 2.4 m | 13 studs | Stud wall calculator: every 400 mm along the 4 m, plus the ends and two extra at the doorway |
| Head and sole plate | 8 m | One plate at the top and one at the bottom along the length; the sole plate is cut away at the door |
| Noggins | 10 pieces | A row of short pieces between the studs, to stiffen the wall and support the board edges |
| Plasterboard 2400 × 1200 mm | 8 sheets | Both sides of the wall, with 10% waste |
| Plasterboard screws | 253 | About 11 per square metre of board |
| Jointing tape | 1 roll of 90 m | For the joints, with jointing compound or finishing plaster |
Stud walls of other sizes
400 mm centres, 10% waste, plasterboard on both sides:
| Wall | Studs | Plate | Noggins | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 × 2.4 m, 0 doors | 6 | 4 m | 5 | 4 |
| 3 × 2.4 m, 0 doors | 9 | 6 m | 8 | 6 |
| 4 × 2.4 m, 1 door | 13 | 8 m | 10 | 8 |
| 5 × 2.4 m, 1 door | 16 | 10 m | 13 | 10 |
| 6 × 2.4 m, 1 door | 18 | 12 m | 15 | 11 |
| 8 × 2.4 m, 2 doors | 25 | 16 m | 20 | 15 |
Spacing
| Stud centres | Studs for the 4 m wall | Noggins |
|---|---|---|
| 400 mm | 13 | 10 |
| 600 mm | 10 | 7 |
Building it
- Check what is above and below the wall (pipes, cables, joists) with a detector before you fix anything.
- Fix the head plate to the ceiling joists (or noggins between them), mark the line down with a plumb line, and fix the sole plate to the floor.
- Cut the studs to length, fit them between the plates at 400 mm centres, and fix with screws or nails through the plates.
- Add a double stud and a header at each doorway, and noggins at mid height and where fixtures will hang.
- Run cables and pipes through drilled holes in the studs before the plasterboard goes on.
- Fill the cavity with acoustic insulation if you want a quieter room, then fit the plasterboard and finish the joints.
See also the plasterboard calculator and the skirting board calculator. Estimates only: check Building Regulations, especially if the wall changes escape routes or carries load.
Frequently asked questions
How many studs do I need for a stud wall?
13 studs of 2.4 m for a 4 m wall at 400 mm centres with a door (11 spaces plus two extra studs for the doorway). At 600 mm centres it is 10.
How much timber for the head and sole plates?
8 m for a 4 m wall: a head and a sole plate along the whole length, with the sole plate cut away at the doorway.
How many sheets of plasterboard for a stud wall?
8 sheets of 2400 × 1200 mm for both sides of a 4 × 2.4 m wall with 10% waste. One side only is 4.
How far apart should stud wall timbers be?
400 mm centres for 12.5 mm plasterboard is standard. 600 mm centres can be used with thicker board or for lightly loaded walls. Check the board maker.
What size timber for a stud wall?
Usually 63 × 38 mm (2×3) or 75 × 38 mm for a normal partition, and larger if the wall is higher or has to carry load. Check your building control for loadbearing walls.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and check the Building Regulations and any planning rules for anything structural or close to a boundary.