How to find wall studs—and why you need to in the first place

Studs are vertical 2 by 4 inch beams that support the frame of your home. You can find them behind your drywall, usually spaced 16 or 24 inches apart. Since studs are made of thick and sturdy wood or metal, they can securely hold screws better than wall materials like drywall. 

Typically, studs are measured “on-center,” which means that you can measure from the center of one stud to the center of an adjacent stud. This standardized spacing was developed by builders so that drywall would be evenly supported. Nails or screws are typically used to attach drywall to studs. 

In most homes, you can easily find studs by using a tape measure, a flashlight and a magnet. Another option is to use electronic stud finders. Trying out more than one method will help you zero in on your stud’s location with greater accuracy.

Once you’ve found your stud and are ready to go in with a screw or drill, turn off the power via your circuit breaker for safety—in case you hit a wire behind your wall.

As its name would suggest, an electronic stud finder finds studs. You can find them in hardware shops or online, and they cost anywhere between $10 to $50. Most models can differentiate between wood and metal studs, and they can alert you to the presence of electrical wires. 

Stud finders aren’t as accurate when it comes to identifying studs through plaster walls, so if you have plaster walls, you should use the gadget along with other methods (like those listed below) to get the most accurate read. 

• To use an electronic stud finder, hold it flat against the wall, about a foot to the left of where you ideally want to drill. Slowly slide the stud finder to the right. When it lights up or beeps, retrace the last few inches to ensure you know where the alert occured, then mark that spot with a pencil. This is the left side of your stud.

• To find the right side, repeat this process, moving the stud finder to the left and marking the point where the finder lights up or beeps.

Light switches or outlets are typically fastened to studs, making them an excellent stud guide. Remove the outlet or light switch cover, peering inside with a flashlight until you spot which edge of the stud is attached to the box. From there, measure out 3/4 of an inch to locate the center of the stud.  

Another way to check for studs is to employ the knock test. Unroll a tape measure from a corner of your home and mark the wall with a pencil at 12, 16 and 24 inches, then knock the wall at each point. Areas without studs give off a low, hollow sound. Tapping a stud, however, produces a higher tone and more solid sound. 

Got a collection of fridge magnets? Pick the strongest one and use tape or string to dangle it along the wall, allowing it to pull you towards the nail in your stud. Once your magnet is pulled to the nail, measure 16 or 24 inches out to find the rest of the studs in your room. 

Raised or sunken imperfections running vertically on drywall can indicate fasteners were used to secure the panels to the studs. These fasteners can give you a solid idea of the center of the studs. Using a flashlight

Your baseboard is likely attached to studs, and if you follow it carefully, you should be able to find spots where it was nailed. These holes will probably look more like dimples, since they’ve already been filled with caulk and painted over, but you might be able to spot them if you look close enough. Next, trace a vertical line up your wall with a pencil, knocking along the line to hear if the sound is hollow or solid and using a magnet to spot your stud’s nail.  

The more methods you try, the greater the chance you’ll be able to safely and securely decorate—and your walls will thank you. 

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