How To Find a Wall Stud Without a Stud Finder
You need to find studs in the wall when hanging pictures, shelving, mirrors, wall-mount TVs, and other heavy objects. Otherwise, there is a good chance that they fall off or the fastener pulls out of the drywall.
Not everyone has a stud finder and some people can’t figure out how to use one. There are other ways to find studs. Here are a few to try.
What Is a Wall Stud?
Wall studs are 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 wood or steel framing members that provide the skeleton of house walls–somewhat like the bones in a body. The exterior sheathing and interior drywall are attached to them and services like plumbing, electrical, and HVAC use them for support.
How Far Apart Are Wall Studs?
Knowing the distance between studs ensures that everything attached to the walls–inside and outside–finds solid backing. North American building codes require wall stud spacing to be 16” or 24” apart–measured from center to center of the studs. The face of each stud is 1 ½”. The actual open space between studs is 14 ½” or 22 ½”.
This leaves you a lot of open space to miss between studs. Knowing how far studs are apart lets you measure from the first one you find to the rest of the studs in the wall
How To Find Studs
Here are six ways to find studs in a wall. Once you have found one stud, you can measure to find any other studs in the wall that you need.
1. Electrical Switches and Plug Boxes
Switch boxes and plug boxes are almost always attached to a stud. Remove the cover and use a small flat screwdriver inserted at an angle beside the box to find which side the stud is on. (Turn the breaker off first.) Measure three-quarter inch from the edge of the box to find the center of the stud it is attached to. Make a mark. Measure 16” or 24” from the mark to find the next stud in the wall on either side.
2. Magnet
You are most likely to find drywall fasteners four feet off the floor because drywall is usually installed horizontally leaving a joint at four feet with a fastener in each sheet of drywall. Move a strong magnet slowly along the four-foot line until it attaches to a fastener. Screws are about one inch above and below four feet. Once you have found the fastener use a level to follow the stud vertically above and below.
3. Knocking
Knocking sharply on the wall with your knuckles is a time-tested method to find studs. There is a definite difference in sound between the hollows and the solid sound of knocking on a stud. Make sure the room is quiet so it is easy to differentiate between sounds. Once you have found the stud, drill a small hole to confirm if you don’t trust your hearing.
4. Baseboard Nails
Look for brad nails in the baseboard. The trim is often attached to a stud. Use a level to make a mark two or three feet off the floor and try knocking on the wall to confirm there is a stud. This method is prone to false positives because many finishing carpenters brad into the sill plate or drywall–not the studs.
5. Flashlight
Drywall screws and nails are often not filled perfectly or they have popped out of the stud. Holding a flashlight at an angle to the wall so it shines across the drywall makes it easier to spot imperfections. Run a magnet over the spot you think is a fastener to confirm you have found a stud.
6. Drill Holes
If you think you are close to a stud, drill 1/16” holes about one inch apart until you find the stud. Small holes are easily patched with spackle. Or if you are hanging a large picture, it covers the holes.