A shorter stud under the header that carries its load.

What size header do I need?

It depends on span and load — check local code or a span table.

Short studs above a header or below a window sill.

Does this replace a plan?

No. It's a materials estimate; follow local code and your plans.

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🏗️Framing Calculator

Estimate studs, plates, king and jack studs, headers, cripples and sheathing for a wall.

Your wall

Wall length

Wall height

Stud spacing

Doors

Door width

Windows

Window width

Waste factor

You'll need about

25 studs

10 common + 6 king + 6 jack (incl. 10% waste) · 6 sheathing sheets

plate lin ft

king studs

jack studs

headers

header lin ft

19.5

cripples

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Studs (2×4 × 8 ft)25 studs
Plate lumber (2×4, 16 ft)4 boards
Header lumber (2×8)20 linear ft
Cripple studs (cut from 2×4)15 pieces
Sheathing (4×8 sheets)6 sheets

Header size depends on the span and the load above it — check local code or a span table for anything over about 4 feet.

How it works

Common studs = (length in inches ÷ spacing) + 1, minus the studs that fall inside openings. Each opening gets 2 king and 2 jack studs and a doubled header (opening width + 3 in). Cripples fill above doors and above and below windows. Plates = length × 3. Sheathing sheets = wall area ÷ 32. Waste is added to studs and sheathing.

Worked example

A 20 × 8 ft wall at 16 in with one 36 in door and two 36 in windows: 10 common + 6 king + 6 jack = 22, × 1.1 = 25 studs. You'll also need 60 ft of plate, 19.5 ft of header, 15 cripples and 6 sheets of sheathing.