Studs are vertical framing members in a wall that provide support and structure to the wall. They are typically made of wood or metal and are spaced equally to suit the dimensions of the covering sheet materials, usually 16 or 24 inches on center (measured from center to center) along the wall and run between the floor and ceiling. Drywall or lath (for plaster walls) attaches to the edge of the studs. Studs are used to frame around window and door openings and are given different names, including king stud, queen stud, trimmer or jack, and cripple stud.

Studs are important because they provide a strong anchor point for hanging heavy objects, such as large pictures, mirrors, shelves, and television mounting systems. When hanging heavy objects, it is important to anchor them in studs because the wall alone is not strong enough to support the weight. Studs hold these fasteners better, preventing them from pulling out under the weight of the object.

To find studs, you can use an electronic stud finder or try to find them manually. If your walls are drywall, a stud finder locates studs quickly and accurately. It’s less effective on lath/plaster walls, but some have a metal-scanning feature that may locate the nails securing the lath to the studs. Several of the manual methods below are helpful if you have lath/plaster walls.