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Steel Stud Partition Calculator

Studs, boards, screws and infill in one go.

Quick answer

With the default inputs: Partition length 20 · Partition height 3.0 · Stud spacing 400 mm etc.Plasterboard sheets 45 sheets

Edit the inputs below to recalculate.
Stud spacingPartition height mPartition length m
Studs run at 400 or 600 mm to suit the board width, with noggings at board joints. Above 4 m height you need horizontal bracing.

Inputs

Result

Plasterboard sheets
45sheets
Wall area60.0m²
Studs / length51 bars / 153.0 m
Track (top and bottom)40.0m
Cross rails / length3 rows / 60.0 m
Board area incl. 8% waste129.6m²
Screws3000screws
Mineral wool area / volume60 m² / 3.00 m³

Conventional estimating: studs at 400 or 600 mm (400 for 9.5 mm boards or walls over 3 m), track at twice the wall length, cross rails every 1.2 m, one board layer each side (doubled if specified), about 25 screws per m² per layer and 8% board waste for openings and cuts. Add opening framing, corner beads, joint tape and jointing compound. Acoustic and fire-rated partitions need layer counts and infill determined by the fire and acoustic standards, not by this estimate.

Formula

Studs = ceil(L ÷ spacing) + 1; length = count × H
Track = L × 2; cross rails = ceil(H ÷ 1.2) × L
Board area = area × 2 sides × layers × 1.08one sheet = 2.88 m²
Screws = board area × 25
20 m long, 3 m high, 400 mm studs, single layer with mineral wool: 60 m² of wall; 51 studs totalling 153 m; 40 m of track; 3 rows of cross rails at 60 m; 129.6 m² of board with waste, so 45 sheets; 3000 screws; 60 m² (3.00 m³) of mineral wool.

How to work it out

  1. Establish the partition area and fix the framing: studs at 400 mm (300 mm where acoustic or heavy-hanging performance matters), with head and base tracks.
  2. Studs = partition length ÷ spacing, rounded up plus one — both ends need a stud.
  3. Head and base track = length × 2; lateral bracing at 1.2-1.5 m vertical intervals, levels = height ÷ 1.2 rounded up.
  4. Sheets = both faces ÷ sheet area × layers per face × (1 + 8% waste). Doubling the layers doubles acoustics and fire resistance without extra steel.
  5. Add insulation (area × density), screws (about 25 per m² per layer) and joint tape by total joint length.

Where it goes wrong

Material and cost

Steel stud 8-15 CNY/m, plasterboard 20-45 per sheet, mineral wool (50 mm, 80 kg/m³) 20-40 CNY/m², labour with installation 45-80 CNY/m². Single-layer each side 100-160 CNY/m²; acoustic double layer 180-260.

On site

Basis

FAQ

What is the difference between 400 and 600 mm studs?
Board span and wall stiffness. At 600 mm the board deflects more, the wall feels springy and cracks after impact; 400 mm is stiffer and better acoustically and against impact, at 50% more studs. Guidance: 400 mm for 9.5 mm boards or walls over 3 m; 600 mm acceptable for 12 mm boards up to 3 m; tighten for fire, acoustic or heavy-hanging requirements.
Can a partition carry a TV or wall cabinet?
A single-layer partition takes only light items. For heavy loads you must either fix into the studs with proper stud fixings, add timber or steel blocking, or install extra noggings and backing before closing the wall. Retro-fitting expansion anchors fails - plasterboard cannot hold them and cracks around the fixing. Mark heavy-load positions on the drawings up front.
Why does double boarding help acoustics so much?
The mass law: doubling surface mass adds about 5-6 dB. Two layers double the mass, and the interface dissipates some sound energy. With mineral wool in the cavity absorbing and damping resonance, a single-leaf 35 dB partition can exceed 50 dB. Note that two boards glued tight is worse than board-stud-board with a real cavity - do not fill the cavity solid to save space.

Cite this page

Use this format in reports, method statements or coursework. The link is permanent.

Building Calculator. Steel Stud Partition Calculator. 2026-10-25. https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/partition-stud

Results are estimating aids only and are not a design basis. Construction and final accounts must follow the drawings, the applicable standards and an approved method statement. Anything affecting structural safety, shoring or falsework must be checked by a suitably qualified engineer.