The length of a 2 x 4

Well 92 5/8” + (1 1/2” * 3)= 97 1/8” not 97 1/2”.

Usually you use 5/8” drywall for the ceiling bring to total to 96 1/2”.

That extra 1/2” is at the floor which is covered by the base board. It’s to take into account any variations
that occur.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Thanks Gary,

Looks like my brain and typing finger are not working. The calculations on my scratch sheet were 97 1/8” but somehow by the time they got to the finger it was changed. I see about the 5/8” ceiling drywall- I thought it was 1/2” but I guess that would sag- especially if the ceiling joist were 2’ on center and alot of insulation laying on it.

Lew

You are way too fast Gary!! I thought this was my time to shine and be the first one to comment on something I knew the answer to. I’ll get you yet.

Lew: Ditto on what Gary said.

-- Tony, Ohio

I thought that the studs were cut for interior walls that do not use a double top plate. Exterior4 walls use a double top plate, or mayabe they do it different in other places.

-- Tom D

Also, if a section of floor is going to have linoleum, the framers might install 3/8” to 1/2” ply over the underlayment to raise the level up closer to the carpet level.

-- Dave Herron, Boise, ID -- “That which does not crash the browser, makes it stronger”

Bearing walls use a double top plate.

-- Dave Herron, Boise, ID -- “That which does not crash the browser, makes it stronger”

Gary and Dave are correct all interior bearing walls have to be double plated. Since square and level are relative terms in house construction there has to be some “give” space along the floor lines.

-- Genius is immediate, but talent takes time.

OK. All walls are normally double-plated, load bearing or not. That’s what pre-cut studs are for. It eliminates the human error factor in cutting hundreds of studs and allows all of your walls to be exactly the same height. Also, the double top plate ties all the walls together because they over-lap the adjoining walls.

Side note: You can also get pre-cuts in lengths of 104 5/8” for 9’ walls.

-- Tony, Ohio

Dag gum it – I actually knew this answer.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Excellent question and excellent answers. I look forward to the home improvement site Martin is working on.

-- Ron Central, CA

Ahhh, I am glad I use metric.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

I was taught almost 30 years ago that the reason for this stud length was that you didn’t want the drywall to touch the floor. Since you install the ceiling first, then the top section of the wall goes up (horizontally) against the ceiling, the bottom section goes up last. The gap on the bottom serves many purposes – 1) if the floor moves it could cause the drywall to crack or bow in the middle; 2) if the installer has to force in the sheet, it will bow in the middle and pop nail heads or screws heads later; 3) it allows you to put a wedge under it to raise it up tight to the top sheet (the wedge is on a pivot and you use your foot to raise the sheet); 4) it prevents the drywall from acting as a wick; 5) it gives the flooring installer a little extra room to tuck in carpet; 6) it allows you to do a better job extracting dust and debris before flooring is installed.

-- NorthWoodsMan

What happened back in the day when a 2×4 was a 2×4? Hmmmmmmmm! Framed houses for 20 years so I realize that measurement may have changed over the years. It would be a good history lesson.

-- Fred.... Poconos, PA ---- Chairwright in the making ----

So Grumpy, does this mean that you use a 2352.675mm stud rather than a 92 5/8” stud?

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

When I saw that “length of a 2×4” title, I thought you’d be relating the story of the man who goes to the lumber company and says ….....

“I’d like to buy a 2×4.”

The clerk says, “How long do you want it?”

To which the man replies, “Hell, I wanna keep it !”

-- Earle Wright, Lenoir City, Tennessee

I was taught here in New York and this how it was explained to me, sometimes a picture is worth more that words

Constructive criticism is always welcome here!!

I have a question, if I my. What are the length on a 12’ stud?

Ok, We got all that and all very good answers. But here is a question; Why or where did the 8 foot ceiling come from as a standard? When 10, 12 and 15 foot ceilings were a standard back in the 30s

-- Just another day in paradise.

money !

Money!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

The only time 5/8” is used in the ceiling, is for a fire rated/floor ceiling assembly as per UL rating. The industry norm is 1/2” unless the UL code dictates otherwise.

For example: (A garage with a room over)......... You would hang the ceiling and common walls to the house with 5/8” fire code “X” sheetrock. The exterior walls would hang with 1/2” sheetrock.

All sheetrock are applications are subject to code, ...... both local and state.

Thanks everyone for the great input. I was able to explain to the kids about the odd length. They built walls, corners and tees today and they seemed to have a better understanding of the wall height.

Lew

This has been an education.

-- Maplewood, MN

I am a drywall estimator. I have to go by code when ever I do a board count (take off).

1/2” is the norm for a ceiling unless it is a fire rated assembly.

Go to the Underwriter Labs website to learn more if you are curious, or want to do your own drywall in the future.

Alot of attached garages built before 1982-1983 have 1/2” through out the garage. But alot of localities have changed the code since then, requiring all common walls and ceilings to the house to hang with 5/8” “X” firecode sheetrock.