Drywall partition calculator

Building a metal stud wall? Enter the length and height of the wall and choose your stud size, and we’ll tell you how many C studs and lengths of U track you need, priced live and ready for your basket. That’s all you need for the metal.

If you want the full list, tick the optional extras for acoustic roll, plasterboard, screws, door openings and tape. Studs and track come in packs of 10 lengths.

1Studs & track

Track is 2mm wider than the stud so the studs slot in.

Your materials list

Acoustic partition roll in the stud cavity noticeably cuts the sound passing between rooms, for very little extra cost. We match the roll thickness to your studs.

Estimate only. Quantities are a guide for a straight wall. Allow for cuts, wastage, corners, services and any fire, acoustic or height requirements, and check the final list with your installer or the system specification. Call us on 03330 908479 and we’ll check it over before you order.

2Optional extras

Leave these off if you only need the metal.

Added to boards, screws, tape and insulation. Studs are counted exactly and track comes from a cutting list.

How to use the calculator

  1. Measure the wall length along the floor and the height from floor to ceiling, in metres.
  2. Choose the stud size, centres and metal range. The studs and track list appears straight away.
  3. Want the rest? Tick acoustic insulation, doors, boards or tape and the list grows to match.
  4. Press Add to basket. Everything shown with a price goes in; you can tweak quantities in the basket.

How we calculate

We follow British Gypsum’s guidance for metal stud partitions (White Book, GypWall Classic and the Site Book good practice guide):

  • Studs: wall length divided by the stud centres, rounded up, plus one for the end, so there’s a stud at both abutments. We use the shortest stud length we stock that is at least your wall height (a 2.4m wall gets 2.4m studs, a 2.5m wall 2.7m studs). If your wall is taller than our longest stud in that size, give us a call.
  • Track: one run along the floor and one along the ceiling, cut from whole lengths with offcuts reused.
  • Doors: an extra stud each side of the opening sleeved with track to door height, a head track 300mm longer than the opening, short studs above the head, and no floor track across the opening.
  • Boards: wall area less openings, plus wastage, for each side and layer. Screws at 300mm centres into every stud (about 27 per 2400 x 1200 sheet at 600mm centres).
  • Acoustic roll: wall area less openings, plus wastage, divided by the coverage of one roll.
  • Metal is rounded up to packs of 10; screws, tape and insulation to whole boxes, rolls or packs.

Questions

Which stud size should I use?

50mm or 70mm studs suit most domestic walls up to about 3m. Go wider (92mm or 146mm) for taller walls, better sound insulation or where services run in the wall. Check the maximum height for your stud size in the system guidance, or give us a call.

Do I need acoustic roll?

It’s not structural, but a roll of acoustic insulation in the cavity makes a real difference to noise between bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces, and it costs little compared with the rest of the wall.

Why is the stud and track sold in packs of 10?

That’s how the metal is bundled and delivered. We round up to whole packs and show the price per length so you can compare easily; spare lengths come in handy for noggings and openings.

How is it delivered?

By Moffett-mounted lorry in 2–3 working days. Delivery to England and Wales is free on orders over £500 ex VAT, and £50 ex VAT below that. There is a £400 ex VAT minimum order.