16-inch stud spacing standard

Studs (wall framing members) are placed on either 16" or 24" centers. This means from the exact center of one stud to the exact center of the adjacent stud is 16 or 24 inches. This convention has evolved from years of established trade practice, building code changes and a need for uniformity through-out the industry, the concept is based more on accommodating the wall-covering materials than on the actual calculation of imposed loads. The regular stud spacing in a wall is continuous along the wall, irregardless of any openings, so that wall surface materials can be applied with a minimum of cutting.