# Stud Spacing: Start with the Wall Design Why stud spacing depends on the wall design, loads and lining or cladding system, and how to separate a take-off from structural approval. - Canonical HTML: https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/au/framing/stud-spacing-and-wall-framing/ - Publisher: Chippy Tools - Updated: 2026-09-06 - Market: au - Code edition / reference: NCC 2022 reference pathway - References: AS 1684.2; NCC22 H1D6 - Scope: Australian housing framing: reading plans, references and product details. No permitted member spans are supplied. - Source text checked: 2026-09-06 - Review scope: Public source text checked for this explanatory guide. No licensed span-table values or project design are verified. - Worked arithmetic checked: 2026-09-06 ## Use the spacing for that wall Stud spacing comes from the wall design and its lining or cladding system. Wall height, loads, wind, timber grade and section all matter. A spacing used on one wall may not suit the next. Use the plans for the wall you are setting out. ## Check the frame and the finish [NCC 2022 H1D6(4)](https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/editions/ncc-2022/adopted/volume-two/h-class-1-and-10-buildings/part-h1-structure) lists the timber framing routes. The finish has its own support and fixing details too. One example is [James Hardie’s ComTex guide](https://www.jameshardie.com.au/ContentfulCMS/Installation-Guide/ComTex_Panel_and_System_Installation_Guide.pdf). Section 8.2 sets framing and stud-spacing conditions for that system. Those conditions do not set one spacing for all wall products. | Wall detail | Question to resolve | |------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | Wall height and loads | Is this the wall type covered by the framing detail? | | Stud size and grade | Do both match the member schedule? | | Lining or cladding | Do sheet edges and fixings have the supports they need? | | Openings | Where are the lintel and its support studs shown? | | Corners and wall joins | Which extra studs or backing details are required? | Read the frame plan and product guide together. Ask the designer to resolve a mismatch before you set out the wall. ## Centres are not clear gaps Centres are measured from the centre of one stud to the next. Clear gaps are measured between their faces. Keep that distinction when marking the plates or entering a spacing calculation. A wall’s overall length is not always the distance between its end stud centres. ## Count a simple line Assume 3.6 m between the first and last stud centres. Use 0.6 m centres for this counting example: - `3.6 ÷ 0.6 = 6 spaces`. - `6 spaces + 1 = 7 stud positions`. This is an assumed layout, not a rule choosing 600 mm centres for a wall. It has no openings or extra support studs. ![Seven stud centre lines over 3.6 m, with six equal spaces of 0.6 m.](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/au/framing/stud-spacing-and-wall-framing/workflow.svg) **Diagram labels:** COUNT STUD POSITIONS; CHIPPY TOOLS; COUNT STUD POSITIONS; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 3.6 m between end centres; 6 spaces at 0.6 m • 7 positions *Chippy Tools counting example. The dimensions are assumed; no structural spacing is prescribed.* ## Turn positions into a timber list Mark corners, wall joins, openings and lintel supports on the layout. Some details add members; others replace positions in the plain run. Do not add a fixed number of studs per door or window. Follow each detail and avoid counting shared members twice. Keep full-height studs, short studs, plates and noggins as separate lines in the take-off. Add a waste allowance only after the net list is clear. The [stud and joist take-off guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/) explains the counting method for other lengths. ## Keep changes linked to the plan A wider opening or different cladding can change the frame details. Send the proposed change to the designer before ordering. Keep the accepted plan version with your list. Use the [MGP grade guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/au/framing/mgp10-vs-mgp12/) to check the timber marks at delivery, and the [code-check sheet](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/#code-check) to record open questions. ## Sources - [NCC 2022 H1D6(4)](https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/editions/ncc-2022/adopted/volume-two/h-class-1-and-10-buildings/part-h1-structure) - [James Hardie ComTex guide, section 8.2: timber framing and stud spacing](https://www.jameshardie.com.au/ContentfulCMS/Installation-Guide/ComTex_Panel_and_System_Installation_Guide.pdf) Publisher links identify the standards. This review did not inspect or reproduce their licensed span tables. - [AS 1684.2:2021 publisher catalogue](https://store.standards.org.au/product/as-1684-2-2021) Content adapted from the National Construction Code 2022, provided by the Australian Building Codes Board under the CC BY 4.0 licence. This page is general information for tradespeople and is not compliance, engineering or legal advice. Requirements are subject to state and territory variations and adoption timing. Always confirm requirements with your building certifier and relevant state authority. ## Frequently asked questions ### Should wall studs be at 450 mm or 600 mm centres? Use the spacing specified for the wall and its lining or cladding. Neither number is a universal choice. Wall height, loads, grade, size, wind and product details can change the answer. ### How many stud positions are there over 3.6 m at 600 mm centres? If 3.6 m is measured between the first and last stud centres, there are six spaces and seven positions. The example excludes openings, corners and additional support framing. It does not select a structural spacing. ### How many extra studs should I add for each opening? Use the opening and lintel-support details on the plans. There is no fixed allowance in this guide. Count the actual members and avoid double-counting a shared position. ### Is a clear gap the same as centre spacing? No. A clear gap runs between stud faces. Centre spacing runs from one stud centre to the next. Use the measure required by your layout or calculation. ## Source-check references - [NCC 2022 H1D6(4)](https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/editions/ncc-2022/adopted/volume-two/h-class-1-and-10-buildings/part-h1-structure) - [James Hardie ComTex guide, section 8.2: timber framing and stud spacing](https://www.jameshardie.com.au/ContentfulCMS/Installation-Guide/ComTex_Panel_and_System_Installation_Guide.pdf)