Metal Stud Sizes & Dimensions Chart
The standard interior metal stud is 3 5/8 inches deep (3.625 in., about 92 mm) with a 1 1/4 or 1 5/8 inch flange. Common depths run 1 5/8, 2 1/2, 3 5/8, 4 and 6 inches, with 8 inch and deeper studs for tall or structural walls, usually in lengths from 8 to 16 feet. Size is the web depth; steel thickness is a separate spec, covered in the metal stud gauge chart.
Metal stud sizes and dimensions (web depth)
| Nominal size | Actual depth (in.) | Approx. mm | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 5/8" | 1.625" | 41 | Furring, chases, soffits |
| 2 1/2" | 2.5" | 64 | Short interior partitions, furring walls |
| 3 5/8" | 3.625" | 92 | The standard interior partition |
| 4" | 4" | 102 | Taller partitions, plumbing walls |
| 6" | 6" | 152 | Tall walls, shaft walls, exterior curtain-wall backup |
| 8" | 8" | 203 | Very tall or load-bearing walls |
The nominal size is the actual web depth, so an "8 metal stud" has an actual size of 8 inches deep, unlike lumber where a 2x4 is smaller than its name. Millimetre values are converted from inches and rounded.
Reading a stud designation
Part numbers follow the pattern depth, type, flange, thickness. In 362S162-43, 362 is the web depth in hundredths of an inch (3.62, a 3 5/8" stud), S means stud, 162 is the flange (1 5/8") and 43 is the thickness in mils. Track (T) uses the same pattern; a 1 1/4" flange appears as 125 and 1 3/8" as 137.
Metal stud width: flange and track
When people ask for metal stud width they usually mean the flange, the narrow face the board is screwed to. Studs usually have 1 1/4" (about 32 mm) or 1 5/8" (about 41 mm) flanges and a small return lip. Track (runner) matches the stud's web depth and runs along the floor and ceiling; deflection (slip) track is common at the top of partitions that stop under a floor or roof deck. Count track as twice the wall length in 10 ft sticks, plus deflection track where the details call for it.
Metal stud length: what lengths do steel studs come in?
Studs are commonly stocked in 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16 foot lengths, and 10 ft is the most common. Many suppliers will also cut to a specific length for tall walls. Lengths in stock vary by region, depth and thickness, so confirm with your supplier. For a takeoff, round each wall height up to the next available length and allow for offcut waste.
Metal stud wall dimensions (finished thickness)
| Stud | 1 layer 5/8" each side | 2 layers 5/8" each side |
|---|---|---|
| 2 1/2" | 3 3/4" | 5" |
| 3 5/8" | 4 7/8" | 6 1/8" |
| 6" | 7 1/4" | 8 1/2" |
Finished wall thickness on the plans = stud depth + board layers. A 3 5/8" stud with 5/8" gypsum both sides draws as a 4 7/8" wall.
Metal stud sizes in mm (metric)
Steel stud sizes in mm for the US series are straight conversions: 41, 64, 92, 102, 152 and 203 mm web depths, with 32 mm and 41 mm flanges. Metric-market products (Europe, UK, Australia) come in their own metric series with thickness in millimetres, so do not assume a US stud and a metric stud with similar numbers are interchangeable. Aluminum studs are a separate product line and are not covered here.
Gauge in brief
Stud depth does not change with gauge; a 3 5/8" stud is 3 5/8" deep in any thickness. Gauge only sets the steel thickness: a lower number means thicker, and interior drywall studs are usually 25 ga (18 mil) or 20 ga (30 mil) while structural studs start at 33 mil. For the full table, mil conversions, color codes and uses, see the metal stud gauge chart.
Which stud depth for which wall?
Typical use, not a code rule: 1 5/8 in. for furring and some ceiling framing, 2 1/2 in. for narrow partitions, 3 5/8 in. for most interior walls, 6 in. where a wall needs to hold pipes or run taller. The wall-type legend on your plan set names the depth, gauge and spacing for each wall; follow it, and check manufacturer limiting-height tables for tall walls. ReadMyBlueprint reads those legend rows and groups each wall by depth and gauge, so a 3 5/8 in. wall and a 6 in. wall never blend into one line. See metal framing takeoff and what O.C. means.
How this shows up in a takeoff
- Group walls by stud depth and gauge. Same depth, different gauge = different line items.
- Check the wall type legend for spacing: 16" o.c. is common, 24" o.c. for some partitions, 12" for tall or tile walls.
- Stud count ≈ wall length ÷ spacing + 1, plus extras at corners and openings. Try the metal stud calculator.
- Heights beyond limiting-height tables (per manufacturer) often force a heavier gauge or deeper stud; the drawings usually specify it, but it's worth a check.
Quick answers
What are standard metal stud sizes?
Common web depths are 1 5/8, 2 1/2, 3 5/8, 4 and 6 inches, with 8 inch and deeper used for tall or structural walls. 3 5/8 inch is the standard interior partition stud.
What is the actual size of an 8 inch metal stud?
An 8 inch stud has an 8 inch web depth (8.00 in., about 203 mm). The nominal name is the web depth; the steel thickness is a separate number given in mils.
What does 3 5/8 metal stud mean?
It is the stud's web depth: 3.625 inches (about 92 mm). With 5/8 inch drywall on both sides, the finished wall is about 4 7/8 inches thick.
What are the dimensions of a metal stud wall?
Wall thickness is stud depth plus the board on each side: a 3 5/8 inch stud with one layer of 5/8 inch board per side is about 4 7/8 inches, and with two layers per side about 6 1/8 inches. Flanges are typically 1 1/4 or 1 5/8 inches wide.
What lengths do metal studs come in?
Commonly stocked in 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 16 foot lengths, and often cut or ordered to a specific wall height. Availability varies by supplier and gauge, so check with your supplier.
What are steel stud sizes in mm?
1 5/8 in. is about 41 mm, 2 1/2 in. about 64 mm, 3 5/8 in. about 92 mm, 4 in. about 102 mm, 6 in. about 152 mm and 8 in. about 203 mm. These are conversions of the US sizes; metric-market products use their own series.
How wide is a metal stud?
Width usually means the flange (the face the drywall screws into): 1 1/4 or 1 5/8 inches, with some series at 1 3/8 inches. The web depth is the dimension that sets wall thickness.
Are there aluminum studs and what sizes?
This page covers cold-formed steel studs. Aluminum framing is a separate product line with manufacturer-specific sizes; not checked here.
What gauge are metal studs?
Interior drywall studs are typically 25 gauge (18 mil) or 20 gauge (30 mil); structural studs start at 33 mil. See the metal stud gauge chart for the full gauge, mil and thickness table.
Count it from the plans instead
Upload a digital plan set and ReadMyBlueprint measures every wall, matched to the plan's own wall types. Your first plan set is free.
Try it freeSources: ClarkDietrich and CEMCO stud designations and flange series; Construction Specifier on ASTM C645 flange minimums; supplier length listings (not checked against every supplier). Confirm sizes and lengths against your supplier's current catalog.
Related: Metal stud gauge chart · Reading a wall type legend · Free calculators · How to do a takeoff · Glossary