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Lowes.com How-To Tip: Finding Studs and Joists in Your Walls Hidden studs and joists can be located in several ways. The easiest way is often to look for visible signs of the nails that hold wallboard to the studs–small dents or nail heads. Hold a strong flashlight at a sharp angle to the wall or ceiling to highlight them. With most construction, studs are spaced 16" or 24" apart, from center to center. Measure out from a corner in multiples of those distances. Then lightly tap the area. A solid sound will indicate a section of wall with a stud behind it. If you're still not sure about the locations, you can buy a small, handheld electronic device called a stud finder. This device will beep or flash when it passes over a solid framing member. Slide the finder along the surface until it signals the location of a wall stud or joist, then find others by measuring (one will usually be located 16" or 24" from there). Find studs behind plaster walls by driving a small test nail just above the baseboard. Then use the measurements above to locate others around the room. Visit Lowes.com
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