Common stud
A common stud is the full-height vertical member at standard spacing in a timber wall, carrying load between the top and bottom plates. How it is sized under AS 1684.
Ask Chalkline about this →A common stud is the full-height vertical member at the standard spacing in a timber-framed wall, running between the top plate and the bottom plate and carrying the standard wall load. It is the default framing member in a length of wall with no openings, the “every stud” that makes up most of the frame.
Spacing. Common studs sit at a regular centre-to-centre spacing, typically 450 mm or 600 mm, set by the wall type, the cladding and lining fixing requirements, and the load. Loadbearing and external walls are commonly at 450 mm; non-loadbearing internal walls may go to 600 mm where the span tables allow.
How it differs from other studs. A common stud is distinct from the studs around an opening:
- Trimmer (jack) studs are the shortened studs that support the lintel over a door or window.
- Common studs run the full height, plate to plate, away from openings.
Sizing. A common stud’s size (depth and thickness) is taken from the AS 1684 span tables, based on the wall height, the load width it carries, the wind classification, and the timber stress grade. You do not pick a stud size by habit; it comes from the table for the actual conditions.
On site. Common studs are tied top and bottom to the plates (with the fixing set by the wind class), and braced laterally by noggings at mid-height. Out-of-plumb or bowed common studs are a frame-inspection item because they affect both lining alignment and load path.
Also known as: standard stud, wall stud.
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Last updated: 2026-05-25. Verified: 2026-05-25. Quarterly review for currency.