How to Find a Stud in a Plaster Wall

Residental Remodeling Expert Josh Goldenberg explains, "Oftentimes, baseboards are nailed to the wall on the studs. Similarly, switches and outlets are mounted on studs as well." Check the baseboards along the floor to see if you can find nail heads or divots in the wood. Keep your eyes peeled since the nail holes are usually painted over or filled in when they’re finished. If you find a spot where the baseboard is nailed in, knock on the wall to see if it makes a solid thunk to make sure there’s a stud there.^[2]

• If the wall sounds hollow when you tap on it, then try to find another nail in the baseboards.

Metal detectors find where slats are nailed into studs. Use a small handheld metal detector and place the edge flush against your wall. Slowly run the detector across your wall in long sweeping motions. When you hear the metal detector beep, run it over the wall even slower to zero in on the position of the nails. Mark the stud’s location with a pencil so you don’t forget it.^[3]

• You may get inaccurate readings if your plaster wall has a wire mesh support.

The magnet will stick to the hardware already in your studs. Use a heavy-duty magnet rather than a small flimsy one on your fridge. Tie a piece of string around the magnet and hold it against your wall. Walk slowly along the wall, dragging the magnet across the surface to see if it sticks. If it ever gets stuck, it could mean that there’s a stud behind the plaster.^[4]

• The magnet picks up where the horizontal wooden slats are nailed into the studs.
• If you have metal slats or supports behind your plaster, then a magnet won’t give you conclusive results and you’ll need to try another test.

Magnetic stud finders stick to where your studs are nailed to the wall frame. According to Residential Remodeling Expert Josh Goldenberg, "stud finders work magnetically [...] to locate your studs without much guesswork." A magnetic stud finder is a small cube- or bar-shaped tool that’s attracted to nails and screws. Hold the magnetic stud finder against the wall about 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) from the floor or ceiling. Slowly walk the magnet across your wall until you meet resistance, which means you’ve hit a stud.^[5]

• Magnetic stud finders won’t work if you have metal supports instead of wood behind the plaster.
• Stud finders are rather inexpensive devices that are easy to use.

Electrical boxes are attached to studs that you can use as references. Residential Remodeling Expert Josh Goldenberg shares that "similar [to baseboards], switches and outlets are mounted on studs." If you have a wall outlet, switch, or any other type of electrical box on the wall, there’s a stud running along either the left or right side.^[6] Take the faceplate off of the outlet or switch and position a screwdriver in the bottom corner between the electrical box and the plaster. Push the screwdriver in gently, and if it meets resistance, then the stud is on that side of the box.^[7]

Studs are the same distance apart throughout your entire wall. If you know the location of one stud but you want to find another in your wall, you can easily measure them. Since the centers of studs are usually 16–24 inches (41–61 cm) apart, just stretch a tape measure across your wall starting on the known stud. Mark your measurement on the wall so you know where the other studs are located.^[8]

• Studs run vertically up the wall, so any that you find will span from the floor to the ceiling.