
Hanging a picture, mounting a TV, or anchoring furniture can be tricky, but it gets easier when you know how to find a stud in the wall. Using a stud finder is the most reliable method.
Mechanical engineer Colin Young notes: “…the best [way] I’ve found is to use a stud finder. The type with 10+ indicator LEDs tends to work best in my experience.”
This article will guide you through the step-by-step process of using a stud finder. By the time you reach the end, you’ll be able to find wall studs in a matter of minutes.
But first: a stud finder is not the only way to find the studs in your walls. If you don’t have one, check out our article on how to find studs without a stud finder.
Step 1: Get a Stud Finder
First, you’ll need to equip yourself with the right tool. You’ll need a stud finder with the right combination of features to make the process as fast and easy as possible.
To help you find the right tool, we’ll highlight some important features to look for in a stud finder.
The first thing to watch out for is the type of stud finder. While some stud finders point directly to the middle of a stud, others find the edges of studs. The former are called center finders, and the latter are edge finders.

A metal scanner is another great feature to be on the lookout for. Some stud finders have a ‘metal scanner mode’ that allows them to detect metal inside your walls. If utilized correctly, you can use them to find metal pipes, nails, screws, plastic pipes, and other conduits within your walls.
You should also keep an eye out for a wire detection feature. Many stud finders can warn you about live wires inside your walls.
Our expert Colin says that most stud finders will have the ability to check for electrical current behind the wall. This can help determine if there are wires within.
Stud finders with lots of features can be more expensive than simpler ones but can save you a lot of trouble down the road.
Step 2: Place the Stud Finder on the Wall
Load some batteries into the stud finder and place it firmly against the wall. To calibrate the stud finder, start on a hollow part of the wall.
One way to find a hollow zone is to look for electrical boxes, like outlets or light switches, which are usually secured to studs. The areas a few inches beyond the box will likely have no studs. As a rule of thumb, you should aim 6 – 8 inches away from the electrical box.

Step 3: Move the Stud Finder
If you’ve found an ideal spot to place your stud finder, your next step is to move the tool around and use it to locate the edges of your studs.
Here’s how to move the stud finder and locate the studs in your wall:
- Press or hold the button on the device
- Slowly move the stud finder straight toward the left or right
- Keep going until you get an alert (red light, sometimes accompanied by beeping)
- Continue moving the tool in that same direction until the alert stops
- Hold your position
- Move the stud finder back, towards the direction you brought it from.
- Continue until you hear the alert again.
The first alert means that you’ve located one edge of the stud, and the second alert signifies the other edge of it.
Step 4: Mark Stud Edges

As the name implies, this is the stage where you take note of your stud edges. This step involves using a pencil or some other erasable tool to mark the locations where the alert was triggered.
Since your stud finder is locating edges, you’d be marking edges. But it’s also important to mark the center of the studs, as this is where you’ll eventually nail or drill into. To find the center of a stud, just measure the distance between the first and second edges, and divide it by 2.
Step 5: Verify!
Stud finders are helpful and convenient tools, but they’re not infallible. It’s important to be sure that you’ve found a stud before you start drilling.
Double-Check the Area
One way to do this is by tapping the wall with your knuckles. The sound of the wall can tell you whether there’s a stud within it or not. If there’s a stud in the wall, tapping it will produce a dull, solid sound. If there isn’t, the sound will be shallow and echoey – like hitting an empty barrel.
Another method is to measure the distance between one stud center and the one that comes after it. Check out our article “How Far Apart Are Studs?” to learn more.
The width of the studs you marked can also help determine if you’ve really found a stud. Studs are often 1½ to 2 inches wide. If the width of the stud you marked is different from this range, then it may not be a stud. It could be detecting pipes, electrical wires, ductwork, or other objects instead.
Make Sure It’s a Stud
Stud finders work by getting a reading of a hollow wall and taking notice when something changes. They simply indicate parts of a wall that are not hollow. This can mean they can also react to ducts, piping, and electrical wiring.
Note: Wall studs can be complex. Our guides will help you understand what wall studs are, as well as the various types of wall studs.
It’s important to note that drilling or nailing into a plumbing pipe or electrical wire can cause damage to your home and even serious injury.
This is where the “metal-scanner mode” comes into play.
After locating a stud with your stud finder, activate the metal scanner and slowly run the finder vertically —upwards or downwards— over that spot. As you do this, you need to keep three things in mind:
- If you consistently get a metal reading, it’s probably a metal pipe or electrical wiring. Do not drill!
- If you get metal readings at intervals, you’ve likely found nails or screws in the wall.
- If you don’t get a metal reading, you may have found a plastic or PVC pipe.
Main Image Credit: Luiza / Adobe Stock / License