What Is the Standard Wall Thickness in a Residential Home?

Using 2-by-4 studs and half-inch sheetrock, the normal interior wall thickness of modern buildings with 2-by-4 studs and half-inch sheetrock is 4.5 inches. Typically, 2-by-6 studs are used in plumbing-containing walls, making these walls 6.5 inches thick. The thickness of exterior walls vary based on the exterior treatment, siding, and brick facing.

2-by-4 (inches) is the nominal dimension for rough-sawn, green studs. Drying and planing lower the size of the final product to the current standard of 1.5 by 3.5 inches. Interior walls of older structures may vary. Pre-1970 studs were thicker, measuring 3 5/8 inches as opposed to 3 5/8 inches, while lath and plaster is somewhat thicker than drywall. Still earlier, green, rough-sawn 2-by-4s were brought and planed on-site to a size decided solely by the individual carpenter. Measure the width of the door frame and subtract the thickness of the trim to determine the wall thickness in an existing house.