Sizing Metal Studs for Tall Interior Partitions

Metal studs are the ideal material to use for partitions and demising walls in commercial and industrial applications. You can separate rooms over 80′ in height. The page will support general contractors, framers, and builders in sizing metal studs for tall interior partitions. Note the information in this page walls with no vertical loads(just sheer loads for the drywall or other sheathing application).

There is basically 4 ways to increase the potential partition height of a metal stud wall. This article will give you table to help you make an informed choice.

• Increase metal stud gauge.
• Increase flange size.
• Increase web-size.
• Increase frequency of bracing.

Interior Wall Limiting Heights of standard metal stud sizes – Braced at 48″ oc

These are the limiting wall height for the most standard sizes of metal studs. You can frame up to 40′ with a 8″ 14 gauge metal stud. Sizes below are available up to use for construction for up to a 40′ non-load bearing partitions.

Construction Assumptions

• Five pounds per square foot (psf) is the assumed shear load. 5/8″ drywall is 2.2 lbs/sf of shear load on the stud face so a load of 5 psf covers 5/8″ drywall on both sides of the stud.
• The values in this catalog are based on the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, AISI S100-07 as referenced by 2009 International Building Code (IBC), AISI S100-07 with Supplement S2-10 as referenced by 2012 IBC and AISI S100-12 as referenced by 2015 IBC.
• While tall interior partitions have no vertical load they have a significant dead load or shear load from the weight of the drywall. IBC dictates in the case the design load be L/240. This is assumed for all values below. Explore our front page for current pricing.

Common member name	Stud Code	Maximum height
		16″ oc stud spacing	24″ oc stud spacing
3-5/8″ or 2×4 18 gauge metal stud	362S162-43	19’1″	16’8′
3-5/8″ or 2×4 16 gauge metal stud	362S162-54	20’6″	17’11”
3-5/8″ or 2×4 14 gauge metal stud	362S162-68	21’11”	19’2″
6″ 18 gauge metal stud	600S162-43	28′ 4″	24′ 9″
6″ 16 gauge metal stud	600S162-54	30′ 5″	26′ 7″
6″ 14 gauge metal stud	600S162-68	32′ 7″	28′ 6″
8″ 18 gauge metal stud	800S162-43	35′ 8″	31′ 1″
8″ 16 gauge metal stud	800S162-54	38′ 4″	33′ 6″
8″ 14 gauge metal stud	800S162-68	41′ 2″	35′ 11″

Metal studs for 40 ft+ interior partitions

40’+ wall heights are common in large event venues, manufacturing separation walls, and Churches. To achieve partition heights of over 40 ft+ you can do a few things

• Use heavier gauge studs(14,12 gauge or 10 gauge)
• Brace studs 4″ OC
• Use wider webbed studs or large flange studs

Construction Assumptions

• Five pounds per square foot (psf) is the assumed shear load. 5/8″ drywall is 2.2 lbs/sf of shear load on the stud face so a load of 5 psf covers 5/8″ drywall on both sides of the stud.
• The values in this catalog are based on the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, AISI S100-07 as referenced by 2009 International Building Code (IBC), AISI S100-07 with Supplement S2-10 as referenced by 2012 IBC and AISI S100-12 as referenced by 2015 IBC.
• While tall interior partitions have no vertical load they have a significant dead load or shear load from the weight of the drywall. IBC dictates in the case the design load be L/240. This is assumed for all values below.

Common member name	Stud Code	Maximum wall height	Maximum wall height	Maximum wall height
		12″ oc stud spacing	16″ oc stud spacing	24″ oc stud spacing
8 x 2 – 16 ga metal stud	800S200-54	44’2″	40’2″	35’1″
8 x 2.5 – 16 ga metal stud	800S250-54	45’11”	41’8″	36’5″
8″ – 14 ga metal stud	800S162-68	45’3″	41’1″	35’11”
8 x 2 – 14 ga metal stud	800S200-68	47’5″	43’1″	37’8″
8 x 2.5 – 14 ga metal stud	800S250-68	49’6″	44’11”	39’3″
8″ – 12 ga metal stud	800S162-97	50’4″	45’9″	39’11”
8 x 2 – 12 ga metal stud	800S200-97	52’9″	47’11”	41’11”
8 x 2.5 – 12 ga metal stud	800S250-97	55’2″	50’1″	43’9″
10″ – 16 ga metal stud	1000S162-54	49’9″	45’2″	39’6″
10 x 2 – 16 ga metal stud	1000S200-54	52’1″	47’4″	41’4″
10 x 2.5 – 16 metal stud	1000S250-54	54’11”	49’11”	43’7″
10″ – 14 ga metal stud	1000S162-68	53’11”	49’0″	42’10”
10 x 2 – 14 ga metal stud	1000S200-68	56’5″	51’3″	44’9″
10 x 2.5 – 14 metal stud	1000S250-68	59’1″	53’8″	46’11”
10″ – 12 ga metal stud	1000S162-97	60’+	55’1″	48’1″
10 x 2 – 12 ga metal stud	1000S200-97	60’+	57’6″	50’3″
10 x 2.5 – 12 metal stud	1000S250-97	60’+	59’10”	52’4″
12″ – 16 ga metal stud	1200S162-54	57’3″	52’0″	45’5″
12 x 2 – 16 ga metal stud	1200S200-54	59’10”	54’4″	47’6″
12 x 2.5 – 16 metal stud	1200S250-54	60’+	56’7″	49’5″
12″ – 14 ga metal stud	1200S162-68	60’+	56’7″	49’5″
12 x 2 – 14 ga metal stud	1200S200-68	60’+	59’0″	51’6″
12 x 2.5 – 14 metal stud	1200S250-68	60’+	60’+	53’8″
12″ – 12 ga metal stud	1200S162-97	60’+	60’+	60’+
12 x 2 – 12 ga metal stud	1200S200-97	60’+	60’+	60’+
12 x 2.5 – 12 metal stud	1200S250-97	60’+	60’+	60’+

Construction Considerations

It can be difficult to drill through higher gauge metal studs. This becomes especially tedious if you’re expect to attach several drywall sheets. Budget more labor for the thicker gauge studs. A 1200S162-68 (14 gauge 12″ stud) is about 4 lbs/LF. So consider it take multiple framers to move around these studs.

Different Deflection Limits

Drywall is designed to be hung on a (L/240) limit. The stricter deflection limits expect cost to increase as tighter stud spacing or higher gauges are needed for stiffer assemblies. For example more sophisticated finishes like cement board, stucco or plaster have a specified deflection limit of L/360. The higher deflection needed correlates with an increased assembly cost.

Total Assembly Costs

Assemblies vary job to job of course but here are two approximate scenarios. Allowable composite limiting heights are calculated using ICC-ES AC86-2012

Length: 100′ Height: 20′ Depth: 6″ Sheathing: 5/8″ Drywall on both sides (L/240 Defection limit)

We can frame this with a 600S162-43 (18 ga 6″ studs at 24″ o.c spacing.) We will also put CRC bracing at 8 ft o.c. The total cost for the studs, track, and bracing would be about $2500 for a wall this length, or about $2.5/SF of wall for the metal studs.

Length: 100′ Height: 40′ Depth: 8″ Sheathing: 5/8″ Drywall on both sides (L/240 Defection limit)

To reach the height of 40′ we must frame this with a 800S162-68 (14 ga 8″ studs at 16″ o.c spacing.) We will also put CRC bracing at 4 ft o.c. The total cost for the studs, track, and bracing would be about $13000 for a wall this length, or about $3.25/SF of wall for the metal studs. As you can see the costs per SF of wall up considerably the higher you try and build. This doesn’t even take into consideration in the extra effort to drill into 14 ga studs.

Additional Recourses

SSMA Technical Catalog