Brett Field
Wall studs in Australian homes are usually 450 to 600 mm apart, according to YourHome, the Australian Government's guide to building a home. Steel studs are spaced about the same as timber ones.
Below is what that means in a real wall: how deep the frame is, how to find a stud, what noggins are, and what to sort out before you hang a vanity, cupboards or a TV. Checked on 26 October 2026.
How far apart are studs in Australia?
Usually 450 to 600 mm. YourHome says studs are 35 or 45 mm thick, depending on the load on the wall and how far apart they are. Your own wall could be either spacing, so check it before you drill.
| Part of a timber wall frame | Typical size |
|---|---|
| Gap between studs | Usually 450 to 600 mm |
| Depth of the frame | 70 mm or 90 mm |
| Thickness of each stud | 35 mm or 45 mm |
| Top and bottom plates | Typically 90 x 45 mm, doubled up for heavier loads |
| Noggins (short cross pieces) | At half or a third of the wall height |
Source: YourHome, Lightweight framing, checked 26 October 2026.
600 mm is also the widest gap Laminex allows for its Surround wall panels, which go over plasterboard. Its quick guide says studs must be no more than 600 mm apart. If your wall needs more support than that, it says to get a qualified tradesperson to add it.
Frame depth matters for more than strength. YourHome says a 70 mm frame generally fits R1.5 insulation batts, while a 90 mm frame fits R2.0 or R2.5.
How far apart are steel studs?
About the same as timber. YourHome says steel wall frames are also typically 70 or 90 mm deep, and that stud spacing and noggins are similar to timber.
Steel gets its strength a different way. Instead of a thicker stud, the maker uses thicker steel or adds folds and bends to the shape.
A few things are different with steel:
- Cables and pipes. YourHome says steel frames often have pre-notched openings for them, and cables need cushioning grommets where they pass through, so the steel does not damage them.
- Insulation. Steel passes heat easily, so YourHome says the frame must be insulated properly to stop cold spots and condensation.
- Termites. A steel frame does not remove the need for termite protection. YourHome says termites can still eat the paper on plasterboard, the joinery and even books.
How do you find a stud?
Use a stud finder. That is what Laminex tells installers to do before fixing its panels to a plasterboard wall, because the studs are the fixing points.
Once you find one, measure 450 mm and 600 mm along the wall and check both spots with the finder. That tells you which spacing your wall uses. Mark the centre of each stud with a pencil before you drill.
Take care with what is inside. YourHome says pipes and cables are usually run through holes drilled in the frame, so the spot where you find a stud can also be where a cable runs. It also warns that drilling near the edge of a stud, which it calls the structural zone, can weaken the frame.
If you cannot find a stud where you need one, the fix is a noggin or other backing behind the plasterboard. That is easy while the wall is open, and harder once it is lined.
What are noggins?
Noggins are short pieces of timber or steel fitted across the gaps between studs. YourHome says they give the frame sideways support, and they usually sit at half or a third of the wall height. You will also see them spelt "noggings".
They have a second job: something to fix to. Laminex's guide treats both studs and noggins as fixing points for its panels, with glue on each one.
That is why noggins get added in renovations. A carpenter fits extra ones at the height where something heavy will hang, before the wall is sheeted. Two common cases:
- a wall-hung vanity, which our guide to bathroom vanity height says needs secure fixing into the frame, such as studs or noggins
- grab rails in a bathroom, where the Livable Housing Design Standard asks for walls that can take them (more in our guide to accessible bathroom renovations)
Can the wall hold a wall-hung vanity, overhead cupboards or a TV?
It can, if each one is fixed to the right backing. For a wall-hung vanity, that means the wall frame: studs or noggins at the right height. For cupboards and TV brackets, the maker's instructions say what they need to be fixed into.
We have not given a weight a wall can hold. It depends on the frame, the fixings and the item, and we could not find a published figure we could check. So read the maker's fixing instructions before the wall is lined, not after.
The easy time to plan this is while the wall frame is open. In a bathroom or kitchen renovation, the old linings come off, so noggins can go in exactly where you want them. On a finished wall, adding a noggin means opening up the plasterboard and patching it after.
So decide the heights first: the vanity, the TV, and the overhead cupboards, which sit at a set gap above the bench (see our guide to kitchen cabinet sizes). Move something 100 mm later and the noggin can end up in the wrong place.
When do you need a licensed carpenter?
In Queensland, for building work valued over $3,300. The QBCC's licence rules say anyone contracting for building work over that amount needs a QBCC licence. Below it, a handyman can do the job, as long as it is not electrical or plumbing work and needs no other licence.
The QBCC's carpentry licence covers timber and steel wall framing, non-loadbearing internal walls, fixing internal linings and installing fitments. So adding noggins and framing a new wall sit inside a carpentry licence.
Some jobs need more than a carpenter:
- Moving power points or pipes in the wall. That is electrical or plumbing work. Plumbing needs a QBCC licence at any value, and electricians are licensed by the Electrical Safety Office.
- Cutting or removing studs in a load-bearing wall. YourHome says structural design should follow the Australian Standard, or be certified by a structural engineer or accredited supplier. A certifier or engineer has the final word on your wall.
- Building work that needs approval. For a new frame, YourHome says it is critical that a licensed certifier inspects it before the linings or cladding go on.
We do carpentry across the Gold Coast, from framing in our bathroom renovations to built-in wardrobes and cupboards (our guide to built-in wardrobe costs shows what a robe costs). Brett holds QBCC licence 15316127, puts the noggins in where you want them while the walls are open, and books licensed electricians and plumbers for their parts. See our carpentry page.
Where does this information come from?
Checked on 26 October 2026: YourHome, Lightweight framing (Australian Government, yourhome.gov.au; the page shows no date); Laminex, Surround by Laminex Quick Installation Guide, Plasterboard Wall (undated); and the QBCC's pages on when you need a licence and on the carpentry licence class. We will check these sources again every three months.
See our carpentry work, or check what your job will cost.
