How to Find a Wall Stud

Having trouble locating a stud in the wall? No worries, we got you. Here is a fast, simplified guide on how to use a stud finder without the extra fluff:

Put the stud finder flat against the wall in a spot where you know there isn’t a stud. Press and hold the button on the side until the tool beeps or flashes. This tells the device what empty drywall feels like.

Keeping the button held down, slide the tool slowly in a straight horizontal line across the wall.

1. When the tool first beeps or lights up, make a pencil mark. This is the left edge of the stud.
2. Keep sliding past it until the light turns off. Slide back from the other direction until it beeps again, and make a second mark. This is the right edge.

The exact middle point between your two pencil marks is the center of the stud. This is the sweet spot where you want to drive your screw or lag bolt.