METAL FRAMING WALL + SOFFIT BUILDER
Metal Framing.
Stupid simple.
Build wall types, soffits, and custom framing details, then carry one clear supplier-ready material list.
INPUT · 01
START HERE
What are you taking off?
Choose a starting point. You can add walls, soffits, and custom framing to the same estimate.
QUICK DEMO
See the Custom Framing Build-Up in action.
Watch a quick walkthrough of building a custom framing assembly, comparing stock lengths, and turning the result into supplier-ready quantities.
OUTPUT · 02
Supplier material list
Enter wall, soffit, or custom build-up quantities above to build the material summary.
PDF / Print Details (Optional)Add project information to your printout.
These fields are optional and do not affect the calculation.
Walls can use spacing-based stud quantities or the common 1 Stud / LF estimating method, then apply the allowance you choose. When 1 Stud / LF is selected, you can bypass the allowance on studs while still carrying it on track. The standard soffit section assumes stud-and-track framing; drywall grid soffits are intentionally kept separate. The Custom Framing Build-Up calculates only the materials and usage methods you explicitly add, so it can model specialty details without BidSimp guessing the geometry. Its optional stock-length planner compares equal-cut yields and purchase lengths after allowance. Wall-run ends, openings, intersections, engineered conditions, connections, mixed-cut nesting, and cutting kerf are not separately inferred.
METAL FRAMING ESTIMATING GUIDE
How the metal stud framing and soffit calculator works
BidSimp organizes wall types, simple soffits, wall-return soffits, and custom framing build-ups in one takeoff. The baseline wall calculation uses total linear feet with either selected stud spacing or 1 Stud / LF, while the material description keeps stud size, gauge, wall height, and track condition visible for the supplier summary.
Choose 12", 16", or 24" O.C., or use 1 Stud / LF with optional stud-waste bypass.
Calculate framing stations, cut-piece counts, stud LF, track, and corner material.
Use continuous runs, spaced pieces, fixed units, or a custom per-LF factor.
Baseline wall formulas used by BidSimp
- Stud baseline
- Wall LF × 12 ÷ selected spacing in inches, or Wall LF × 1 stud/LF when that estimating method is selected.
- Final studs
- Stud baseline × the allowance multiplier, rounded up to whole studs. With 1 Stud / LF, Bypass Waste can leave the stud baseline unchanged while track still receives the selected allowance.
- Standard top track
- Wall LF × 2 for top and bottom track, followed by allowance and whole-LF rounding.
- Slip / deflection top track
- Wall LF of standard bottom track and a separate wall LF of slip track, each followed by allowance.
Baseline means baseline: the wall calculation does not separately add end studs, corners, intersections, jamb studs, headers, sills, kickers, bracing, backing, or other project-specific framing. Use an appropriate allowance and carry known extras separately or with a custom framing build-up.
WORKED EXAMPLE
100 LF wall at 16" O.C. with 10% allowance
- Stud baseline: 100 × 12 ÷ 16 = 75 studs.
- Final studs: 75 × 1.10 = 82.5, rounded to 83 studs.
- Standard top and bottom track: 100 × 2 = 200 LF; 200 × 1.10 = 220 LF regular track.
- With slip track instead: bottom track is 100 × 1.10 = 110 LF regular track, and top slip track is another 110 LF.
The selected wall height is used as the stud stock length in the supplier summary. Confirm available lengths and any cutting or splicing requirements before purchasing.
How the soffit calculator builds quantities
Framing stations are based on soffit LF × 12 divided by spacing. A simple drop soffit creates vertical pieces plus continuous top and bottom track. A wall-return soffit also creates horizontal return pieces, continuous structure track, wall track, and the selected outside-corner condition.
Piece counts are converted into total stud LF for the supplier summary. The simple soffit tool does not choose purchasable stud lengths or optimize cuts. Use the custom framing build-up when a detail requires more control over individual materials, cut lengths, stock lengths, or repeated units.
When to use a custom framing build-up
Custom build-ups are intended for headers, boxed framing, ceiling drops, repetitive supports, specialty transitions, bulkheads, or details that do not fit a basic wall or soffit. Add each material separately and choose how it repeats:
- Continuous: material LF follows the assembly run.
- Spaced pieces: quantity follows the selected O.C. spacing and entered cut length.
- Units: repeat a group by spacing or enter a fixed count.
- Custom factor: enter your own material quantity per assembly LF.
Optional stock planning can compare common or custom stock lengths. For compatible cut-piece groups, BidSimp can estimate a cut plan, but the estimator still needs to verify kerf, nesting, field cuts, laps, tolerances, and usable offcuts.
Common metal framing takeoff mistakes
- Using the spacing baseline as though it already includes every wall end, corner, intersection, and opening.
- Combining different stud sizes, gauges, heights, track types, or deflection conditions.
- Assuming wall height alone determines the correct stud length without checking deck, slab, deflection, and splice conditions.
- Forgetting headers, sills, jamb reinforcement, backing, kickers, bracing, cold-rolled channel, clips, and fasteners.
- Using simple soffit geometry for a detail with additional members or engineered requirements.
Verify before purchasing
- Partition types, details, structural notes, gauges, coatings, deflection requirements, and approved substitutions.
- Wall heights, stud spacing, lateral loads, limiting heights, shaft conditions, and rated assemblies.
- Openings, frames, headers, sills, corners, intersections, backing, bracing, and specialty supports.
- Track and stud stock lengths, cut planning, splice rules, delivery, stocking, and access.
- Fasteners, anchors, clips, sealants, firestopping interfaces, and scope by others.
Estimate responsibly. BidSimp is an estimating aid. Verify quantities, gauges, track requirements, assemblies, specifications, field conditions, and project documents before purchasing materials, bidding, or performing work. Terms & Disclaimer