How to find a wall stud without a stud finder

Hanging a shelf, a TV or a heavy mirror? You need to screw into a stud — the vertical wooden frame behind your drywall — or the whole thing can tear straight back out. No stud finder in the drawer? Here are five reliable ways to find one with things you already own.

Start from an outlet or switch

Electrical boxes are almost always fixed to the side of a stud. Turn off the power, pop off the cover plate, and note which side the box is fastened to — that's your first stud. From there, studs usually repeat every 40 cm (about 16 inches), sometimes 60.

Knock along the wall

Tap your knuckle across the wall and listen. Over empty space the sound is hollow and echoey; over a stud it turns flat and solid. Mark every spot where the tone goes dull — those are your candidates.

Let a magnet do the work

Drywall is screwed to the studs with metal screws. Slide a small magnet slowly across the wall and it will catch on a screw head. Follow the vertical line of screws and you've traced the centre of a stud.

Or turn your phone into the tool

Your iPhone already has a magnetometer inside — the same sensor the magnet trick relies on. Stud Finder WallScan reads it directly, shows a clear on-screen indicator when you pass over metal or wood, and calibrates to your wall in seconds. No knuckles, no guessing — just move the phone and watch for the edge.

Whichever method you use, mark the centre, drill a small pilot hole to confirm, and you'll hang with confidence instead of hope.

→ Browse the apps