Ordering metal framing shouldn’t be complicated, but it often is — especially for crews transitioning from wood framing or working with a new supplier for the first time. Wrong lengths, wrong gauges, wrong quantities, and missed lead times are all avoidable with a clear process. This guide covers what your supplier needs from you, how to translate your drawings into an order, and how to avoid the most common ordering mistakes.
The most reliable orders start with a set of drawings and a framing schedule, not a gut estimate. Before you call your supplier, pull the following from the project documents:
From the architectural drawings:
From the structural drawings or partition schedule:
From the specifications (Division 09 or 05):
If you’re working from a bid set without a framing schedule, the structural general notes will usually give you a default stud spec for non-load-bearing and load-bearing conditions. Use those as your baseline.
This is one of the most common ordering mistakes in commercial framing. The architectural drawings show ceiling heights — the finished, visible dimension. But your studs run from the floor to the structural deck above, not to the finished ceiling.
In a typical commercial space with suspended ceiling grid, the floor-to-deck dimension might be 12 feet even though the ceiling height is 9 feet. The studs go to the deck. Order for the deck height.
How to determine your stud length:
A common approach for non-load-bearing partitions: order studs at floor-to-deck minus 1 inch. This gives you enough engagement in both tracks without the stud bottoming out in the top track, while still allowing for normal floor and ceiling variation.
For load-bearing walls, studs are typically cut-to-fit on site to ensure tight bearing, so ordering slightly long and cutting is the norm.
Metal studs and track are sold by the linear foot, not by the piece. This surprises a lot of framers coming from lumber, where you buy a stick at a time. When you order 600 linear feet of 6″ 33-mil stud at 10-foot lengths, you’re getting 60 pieces.
Standard stud lengths are typically:
If your project requires 11-foot studs, your supplier may stock that length or may need to cut it — confirm availability before assuming you’ll get what you need. Off-length cuts often come at a premium and may require additional lead time.
Track is also sold by the linear foot. Floor and ceiling track for a standard wall assembly is typically the same nominal width as the stud (a 6″ stud goes in a 6″ track), though track flanges are slightly wider to allow the stud to slide in freely.
For standard framing takeoffs, here’s a quick-and-reliable method:
Studs:
Track (floor and ceiling combined):
Example: A 100-foot run of wall with studs at 16″ o.c. and 10-foot stud lengths.
This method isn’t a substitute for a proper material takeoff on a large project, but it’s reliable for quick budgeting and small-to-medium jobs.
When you call to place an order, have the following ready:
If you’re submitting for a project with a formal submittal process, Formetal can provide mill certifications, product data sheets, and SFIA certification documentation. Request these early — chasing submittals after material is on-site is a headache nobody needs.
For most commercial framing projects in the Southeast, buying directly from a regional manufacturer like The Formetal Company is the simplest and most cost-effective approach. You’re not paying a distribution markup, lead times are more predictable because you’re closer to the source, and questions about product specifications get answered by people who actually make the product.
The Formetal Company manufactures cold-formed steel studs and track at our Forest Park, Georgia facility and has been supplying framers throughout the region since 1959. We stock a full range of section sizes and gauges, and we can handle both mill-run quantities for large projects and smaller orders for targeted needs.
For jobs with unusual section requirements or large quantities that may require scheduling a production run, the earlier you contact us the better. We’d rather plan ahead with you than rush at the last minute.
Most standard sections — common widths and gauges in standard lengths — are available from stock at a regional manufacturer and can ship within a normal business lead time. These are the sections that keep jobsites moving and don’t require special planning.
A mill order (sometimes called a production order) is placed when your section, length, or quantity isn’t available in stock. The manufacturer rolls your product to spec during a scheduled production run. Mill orders typically require:
If your spec calls for an unusual section — a 12″ deep stud, a non-standard flange width, or a very heavy gauge — find out early whether it’s a stock item or a mill order. Discovering it’s a four-week lead item a week before your framing crew is scheduled to mobilize is a painful lesson.
If product availability becomes an issue during the project, substitutions need to go through the engineer of record — not just through your GC or the owner. A 43-mil stud is not a direct substitute for a 33-mil stud just because they’re the same depth. The engineer specified a section based on load calculations, and substituting a different thickness or flange width changes the structural capacity.
Get it in writing. A quick email from the EOR approving an equivalent section protects you if questions come up later.
Before placing your order:
A little preparation upfront makes the ordering process straightforward and keeps your crew from waiting on material. If you have questions about what you need for a specific project, contact The Formetal Company — we’re glad to help you work through it.