Shine a flashlight at a shallow angle to reveal fasteners

Darken the room and hold a bright flashlight flat against the wall so the beam shoots horizontally across the surface. This raking light casts tiny shadows behind screw dimples, nail pops, and tape joints, revealing stud locations.

Why It Works

Drywall fasteners sit in shallow depressions filled with joint compound. A shallow-angle light exaggerates these subtle surface variations that are invisible under normal lighting. A vertical column of dimples spaced 12-16 inches apart marks a stud.

Tips

• Works best on smooth walls with matte or flat paint
• Much less effective on textured walls (orange peel, knockdown) or glossy paint
• LED flashlights with a tight beam work better than broad-beam lights
• Take a photo while the light is held at angle — cameras sometimes capture what the eye misses