Use a battery-operated or magnetic stud finder to locate the studs in your wall. The former tool will detect the studs behind drywall, while the latter tool senses the nails or screws that hold the drywall to the studs.
Move the stud finder straight across the wall, marking each stud location. I like to use short pieces of blue painter’s tape rather than a pencil to mark each stud. When you’re done, you can remove the tape without leaving any mark behind.
Mark the studs along the wall where the tops and bottoms of standards will be. You should find that your marks are aligned vertically. If not, check again.
