Stucco Calculator
Calculate stucco mix bags, wire lath, and mesh rolls for any wall. Supports 2 or 3 coat systems, deducts windows and doors, and estimates material cost.
ft
ft
Total Sq Ft
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80-lb Bags Stucco —
Lath Rolls (27 sf) —
Extended More scenarios, charts & detailed breakdown ▾
ft
ft
Total Sq Ft
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80-lb Bags —
Lath Rolls (27 sqft) —
Professional Full parameters & maximum detail ▾
ft
ft
Area
Gross Wall Area (sq ft) —
Net Stucco Area (sq ft) —
Per-Coat Bags
Scratch Coat Bags —
Brown Coat Bags —
Finish Coat Bags —
Other Materials
Wire Lath Rolls (27 sqft) —
Corner Bead (lin ft) —
Cost
Est. Material Cost —
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter wall length and wall height in feet.
- Select number of coats (2 or 3, default 3).
- See total square feet, bags of stucco, and mesh/lath rolls needed.
- Use Whole House tab to enter all 4 wall dimensions at once.
- Use Cost Estimate for material and labor cost.
- The Professional tier deducts windows/doors, calculates per-coat quantities, and adds corner bead and expansion joint linear feet.
Formula
Net Area = (Wall Length × Wall Height) − Window/Door Areas
Bags = Area × coats × 0.05 (approx 1 bag per 20 sq ft per coat at 3/8" thickness)
Lath Rolls = Area × 1.12 (12% overlap) ÷ 27 sq ft/roll
Example
Example: 20 ft × 9 ft wall = 180 sq ft, 3 coats → Bags ≈ 27 (scratch) + 27 (brown) + 9 (finish) = 63 bags. Lath = 180 × 1.12 ÷ 27 = 7.5 → 8 rolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
- A standard 3-coat stucco system (scratch, brown, finish) uses approximately one 80-lb bag per 20–25 square feet at 3/4" total thickness. A 2-coat system covers about 30 sq ft per bag.
- The scratch coat (base) is 3/8" thick and is scratched horizontally for adhesion. The brown coat (second) is 3/8" thick and leveled. The finish coat is 1/8" thick and is the decorative outer layer.
- Wire lath is sold in 27-sq-ft rolls. Calculate total wall area, add 10–15% for overlap (typically 4" on horizontal laps), then divide by 27. Add extra for cutting waste.
- Expansion joints control cracking in large stucco surfaces. They are required at every 144 sq ft of surface area and wherever the substrate changes (e.g., wood to concrete). They also go around windows and doors.
- Measure each wall (length × height), deduct window and door openings, sum all wall areas. Then calculate bags based on the number of coats. The Whole House tab handles up to 4 walls automatically.