STUCCO COST ESTIMATOR
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Stucco Cost Calculator
Stucco pricing depends on which system goes on the wall and what is behind it. A traditional three-coat job over lath is a different project from a one-coat system, an EIFS wall or a re-stucco over sound existing stucco. This stucco cost calculator prices all five, adds lath, trim, finish texture, tear-off and labor, and shows Budget, Standard and Premium totals with a full line-item breakdown.
- Free planning estimate
- No obligation
- 5 stucco systems
Four short steps. Enter your wall area or estimate it from your home size. Choose the stucco system and the finish texture, set your labor market, then choose tear-off, crack repair and other extras. ZIP code is required so we can match you with local stucco contractors. It does not change the estimate. Planning estimate only. Not a quote.
Step 1
Wall area / home size
Enter your wall area or estimate it from your home size.
Step 2
Stucco system + finish texture
Choose the stucco system and the finish texture.
Step 3
Labor market
Set your labor market.
Step 4
Tear-off, crack repair and other extras
Choose tear-off, crack repair and other extras. ZIP code is required for matching and does not change the estimate.
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How to read your result
The large number is the Standard estimate: quality materials, a quality finish and an established stucco contractor. Budget assumes a basic system and independent crew rates. Premium assumes a premium system and specialist finish work. Stucco is labor-heavy, so the labor line is usually larger than the material line. That is normal for this trade.
Planning estimate only. This is an estimated project budget based on typical U.S. planning assumptions, not a quote or a guaranteed price. Actual contractor pricing may vary based on location, conditions, system choice, labor market and project complexity. Stucco problems are often hidden behind the wall: cracks, failed flashing and water damage may only be found once work starts. Always get written quotes from qualified stucco contractors, and have an inspection if you suspect moisture damage.
Get your free professional stucco estimate.
Your calculator results are already attached. Add your details and a local stucco contractor can review your project.
How a stucco bid breaks down
The calculator splits a stucco bid into the parts a contractor prices:
- Materials: stucco materials with a waste allowance, lath, building paper and fasteners, casing bead and corner aid, trim and flashing at each opening, and any finish-coat upgrade.
- Labor: application hours for the chosen system, lath and detail labor, and a crew mobilization, mixing and cleanup charge.
- Removal and disposal: taking off the old wall covering and hauling it away, if you choose it.
- Equipment / scaffolding: scaffolding or staging, which stucco work needs more of than lap siding.
- Permit / inspection: an optional allowance. Many areas require a permit and a lath inspection.
- Repairs and project extras: sheathing repair, crack repair, elastomeric finish, weather barrier upgrades, weep screed detailing and soffit and fascia.
Image 3 placeholder — Scratch coat applied over lath on a stucco wall
How much does stucco cost?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, traditional three-coat stucco on 1,800 sq ft of wall, with tear-off and a sand finish, comes to about $23,600 at Standard prices, or about $13.11 per sq ft, within a Budget-to-Premium range of $17,500 to $32,000. A one-coat system on the same walls comes to about $21,100, and EIFS to about $22,000. These are planning numbers, not quotes. Stucco is one of the most labor-intensive exterior finishes, so your local labor market moves the total more than it would for vinyl siding.
Stucco cost by system
Each system is priced on the same sample job: 1,800 sq ft, one story, simple walls, 12 windows and doors, sand finish, no tear-off, average U.S. labor market.
| Option | Budget | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-coat (traditional) | $8.32 | $11.28 | $15.39 |
| One-coat system | $7.25 | $9.87 | $13.53 |
| EIFS / synthetic stucco | $7.65 | $10.37 | $14.13 |
| Re-stucco over sound stucco | $4.48 | $6.09 | $8.39 |
| Stucco over block / CMU | $4.54 | $6.21 | $8.61 |
Installed price per sq ft of wall. Planning assumptions only.
- Three-coat (traditional) is scratch, brown and finish coats over lath and a weather barrier. It takes the longest because coats need time to cure, and it is the most proven system over wood framing.
- One-coat systems combine the scratch and brown coats into a single thicker application, usually over foam board and lath. They are faster but must follow the specific system manufacturer's details.
- EIFS (synthetic stucco) bonds foam insulation to the wall and finishes it with a thin acrylic coat. It adds insulation value. Modern drainable EIFS performs well, but older barrier-type EIFS trapped water on wood-framed homes and caused serious damage. Always ask whether the proposed system drains.
- Re-stucco over sound stucco applies a new finish over existing stucco that is still in good condition. It is the cheapest option but only works if the base coat, flashing and weather barrier are sound.
- Stucco over block (CMU) goes directly onto clean concrete block with no lath, which is why the per-sq-ft price is lower. It is common in the South and Southwest.
Image 2 placeholder — Stucco systems compared: lath, one-coat and EIFS
Finish textures and what they cost
The texture is applied in the final coat and changes both labor and appearance: Sand / float is the most common and the baseline in this calculator. Dash / knockdown is sprayed on and then flattened, giving a heavier texture. Smooth (Santa Barbara) is the hardest to do well, because a flat wall shows every imperfection. Choosing it raises the sample job from about $23,600 to about $24,100. Integral color mixes pigment into the finish coat, so chips and scratches are less visible than with painted stucco.
Image 4 placeholder — Stucco finish textures compared
Why stucco labor costs so much
The calculator uses about 3.6 to 7 crew hours per 100 sq ft depending on the system, at $58, $74 or $95 per hour for Budget, Standard and Premium. Three-coat is the highest because each coat is a separate trip around the house with cure time in between. On top of that there is lath and paper, casing bead at every opening, corner aid, and careful flashing where walls meet roofs and decks. A 2,400 sq ft two-story home in three-coat stucco comes to about $34,100 at Standard prices, including scaffolding.
Cracks: normal vs. a problem
Stucco cracks. Fine hairline cracks from shrinkage and settling are common and usually cosmetic. What matters is the pattern:
- Hairline and random: usually cosmetic, sealed during a finish coat.
- Diagonal cracks from window and door corners: often movement, worth having looked at.
- Horizontal cracks, bulging, or soft spots: can mean water has reached the sheathing or framing. Get an inspection before refinishing.
- Staining or efflorescence (white powder): water is moving through the wall.
The crack repair option adds a patching allowance across the wall. In the sample, a re-stucco with crack repair comes to about $12,800.
Image 5 placeholder — Diagonal crack in stucco from a window corner
Weep screed and flashing
Most stucco failures are water failures, not stucco failures. Water gets in at windows, roof-to-wall joints or the bottom of the wall and cannot get out. The details that prevent this are the weather-resistive barrier behind the lath, flashing at every opening, kick-out flashing where a roof meets a wall, and a weep screed at the bottom that lets water drain out. The calculator offers a weather barrier upgrade and a weep screed allowance as options. On any stucco job over wood framing, ask the contractor to walk you through these details specifically.
Image 6 placeholder — Weep screed at the base of a stucco wall
Painting and sealing stucco
Stucco can be left with integral color or painted. Elastomeric coatings are thicker, flexible paints that bridge hairline cracks and shed water. They cost more than standard exterior paint and need to be applied correctly, because a coating that traps moisture in a damp wall makes things worse.
Stucco over block vs. over framing
On concrete block, stucco bonds directly to the masonry and there is no lath, paper or cavity. That is why it costs less and why moisture problems are less common. On wood framing, stucco is a cladding hung on lath over a drainage plane, and the quality of those hidden layers decides how long it lasts.
Stucco on a new build vs. a re-side
On new construction the stucco crew works on bare, flat sheathing with no tear-off and no surprises. On an existing house, the price includes removing the old covering, dealing with whatever is behind it, and working around finished landscaping, decks and utilities. That is why the same wall area can produce quite different quotes. If you are replacing siding with stucco, build in time for the lath inspection that many jurisdictions require before the first coat goes on. If you are stuccoing a new addition to match an existing stuccoed house, matching the texture and color of weathered stucco is genuinely difficult. Ask the contractor to do a sample panel on the actual wall and look at it in daylight before the whole job goes ahead.
Timeline
Three-coat stucco is not fast. Each coat needs time before the next, and the finish coat should not go on in freezing weather or direct hot sun. A typical house might take one to two weeks of crew time spread over a longer calendar window, depending on weather and the size of the crew. One-coat systems and re-stucco work are quicker. Ask for a schedule in writing, including what happens if rain delays a coat.
Maintenance
Stucco needs less routine work than wood, but it is not zero. Walk the walls once a year and look for new cracks, staining below windows, efflorescence and anything blocking the weep screed at the bottom of the wall. Keep soil, mulch and sprinklers away from the base of the wall, and keep gutters clear so water is not sheeting down the stucco. Seal control joints and caulk around openings when the old sealant hardens.
Budget, Standard and Premium
- Budget: a basic system and finish with independent crew rates.
- Standard: quality materials and finish from an established stucco contractor.
- Premium: a premium system, specialist finish work and a premium contractor.
Estimated wall area by home size
| Home living area | 1 story | 2 stories | 3 stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,180 | 1,668 | 2,043 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,445 | 2,043 | 2,503 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 1,668 | 2,359 | 2,890 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 1,865 | 2,638 | 3,231 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 2,043 | 2,890 | 3,539 |
| 3,500 sq ft | 2,207 | 3,121 | 3,823 |
| 4,000 sq ft | 2,359 | 3,337 | 4,087 |
All figures in sq ft.
How much does stucco cost per square foot?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, traditional three-coat stucco with tear-off and a sand finish is about $13.11 per sq ft installed, or about $11.28 per sq ft without tear-off.
What is the difference between three-coat and one-coat stucco?
Three-coat applies scratch, brown and finish coats separately over lath. One-coat combines the first two into a single application, usually over foam board, so it goes faster.
Is EIFS the same as stucco?
No. EIFS is a synthetic system with foam insulation bonded to the wall and a thin acrylic finish. Traditional stucco is a cement-based coating applied over lath.
Do stucco cracks mean the wall is failing?
Not usually. Fine hairline cracks are common. Diagonal cracks from opening corners, horizontal cracks, bulging or staining are the ones worth having inspected.
Planning estimate only.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to stucco a house?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, traditional three-coat stucco on 1,800 sq ft of wall with tear-off is about $23,600 at Standard prices, within about $17,500 to $32,000. A one-coat system is about $21,100.
Is stucco cheaper than siding?
It depends on the system and your labor market. Stucco is labor-heavy, so in high-cost areas it often lands above vinyl and close to fiber cement. Compare using the Siding Installation Cost Calculator.
How much does it cost to re-stucco a house?
If the existing base coat and flashing are sound, re-stuccoing is the cheapest option. In the calculator, a re-stucco with crack repair on 1,800 sq ft is about $12,800 at Standard prices.
Is EIFS or synthetic stucco a problem?
Older barrier-type EIFS trapped water on wood-framed homes and caused damage. Modern drainable systems are designed to let water out. Ask specifically whether the proposed system drains and how windows will be flashed.
Why is stucco labor so expensive?
The wall gets lath, paper, multiple coats with cure time between them, casing bead at every opening and careful flashing. The calculator uses up to 7 crew hours per 100 sq ft for three-coat work.
Should I paint stucco or use integral color?
Integral color mixes pigment into the finish coat, so chips are less visible and you avoid repainting sooner. Paint, especially elastomeric, can bridge hairline cracks but must not trap moisture in a damp wall.
Does my ZIP code change the estimate?
No. ZIP code is used to match you with local stucco contractors. The labor-market selector adjusts labor and other local costs, which matters a lot for a labor-heavy trade like stucco.
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Image 7 placeholder — Stucco contractor applying a finish coat
Planning estimate only. This is an estimated project budget based on typical U.S. planning assumptions, not a quote or a guaranteed price. Actual contractor pricing may vary based on location, conditions, system choice, labor market and project complexity. Stucco problems are often hidden behind the wall: cracks, failed flashing and water damage may only be found once work starts. Always get written quotes from qualified stucco contractors, and have an inspection if you suspect moisture damage.