How Much Does Stucco Cost in 2026?
National ranges, materials + labor, new work over frame · Pricing data updated · Reviewed annually
Stuccoing a typical home — about 2000 sq ft of exterior wall, new work over wood framing — costs $14,000 to $28,000 in traditional 3-coat cement plaster and $18,000 to $36,000 in EIFS (synthetic stucco). System and substrate are the biggest levers: EIFS runs 15–35% more than traditional, and applying stucco directly over block instead of wood framing saves roughly 15–25%. The full spectrum is wide — a small resurface job in a Sunbelt metro can start near $3,500, while a large two-story EIFS job in a high-cost region can approach $79,000.
Four decisions set most of the price: which system you choose, how much wall you're covering, what the wall is built from, and where you live. The tables below break the national ranges down along each axis, and the interactive estimator lets you combine them — then hand off to the free stucco calculator for a cement, sand, and lath takeoff built from your home's actual wall dimensions.
Stucco cost by system (installed, per sq ft)
The starting point for any stucco budget is the system. These are installed rates — materials plus labor for new work over wood framing — before substrate, access, or finish adjusters. Traditional 3-coat is the durable default; EIFS insulates but is drainage-critical; a resurface (re-dash) is the cheapest path when the existing stucco is structurally sound.
| System | Installed / sq ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional 3-coat | $7.00 – $14.00 | Portland cement over metal lath — the durable standard |
| One-coat / two-coat | $6.00 – $12.00 | Proprietary fiber-reinforced system — faster to apply |
| EIFS (synthetic) | $9.00 – $18.00 | Foam board + acrylic finish — insulating, but drainage-critical |
| Re-dash / resurface | $3.00 – $9.00 | New finish coat over sound existing stucco — no tear-off |
Whole-house stucco cost by system and size
New work over wood framing, national averages. Each cell is a low-to-high range; real projects cluster toward the middle. Size here is exterior wall (facade) square footage, not floor area — a common source of sticker shock, since a two-story home has far more wall than its floor plan suggests.
| Home size | Traditional 3-coat | One-coat / two-coat | EIFS (synthetic) | Re-dash / resurface |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small home1500 sq ft wall | $10,500 – $21,000 | $9,000 – $18,000 | $13,500 – $27,000 | $4,500 – $13,500 |
| Average home2000 sq ft wall | $14,000 – $28,000 | $12,000 – $24,000 | $18,000 – $36,000 | $6,000 – $18,000 |
| Large / 2-story2800 sq ft wall | $19,500 – $39,000 | $17,000 – $33,500 | $25,000 – $50,500 | $8,500 – $25,000 |
| Extra large3600 sq ft wall | $25,000 – $50,500 | $21,500 – $43,000 | $32,500 – $65,000 | $11,000 – $32,500 |
Estimate your stucco project
Combine system, wall area, substrate, region, and the real-world adjusters to see your range update live. Tear-off is off by default (new work) — turn it on for a re-stucco. Each upgrade shows what it adds before you commit.
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Frame vs. block: why the substrate changes the price
Most guides quote one number, but the wall you're stuccoing matters more than they admit. Over wood framing, IRC R703 requires a weather-resistive barrier, metal lath, and a weep screed before the scratch coat even starts. Over CMU or concrete, the Stucco Manufacturers Association and Portland Cement Association confirm the plaster bonds directly — no lath, no sheet WRB, no weep screed, and the scratch coat can be skipped. The same 2000 sq ft home in traditional 3-coat:
| Substrate | What's required | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wood frame | Needs lath, weather barrier & weep screed | $14,000 – $28,000 |
| CMU / concrete | Direct-applied — no lath or WRB (~18% less) | $11,500 – $23,000 |
One caution: placing metal lath over sound CMU (instead of direct-applying) costs three to five times as much and is a quality mistake, not a savings — the discount above comes from omitting the lath the block doesn't need.
What the real-world add-ons cost
Priced against a typical project — a 2000 sq ft traditional 3-coat job over frame at the national average. These are conditions and upgrades that ride on top of the base ranges. On a bigger or higher-end system each adds proportionally more.
| Factor | What's involved | Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Tear off & dispose old stucco | Remove and haul the existing coat (re-stucco vs. new). Adds $0.50–$4/sq ft. | +$500 – $8,500 |
| Two-story / difficult access | Scaffolding, lifts, and fall protection add labor time | +$1,500 – $7,000 |
| Smooth / Santa Barbara finish | Hand-troweled smooth coat vs. dash or lace — much slower labor | +$2,000 – $17,000 |
| Complex architecture | Arches, corners, decorative trim, and cut-up elevations | +$1,500 – $7,000 |
| Full lath + weather barrier | Fresh metal lath and WRB on a full tear-off (frame walls) | +$0 – $5,500 |
| Integral color finish | Pigmented finish coat instead of painting after cure | +$0 – $3,000 |
| Permits | Jurisdiction-dependent (~$50–$500 typical) | +$0 – $1,500 |
Cost by region
Labor availability is a first-order driver. Sunbelt crews (AZ, NM, TX, inland CA, NV, FL) are abundant and run 10–30% cheaper; in the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest stucco is less common and crews are scarce, adding 15–30%. The same standard 3-coat job on a 2000 sq ft home:
| Region | Typical areas | Traditional 3-coat | EIFS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbelt / Southwest | AZ, NM, TX, inland CA, NV, FL — crews abundant | $11,500 – $23,000 | $15,000 – $29,500 |
| National average | Most metros | $14,000 – $28,000 | $18,000 – $36,000 |
| Scarce-crew region | Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest | $17,000 – $34,000 | $22,000 – $44,000 |
Stucco repair cost
Repair economics hinge almost entirely on hidden moisture. Cosmetic crack and patch work is inexpensive; the moment water reaches the sheathing or framing, the job becomes a remediation that can't be reliably ranged without opening the wall.
| Repair type | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic crack / patch | $8 – $20/sq ft | Surface only — no water intrusion |
| Typical repair project | $600 – $2,657 | National average about $1,628 |
| Water-damage repair | $30 – $50/sq ft | Once moisture reaches the sheathing |
| Moisture remediationinspection required | $4,000 – $10,000+ | Wall opened, dried & rebuilt — never a firm number |
The repair-vs-replace tipping point is about 30% of a wall plane. Past that — or if moisture has reached the sheathing — a full re-stucco is usually cheaper over a 10-year window than chasing repeat patches. A $200–$500 invasive moisture inspection is the cheap way to decide, and any interior water staining means get one before patching.
Stucco vs. fiber cement vs. vinyl
Stucco carries the highest upfront cost of the common claddings but the longest service life. Fiber cement sits between and needs repainting every 10–15 years; vinyl is cheapest upfront and shortest-lived. Ranges overlap, so treat them as directional:
| Cladding | Installed / sq ft | Lifespan (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Stucco (traditional) | $7 – $14 | 50–80+ |
| Fiber cement (Hardie) | $5 – $14 | 40–50 |
| Vinyl | $3 – $12 | 20–40 |
Compare the siding options head-to-head on the siding cost page.
How to keep the cost down
Resurface instead of tearing off when the wall is sound. If the existing stucco is structurally solid and the drainage plane is intact, a new finish coat (re-dash) is a fraction of a full re-stucco. Pay for a moisture inspection first to confirm there's nothing hiding behind it.
Pick the finish before you get bids. A hand-troweled smooth or Santa Barbara finish carries a 30–60% labor premium over a dash or lace texture for the same square footage. If budget is tight, a textured finish also hides hairline cracking better.
Don't add lath the block doesn't need. On CMU or concrete, direct-applied stucco is both correct and cheaper — insist a bid that includes lath over sound block explains why.
Get the wall area right before you call for bids. Over-measuring inflates every quote. The stucco calculator and the gable area calculator give you a defensible square footage to check bids against.
What these ranges don't include
National ranges, materials + labor combined, new stucco over wood framing by default (lath, WRB, and weep screed included). Excludes structural / framing repair, window flashing rework, full tear-to-studs moisture remediation, mold abatement, and asbestos/lead hazmat on pre-1980 homes.
- Structural / framing repair — rot or damaged studs found on tear-off; billed separately.
- Window flashing rework — penetrations are the #1 moisture-failure point; a separate weatherproofing scope.
- Full tear-to-studs remediation — a failed drainage plane means opening, drying, and rebuilding the wall.
- Mold remediation — a licensed abatement trade requiring containment; never folded into a range.
- Asbestos / lead hazmat on pre-1980 homes — a separate licensed abatement scope.
Where these numbers come from
Ranges reconcile national published data — Forbes Home, Fixr, This Old House, HomeGuide, Angi, and HomeAdvisor installed medians — with the assembly rules from the Stucco Manufacturers Association and Portland Cement Association that drive the frame-vs-masonry delta. They're bracketed by roughly ±30–35% to absorb regional, access, and substrate variability. Where a calculator source (Homewyse) ran 50–70% above the editorial cluster by bundling GC markup, we anchored to the editorial guides. Every figure is rounded to the nearest $500 on purpose: a national estimate quoted to the dollar is false precision. The model is reviewed annually; this page was last computed from data updated . For your own project, the only numbers that matter more than these are the ones in a written bid from a licensed local contractor — get at least three.
Ready to price the actual job?
The free stucco calculator goes past ranges: enter your wall dimensions and it returns cement and sand bags, metal lath, weep screed, and control joints — a materials takeoff you can save, share, or hand to a contractor. No signup.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does stucco cost in 2026?
Stuccoing a typical home (about 2000 sq ft of exterior wall) as new work over wood framing runs $14,000 to $28,000 in traditional 3-coat cement plaster and $18,000 to $36,000 in EIFS (synthetic stucco) — materials and labor included. Most editorial cost guides cluster at $7–$14 per sq ft installed for traditional stucco; EIFS runs 15–35% more. Price your exact wall area with the free stucco calculator.
How much does it cost to stucco a 2-story house?
A larger two-story home (about 2800 sq ft of wall) runs $19,500 to $39,000 in traditional 3-coat stucco over frame. Two-story work also carries a scaffolding and access premium — that toggle adds roughly $2,000–$10,000 on a job this size.
Is stucco cheaper over block (CMU) than over wood framing?
Yes. Over wood frame, code requires a weather-resistive barrier, metal lath, and a weep screed before the scratch coat. Over CMU or concrete, the Stucco Manufacturers Association and Portland Cement Association confirm stucco bonds directly — no lath, no sheet WRB, no weep screed. That is a real saving of roughly $1.50–$3.00/sq ft, about 15–25%. On a 2000 sq ft home it is the difference between $14,000 to $28,000 over frame and $11,500 to $23,000 direct-applied to block.
What does stucco repair cost?
It depends entirely on whether water has gotten behind the wall. Cosmetic crack and patch work runs $8–$20/sq ft, and a typical professional repair project averages $1,628 (most fall between $600 and $2,657). But once moisture reaches the sheathing, the job becomes a remediation — $30–$50/sq ft, often $4,000–$10,000+ — and that range can't be quoted without an on-site inspection.
When should I re-stucco instead of patching?
The industry rule of thumb is that once the failed area exceeds roughly 30% of a wall plane — or any moisture has reached the sheathing — a full re-stucco is usually cheaper over a 10-year window than chasing repeat patches. A full re-stucco with tear-off and fresh lath on a 2000 sq ft home runs about $14,500 to $43,500. A $200–$500 invasive moisture inspection is the cheap way to decide.
Is stucco more expensive than siding?
Installed, traditional stucco ($7–$14/sq ft) sits at the higher end — above vinyl ($3–$12/sq ft) and overlapping fiber-cement ($5–$14/sq ft). It also lasts the longest — 50–80+ years vs. 20–40 for vinyl — so the higher upfront cost buys the longest service life.
Do these ranges include labor?
Yes — every range on this page combines materials and labor, reconciled from national industry sources. National ranges, materials + labor combined, new stucco over wood framing by default (lath, WRB, and weep screed included). Excludes structural / framing repair, window flashing rework, full tear-to-studs moisture remediation, mold abatement, and asbestos/lead hazmat on pre-1980 homes. For a materials-only takeoff you can hand to a contractor or price yourself, run the free stucco calculator, which builds a cement, sand, and lath list from your wall dimensions.