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Stucco Lath Calculator

Estimate how many sheets of expanded metal lath you need beneath a stucco application.

Computed in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Figures are presented for United States against IRC 2024, and every formula is cited under regulatory standards below.

Last verified 2026-08-26 · v1.0.0

Market
Imperial · sales tax

Lath sheets needed

27 sheets

High confidence
Area to cover (with overlap allowance)
473.61 sq ft

Running these inputs gives 27 as the lath sheets needed. Note that wall area sits at the low end of the range this calculator was checked against, so treat the output as indicative rather than settled. Currently reading for United States under IRC 2024 — pick a different market above and the figures re-cast accordingly.

Estimated cost — your price

This site holds no price list for this material — local prices vary too much to publish honestly. Enter your supplier's price and the result is costed with it.

Preliminary estimate, not certified engineering. This tool produces an indicative quantity calculation for planning purposes only — it is not a certified structural analysis, a guaranteed material takeoff, or a substitute for building department approval. Always verify measurements on-site and have a licensed contractor or structural engineer review any load-bearing, code-sensitive, or safety-critical work before purchasing materials or starting construction. Spotted an arithmetic or standards error? Report it to contact@craftquantities.com with your inputs — confirmed fixes become pinned regression tests.

[Schema Verified] Computed in alignment with American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-19) formulas and International Residential Code (IRC 2024) spatial boundaries.

Regulatory standards & verification citations

  • Standard expanded metal lath sheet is 27 in x 96 in (18 sq ft); sheet count = area / 18, rounded up with a waste allowance

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Frequently asked questions

Why does stucco need lath at all?
Traditional three-coat stucco needs something to mechanically key into and hold onto — expanded metal lath gives the scratch coat a structure to grip, since stucco alone won't bond reliably to plain sheathing or masonry.
Does lath overlap between sheets?
Yes — sheets are typically overlapped a few inches at the sides and ends, which is what the 10% waste allowance in this estimate accounts for.
Do all stucco systems require lath?
Traditional three-coat stucco over wood or steel framing does; stucco applied directly over concrete or masonry sometimes skips lath since the substrate itself provides enough texture to bond to — check your specific wall assembly.