Stone Veneer Calculator

Calculate how many square feet and boxes of stone veneer you need for a wall, with corner pieces, mortar bags, metal lath and water-resistive barrier included.

By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.

Quick answer: To estimate stone veneer, multiply wall length by height, subtract openings, deduct 0.75 sq ft for every linear foot of corner pieces, and add waste. A 20 x 8 ft wall with no openings or corners needs 176 sq ft of flat stone with 10% waste, which is 18 boxes of 10 sq ft, 12 bags of mortar and 10 sheets of lath.

Results

Flat stone to order: 176 sq ft; 160 sq ft of flats after openings and corners, plus 10% waste
Boxes of flats: 18 boxes; At 10 sq ft per box
Corner pieces: 0 ft; Sold by the linear foot; each foot of corner replaces about 0.75 sq ft of flat stone
80 lb bags of mortar: 12 bags; Scratch coat and setting bed at about 15 sq ft per bag, over 160 sq ft of wall
Metal lath sheets: 10 sheets; 27 in x 96 in sheets (18 sq ft each) including laps and waste
Water-resistive barrier: 320 sq ft; Two layers of Grade D paper or house wrap over the sheathing

Stone Veneer formula

Wall area = Length x Height - openings
Flats = (Wall area - corner linear ft x 0.75) x (1 + waste %)
Boxes = Flats / sq ft per box, rounded up
Mortar bags = Wall area x (1 + waste %) / 15;  Lath sheets = Wall area x (1 + waste %) / 18

Worked example

A 30 x 9 ft garage wall with 40 sq ft of windows and two 9 ft outside corners: 30 x 9 = 270 sq ft, minus 40 = 230 sq ft of wall. The corners total 18 linear ft and replace 18 x 0.75 = 13.5 sq ft of flats, so flats = 216.5 sq ft. With 10% waste that is 238.2 sq ft, or 30 boxes at 8 sq ft. Corner pieces: 18 x 1.1 = 19.8, so buy 20 linear ft.

Mortar covers the whole 230 sq ft plus waste: 253 / 15 = 16.9, so 17 bags of 80 lb mortar. Lath: 253 / 18 = 14.1, so 15 sheets. The water-resistive barrier is two layers over 230 sq ft, or 460 sq ft.

Quick reference

Stone veneer materials by wall area (no openings or corners, 10% waste, 10 sq ft boxes)
Wall area	Flats to order	Boxes	80 lb mortar bags	Lath sheets
100 sq ft	110 sq ft	11	8	7
200 sq ft	220 sq ft	22	15	13
300 sq ft	330 sq ft	33	22	19
400 sq ft	440 sq ft	44	30	25
500 sq ft	550 sq ft	55	37	31

How to measure for stone veneer

Measure each wall face and multiply length by height, then subtract windows and doors. Measure every outside corner from bottom to top and add them up in linear feet; corners are sold separately and each foot of corner covers about three quarters of a square foot that you no longer need in flats. Add 10 percent for cutting, breakage and color blending, and round up to whole boxes.

Manufactured stone is packed in boxes of 8 to 10 square feet for flats and 5 to 10 linear feet for corners, with large jobs shipped in 100 square foot crates. Natural thin veneer is usually sold by the square foot on pallets. Order everything from the same lot so the color range matches.

The wall system behind the stone

Over wood framing the assembly is sheathing, two layers of water-resistive barrier, galvanized self-furring lath fastened every 6 inches into studs, a 1/2 inch scratch coat, and then the stones set in a 1/2 inch bed of mortar. Over clean concrete or block, lath and the barrier can be skipped and stones are set directly on the masonry.

Use a polymer-modified veneer mortar or Type S mortar for both the scratch coat and setting bed; one 80 lb bag covers roughly 15 square feet through both steps. Keep the bottom of the stone at least 4 inches above grade and 2 inches above a paved surface, and install a weep screed at the base.

Key facts

Adhered manufactured stone veneer weighs no more than 15 lb per sq ft installed, which is why it needs no footing or brick ledge.
Corner pieces are L-shaped with a long and a short return leg; each linear foot covers about 0.75 sq ft that would otherwise need flats.
The scratch coat over metal lath is nominally 1/2 in thick and must cure before stones are set.
The IRC requires two layers of water-resistive barrier behind adhered stone veneer over wood framing.
A 27 x 96 in sheet of 2.5 lb self-furring lath covers 18 sq ft before laps; sheets overlap 1 in on the sides and 2 in on the ends.

Frequently asked questions

How many square feet of stone veneer do I need?

Multiply wall length by height, subtract openings and 0.75 sq ft per linear foot of corners, then add 10% waste. A 20 x 8 ft wall with no openings needs 176 sq ft of flats.

How many boxes of stone veneer per square foot?

Flats usually come in boxes covering 8 to 10 sq ft. A 20 x 8 ft wall with 10% waste needs 176 sq ft, which is 18 boxes at 10 sq ft or 22 boxes at 8 sq ft.

How much mortar for stone veneer?

Plan on one 80 lb bag of veneer or Type S mortar for every 15 sq ft of wall, which covers both the scratch coat and the setting bed. A 160 sq ft wall with 10% waste needs 12 bags.

Do I need lath behind stone veneer?

Yes over wood framing, sheathing, or painted masonry: use galvanized self-furring metal lath over two layers of water-resistive barrier. Over clean, unpainted concrete or block the stone can be set directly.

Sources and references

Manufactured Stone Veneer Installation Guide (MSV-MAN-001) (Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (formerly NCMA and MVMA))
Chapter 7 Wall Covering, 2021 IRC (R703.12 adhered masonry veneer) (ICC)
ASTM C1780 Standard Practice for Installation Methods for Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer (ASTM International)
QUIKRETE Veneer Stone Mortar product page (Quikrete)

Next steps for this project

The usual order for a concrete & masonry project. See all concrete & masonry calculators.

Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.