Stone veneer is sold as flats, priced by the square foot, and corner pieces, priced by the linear foot. Enter the wall size, openings and the total height of outside corners to get both, with waste.
Stone veneer formula
Net area = length × height − openings Flats to order = net area × (1 + waste %) Corners to order = total corner height × (1 + waste %)
Worked example: a 20 × 8 ft wall with a door and two corners
- Wall area: 20 × 8 = 160 sq ft, minus a 21 sq ft door = 139 sq ft.
- Flats with 10% waste: 152.9 sq ft.
- Corners: two 4 ft corners = 8 linear ft, plus 10% = 8.8 linear ft.
Do corners reduce the flats?
Each corner piece has a long and a short return that covers some wall area. Some manufacturers tell you to subtract a set amount of flats for every linear foot of corner; others do not. Check the spec sheet for your stone line. Leaving the flats undeducted gives a small built-in margin.
Tips
- Order all stone at once so the color blend matches.
- Natural stone with irregular shapes often needs more waste than manufactured stone; 10–15% is a common starting point.
- Lath, scratch coat and mortar are extra; the stucco and mortar calculators help with those.
Questions
How much stone veneer for a fireplace?
Measure each face, subtract the firebox opening, and add the outside corner heights.
Is stone veneer sold by the box?
Usually by the box or pallet, each listing its square feet or linear feet. Divide the result by that coverage.
Should I deduct small windows?
Deduct large openings; leave small ones to cover cutting waste.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Foot and square foot definitions.