Average Price for Cement Stucco Installation per Square Foot in San Antonio

August 2025 · Education

The average price for cement stucco installation in the San Antonio area ranges from $8 to $15 per square foot for a traditional three-coat system. This includes materials, labor, lath, moisture barriers, and a standard finish coat. Here is what drives pricing in our local market and how to make sure you are comparing estimates accurately.

San Antonio Pricing Breakdown

Materials account for roughly $2 to $4 per square foot, including Portland cement, sand, metal lath, moisture barrier, expansion joint material, and finish coat pigment. Labor makes up the rest — $6 to $11 per square foot depending on complexity. San Antonio labor rates for experienced stucco crews are competitive compared to Austin or Dallas, but skilled applicators command premium rates because quality stucco work is a specialized trade.

What Pushes Price to the Higher End

Several factors push costs toward the $12 to $15 range or higher. Two-story homes require scaffolding, which adds $1 to $2 per square foot. Complex wall geometry with many corners, bump-outs, and recesses takes more time. Premium finishes like smooth Santa Barbara or heavy dash require more skill and labor. Retrofit projects over existing siding add removal and substrate preparation costs. EIFS systems run $9 to $18 per square foot due to the foam board, mesh, and specialized finish materials.

What Keeps Price Lower

Single-story new construction on clean sheathing with straightforward wall geometry and a standard sand float finish represents the lower end of the range. Larger projects benefit from economies of scale — a 4,000 square foot wall job costs less per square foot than a 500 square foot accent wall because setup and mobilization costs are spread over more area.

How to Compare Estimates

When getting quotes from San Antonio stucco contractors, make sure each estimate includes the same scope: moisture barrier, metal lath, three full coats with proper curing, expansion joints, and the finish you want. A lower per-square-foot price that skips moisture barriers or applies only two coats is not actually cheaper — it is a system that will fail sooner and cost more to fix.

We provide free on-site estimates throughout the San Antonio metro with exact per-square-foot pricing based on your actual walls. No guesswork, no hidden fees. Visit our stucco installation page to learn more about our process, or call us directly for a quote.

Call (210) 871-8490 for a free estimate. Email info@sanantoniostucco.com.