A stress crack is a crack in a surface caused from stress or the settling of building materials. In a wall, a stress crack is often the result of the building's foundation settling. In a vehicle's windshield, a stress crack is often the result of too much chassis twisting while negotiating a hilly or bumpy surface or when applying too much power to the tires in high-performance applications. Most stress cracks can be easily repaired; some are a sign of a much more serious problem yet to come, however.

In brick buildings or cement block foundations, the sight of a stress crack is not uncommon. Through years of settling, the building will begin to flex and twist, often showing up as a crack in the mortar. In some severe settling, actual bricks will crack in half as the settling advances and becomes more severe. These cracks are typically most common around and over windows and doors.

In some poured cement walls and barriers, large cracks can be found as the footings settle and move. These cracks are seldom all the way through the concrete wall, but they can cause the wall to divide and fall in severe cases. The use of reinforcing wire and steel rod often help the concrete to resist succumbing to a stress crack.

The surface of the planet is in constant shift. Settling and motion in the earth's crust often causes man-made objects to crack as time passes by. Perhaps the most noticeable stress crack in the family home can be found in drywall. Drywall or plaster board is a soft material which is prone to cracking and breaking under stress. As the wall settles, the drywall begins to settle with it. The drywall cannot flex more than a fraction of an inch before it begins to crack. In some extreme situations, a single sheet of drywall may contain two or more stress crack locations.

A stress crack can be repaired very easily using spackling compound or cement, but it will almost always crack again. This is due to the continuation of the settling. Most buildings continue to shift and settle for the duration of the building's existence. While the building settles, the cracks will reappear at the stressed locations. As very few buildings settle all at once, an area that has not yet settled will likely crack the repaired section of wall once it eventually does settle.