diff --git a/SimPEG/mesh/BaseMesh.py b/SimPEG/mesh/BaseMesh.py
index 2647cf44..ff804a83 100644
--- a/SimPEG/mesh/BaseMesh.py
+++ b/SimPEG/mesh/BaseMesh.py
@@ -228,6 +228,17 @@ class BaseMesh(object):
         return locals()
     nC = property(**nC())
 
+    def nCv():
+        doc = """
+        Total number of cells in each direction
+
+        :rtype: numpy.array (dim, )
+        :return: [nCx, nCy, nCz]
+        """
+        fget = lambda self: np.array([x for x in [self.nCx, self.nCy, self.nCz] if not x is None])
+        return locals()
+    nCv = property(**nCv())
+
     def nNx():
         doc = """
         Number of nodes in the x-direction
diff --git a/SimPEG/mesh/Cyl1DMesh.py b/SimPEG/mesh/Cyl1DMesh.py
index 28e2e1a9..e22e12b9 100644
--- a/SimPEG/mesh/Cyl1DMesh.py
+++ b/SimPEG/mesh/Cyl1DMesh.py
@@ -80,6 +80,12 @@ class Cyl1DMesh(object):
         return locals()
     nC = property(**nC())
 
+    def nCv():
+        doc = "Total number of cells in each direction"
+        fget = lambda self: np.array([self.nCx, self.nCz])
+        return locals()
+    nCv = property(**nCv())    
+
     def nNr():
         doc = "Number of nodes in the radial direction"
         fget = lambda self: self.hr.size