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Construction cost calculator

What it costs to build, phase by phase, before a contractor quotes.

The plot

1 marla = 272.25 sq ft, 30.25 sq yd

Plot area works out at 2,723 sq ft.

What you are building

2 floors
85% of the plot

Setbacks, lawn and porch usually take the rest.

80% of the plot

Build quality

What most family homes are built to. Branded fittings, tiled floors.

Rs/ sq ft

Covers structure labour, supervision and the contractor margin.

Rs/ sq ft

This is where quality shows up. Change it and everything below moves.

Cost to buildRs 33,234,153

At Rs 7,398 per square foot, with the contingency and price escalation already inside this number.

  • Covered4,492 sq ft
  • Floors2
  • Build time11 months
TotalRs 3.32 crore
  • Grey structureRs 1.41 crore42.5%
  • FinishingRs 1.44 crore43.3%
  • Fees and permitsRs 14.47 lakh4.4%
  • ContingencyRs 32.91 lakh9.9%
  • Cost per square footRs 7,398Rs 3,144 structure, Rs 3,200 finishing
  • Cost per marla builtRs 20.14 lakhCovered area, not plot area
  • Contingency and escalationRs 3,291,3028% reserve plus price movement
  • Fees and approvalsRs 1,447,056Design, permits and supervision

Material take-off

Rs 10,617,137 of materials
Estimated materials for the structure
MaterialQuantityRateAmount
Cement1,796.9 bagsRs 1,400Rs 2,515,590
Steel bar17,070 kgRs 275Rs 4,694,271
Bricks58,398 piecesRs 21Rs 1,226,350
Sand7,187.4 cftRs 55Rs 395,307
Crush and aggregate5,615.2 cftRs 110Rs 617,667
Electrical rough-in4,492.1 sqftRs 95Rs 426,752
Plumbing rough-in4,492.1 sqftRs 110Rs 494,134
Waterproofing and termite treatment4,492.1 sqftRs 55Rs 247,067
MaterialsRs 10,617,137
Labour, supervision and contractorRs 3,503,858
Grey structureRs 14,120,995

Quantities are a planning estimate. A structural drawing changes the steel more than anything else on this list, so treat these as a check against a supplier quote rather than an order sheet.

Finishing

Rs 14,374,800
Flooring and tiling18% of finishingRs 2,587,464
Doors and windows15% of finishingRs 2,156,220
Bathrooms and sanitary13% of finishingRs 1,868,724
Woodwork and wardrobes12% of finishingRs 1,724,976
Kitchen11% of finishingRs 1,581,228
Paint and polish9% of finishingRs 1,293,732
Electrical fittings and lighting8% of finishingRs 1,149,984
Elevation and exterior8% of finishingRs 1,149,984
False ceiling and features6% of finishingRs 862,488

Fees and approvals

Rs 1,447,056
Architectural design1.5% of the buildRs 427,437
Structural design0.5% of the buildRs 142,479
Map approval and building permit35 per sq ftRs 157,224
Site supervision2% of the buildRs 569,916
Completion certificate and utility connectionsRs 150,000
Before contingencyRs 29,942,851

What you pay, month by month

11 months
Rs 0Rs 83.09 lakhRs 1.66 croreRs 2.49 croreRs 3.32 croreM1M3M5M7M9M11M12
  • Money spent to date
Month of the build

Peak spend lands in the middle of the build when the structure and the finishing overlap. Line your money up against this curve rather than dividing the total by the number of months.

Phase by phase

Construction phases with cost and duration
PhaseWeeksCostPaid so far
Site clearing and excavation1 to 2Rs 988,144Rs 988,144
Foundation and damp proof course3 to 6Rs 2,305,670Rs 3,293,814
Ground floor structure7 to 14Rs 3,952,577Rs 7,246,392
Upper floor structure15 to 21Rs 3,293,814Rs 10,540,206
Roof slab and curing22 to 24Rs 1,976,289Rs 12,516,495
Brickwork and blockwork25 to 28Rs 1,976,289Rs 14,492,783
Electrical and plumbing rough-in29 to 31Rs 1,317,526Rs 15,810,309
Plaster and screed32 to 34Rs 1,664,668Rs 17,474,977
Flooring and tiling35 to 38Rs 3,688,318Rs 21,163,295
Doors, windows and joinery39 to 42Rs 4,023,619Rs 25,186,914
Kitchen and bathrooms43 to 45Rs 3,688,318Rs 28,875,232
Paint, fittings and handover46 to 49Rs 4,358,921Rs 33,234,153

Where the money goes

  • Grey structureRs 14,120,995
  • FinishingRs 14,374,800
  • FeesRs 1,447,056
  • ContingencyRs 2,395,428
  • EscalationRs 895,874

How to keep it on budget

  • Buy steel and cement in bulk at the start of a phase. Both move with the market and a week of delay can cost more than the discount.
  • Freeze the drawings before excavation. Changes made after the slab is poured are the single biggest source of overruns.
  • Keep grey structure and finishing on separate contracts. Mixing them hides where the money actually goes.
  • Ask for rates in writing per item, not one lump sum. A lump sum quote cannot be checked against a bill of quantities.
  • Order tiles, sanitary and joinery early. Lead times on anything imported will stall the finishing phase.
  • Hold back five to ten percent of every payment until the phase is signed off. Retention is normal and it keeps quality honest.
Build costRs 3.32 croreRs 7,398 per sq ft

About this calculator

Price a build from plot size and covered area, split the structure from the finishing, and get a month by month payment schedule with a contingency you can defend. Material take-off in bags, kilos and bricks at rates you can edit, plus map approval and supervision fees. Shell and fit out rates per square foot with architect, planning, building regulations and warranty costs.

Material and labour rates move constantly. Every rate here is editable, so put in what your supplier quoted this week.

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