In September 2026 a standard house in Lahore costs about Rs 6,400 per sq ft of covered area to build: Rs 3,200 for the grey structure and Rs 3,200 for finishing. A 10 marla double storey of 3,375 sq ft therefore comes to about Rs 2.16 crore.
Enter your plot size and storeys, or the covered area from your map. Pick the city and the quality of work. The calculator also lists the bricks, cement bags, steel, sand, crush and labour a grey structure of that size needs, priced at this month's market rates. You can type your own contractor's rates under "Use your own rates".
Construction cost per sq ft in Pakistan, 2026
Rates per sq ft of covered area in Lahore. Grey structure is the frame, walls, roof slabs and plumbing and electric pipes. Finishing is plaster, flooring, paint, doors, windows, kitchen, bathrooms and fittings.
| Quality | Grey structure | Finishing | Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| A category (premium) | Rs 3,600 | Rs 5,000 | Rs 8,600 |
| B category (standard) | Rs 3,200 | Rs 3,200 | Rs 6,400 |
| C category (economy) | Rs 2,800 | Rs 2,000 | Rs 4,800 |
A category means imported or top local fittings, marble or porcelain floors and solid wood. B category is good local brands, porcelain or ceramic tiles and standard wood work. C category is basic tiles and fittings. Rates are from contractor lists published in August and September 2026.
Rates in other cities
Labour and transport change the cost from city to city. These factors are applied to the Lahore rate.
| City | Factor | B category complete rate |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore | 1.00 | Rs 6,400/sq ft |
| Karachi | 1.02 | Rs 6,528/sq ft |
| Islamabad and Rawalpindi | 1.05 | Rs 6,720/sq ft |
| Faisalabad | 0.94 | Rs 6,016/sq ft |
| Multan | 0.92 | Rs 5,888/sq ft |
| Peshawar | 0.96 | Rs 6,144/sq ft |
Smaller towns are often cheaper on labour but dearer on transport of steel and cement. If your city is not listed, start from the Lahore rate and adjust with local quotes.
Worked example: 10 marla double storey
This is the example loaded above: a 10 marla plot on the 225 sq ft marla, double storey, B category, Lahore.
- Plot area: 10 x 225 = 2,250 sq ft.
- Covered area: about 75% of the plot on each floor, so 2,250 x 0.75 x 2 = 3,375 sq ft.
- Grey structure: 3,375 x Rs 3,200 = Rs 10,800,000.
- Finishing: 3,375 x Rs 3,200 = Rs 10,800,000.
- Total: Rs 21,600,000, about Rs 2.16 crore.
The grey structure breakdown at the 26 September 2026 rates:
| Item | Quantity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bricks at Rs 20,000 per 1,000 | 67,500 | Rs 1,350,000 |
| Cement at Rs 1,450 a bag | 1,350 bags | Rs 1,957,500 |
| Steel at Rs 262 a kg | 11,138 kg | Rs 2,918,025 |
| Sand at Rs 80 a cft | 6,075 cft | Rs 486,000 |
| Crush at Rs 130 a cft | 4,050 cft | Rs 526,500 |
| Labour at Rs 450 a sq ft | 3,375 sq ft | Rs 1,518,750 |
These add up to Rs 8,756,775. The other Rs 2,043,225 of the grey structure covers shuttering, pipes, water, curing and the contractor's margin.
Cost of common plot sizes
Double storey, B category, Lahore rates, 225 sq ft marla, at the typical covered area for each plot size.
| Plot | Covered area | Grey structure | Complete house |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 marla | 1,148 sq ft | Rs 36.7 lakh | Rs 73.4 lakh |
| 5 marla | 1,913 sq ft | Rs 61.2 lakh | Rs 1.22 crore |
| 7 marla | 2,678 sq ft | Rs 85.7 lakh | Rs 1.71 crore |
| 10 marla | 3,375 sq ft | Rs 1.08 crore | Rs 2.16 crore |
| 1 kanal | 5,400 sq ft | Rs 1.73 crore | Rs 3.46 crore |
See the detailed pages for a 5 marla house, a 10 marla house and a 1 kanal house.
How the calculator works
Covered area
Cost is charged on covered area, not plot area. Covered area is every floor you build, including stairs and the roof room (mumty), but not open lawns or the car porch roof unless it is enclosed. If you enter a plot size, the calculator assumes a typical share covered on each floor after the front, back and side spaces housing societies require: 85% up to 7 marla, 75% up to 15 marla and 60% for larger plots. Type your own percentage if your map differs.
Rates
Grey structure and finishing rates come from the rate lists in the table above. Change them if your contractor quotes differently. Contractors quote either "with material" or "labour only"; the rates here are with material.
Material quantities
The breakdown uses thumb rules per sq ft of covered area for an RCC framed house with 9 inch outer walls: 20 bricks, 0.4 bags of cement, 3.3 kg of steel, 1.8 cft of sand and 1.2 cft of crush. Basements, raft foundations or long spans need more steel and concrete. For a single wall or slab, use the brick calculator or the concrete calculator.
These are planning figures, not a quote. Soil, design, basement, boundary wall, underground tank and approvals can add 10% or more. Get a bill of quantities from your architect and at least two contractor quotes before you start. Material prices move every week; the rates here are dated in the form.
Construction cost questions
What is the construction cost per square foot in Pakistan?
About Rs 6,400 a sq ft for a standard B category house in Lahore in September 2026, of which Rs 3,200 is grey structure. Economy work is about Rs 4,800 a sq ft and premium about Rs 8,600. Islamabad is about 5% higher and Multan about 8% lower.
What is the grey structure rate per sq ft in 2026?
Between Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,600 a sq ft with material in Lahore, depending on quality. That covers foundations, columns, beams, slabs, brick walls, and the pipes and conduits inside the walls. Plaster is usually counted in finishing, so check what your contractor includes.
How much does it cost to build a 5 marla house in 2026?
About Rs 1.22 crore for a double storey of 1,913 sq ft at B category Lahore rates, or Rs 61 lakh for a single storey. Premium finishing takes the double storey to about Rs 1.64 crore. The 5 marla page shows the full breakdown.
How many bricks are needed for a house?
About 20 bricks per sq ft of covered area for a framed house with 9 inch outer walls. A 10 marla double storey of 3,375 sq ft needs about 67,500 bricks. Load bearing houses with no RCC frame use more. For one wall, the brick calculator gives an exact count.
Is labour included in the per sq ft rate?
Yes. The rates are "with material" rates that include materials, labour and the contractor's margin. Labour only contracts for grey structure were about Rs 400 to Rs 450 a sq ft in mid 2026. If you buy materials yourself, add the labour rate to your own material costs.
Related tools
Last reviewed 30 September 2026. Results are estimates; official notices always take precedence.