Plan your house budget before requesting quotations
A house budget starts with the area you will actually construct. Enter covered areas for the ground, first and second floors separately. If your project includes a basement, select Yes and enter its covered area. An unused basement field is ignored when No is selected.
This Pakistan house building cost calculator separates the grey structure from finishing, making it easier to see how your budget changes with the specification. All costs are in Pakistani rupees. It compares a budget option, an A-quality option and a premium finishing option using the rates you enter.
How to use the calculator
- Measure the covered area of each floor from your approved drawings, in square feet. Do not enter plot area as a substitute for covered area.
- Choose whether to include a basement. Its structural rate is entered separately.
- Replace the reference rates with quotations for your city, soil conditions and chosen scope of work.
- Select Calculate result to compare grey structure, finishing and total costs for each quality level.
- Discuss exclusions and contingencies with your contractor before deciding a working budget.
Calculation method
Total covered area = ground floor + first floor + second floor + included basement.
Grey structure = above-ground covered area × above-ground grey rate + basement covered area × basement grey rate.
Finishing = total covered area × selected finishing rate. Total estimate = grey structure + finishing.
The budget option uses the budget structural rates. Both A-quality and premium options use the standard structural rates; their finishing rates differ. Quality names are comparison labels and do not constitute a detailed material specification.
Worked example: 2,000 sq ft without a basement
Suppose the ground floor is 1,000 sq ft and the first floor is 1,000 sq ft. Using the editable reference rates gives the comparison below. These illustrate the calculation; they are not current market quotations.
| Option | Grey structure | Finishing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | PKR 5,400,000 | PKR 6,000,000 | PKR 11,400,000 |
| A-quality | PKR 6,200,000 | PKR 7,200,000 | PKR 13,400,000 |
| Premium | PKR 6,200,000 | PKR 8,400,000 | PKR 14,600,000 |
What can change your actual building cost?
Foundation design, excavation, groundwater, structural requirements, access to the site and material specifications can all affect the quotation. Finishing also depends on tile selection, doors, sanitary fittings, electrical fittings, cabinetry and other items agreed in the contract. Ask for a written scope rather than comparing only a headline rate per square foot.
Frequently asked questions
Are the prefilled rates current Pakistan construction prices?
No. They are reference rates from the user-provided Ghar Plans calculator. Its stored rate date is 10 August 2025, retrieved on 18 October 2026. Obtain recent quotations and edit the rates before relying on the estimate.
Does this include the plot price?
No separate land allowance is added. This tool multiplies covered areas by your grey structure and finishing rates. Design fees, approvals, financing, boundary works and contingencies are not separately calculated. Confirm what your chosen rates include.
Can I use this for a 5 marla or 10 marla house?
Yes, if you enter the actual covered floor areas from your drawings. Plot units and permitted coverage vary; do not assume the whole plot is built on.
Why is the basement rate separate?
Basements can require a different scope for excavation, retaining structures and waterproofing. This tool lets you enter a separate grey structure rate; the finishing rate is applied consistently across included floor areas.
Is this a final bill of quantities?
No. A measured bill of quantities requires drawings, specifications and item-level quantities. Use this result for early budgeting and compare it with professional quotations.
Reference: Ghar Plans grey structure and finishing calculator. Calculate Simply uses its own interface and editable reference inputs.