House construction cost in Pakistan: how to estimate it properly
Estimate the cost of building a house in Pakistan: covered area vs plot size, grey structure and finishing, per-sq-ft contracts, a BOQ and verified local rates.
Published 4 min read
The short answer
To estimate the cost of building a house in Pakistan, start with the covered area — not the plot size — then split the job into grey structure and finishing. Get a bill of quantities (BOQ) from your engineer, price each line with verified local rates for cement, steel, bricks, sand and crush, add labour, finishing, approvals and utilities, and keep a contingency of 10–15%.
Key takeaways
- Cost follows covered area — the built floor area of all storeys — not plot size.
- Split the estimate: grey structure (the shell) and finishing (everything that makes it liveable).
- A BOQ turns drawings into quantities you can price line by line.
- Per-sq-ft contractor rates are only comparable for the same specification.
- Add approvals, utility connections and a 10–15% contingency.
On this page
Plot size vs covered area
A 5 marla or 10 marla plot tells you the land, not the building. What drives cost is the covered area: the total floor area you build across all storeys.
| Plot | Area at 225 sq ft per marla | What sets the covered area |
|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | 1,125 sq ft | Bylaws, setbacks, number of storeys |
| 10 marla | 2,250 sq ft | Same |
| 1 kanal (20 marla) | 4,500 sq ft | Same |
Most housing societies use 225 sq ft per marla; older revenue records can use a larger marla, so check your documents. A double-storey house usually has more covered area than the plot itself.
Try asking DAAM“Construction cost per square foot in Lahore”Grey structure and finishing
| Stage | What it includes | Main materials |
|---|---|---|
| Grey structure | Excavation, foundations, columns, beams, slabs, walls, plaster, basic plumbing and electrical conduits | Cement, steel, bricks or blocks, sand, crush |
| Finishing | Flooring, tiles, paint, doors and windows, woodwork, kitchen, bathrooms, electrical fittings, sanitary fittings | Tiles, paint, wood, fittings |
Finishing varies more than grey structure. The same house can cost very different amounts depending on whether you choose basic, standard or premium finishes — so decide your finishing level early.
Step by step
- Drawings: an architect’s plan and a structural design, approved by your development authority or society.
- BOQ: your engineer lists quantities — bags of cement, tons of steel, thousands of bricks, cubic feet of sand and crush, square feet of tiles.
- Price each line with verified rates in your city, on delivered terms. This is where most of the money is.
- Labour: get labour-only rates from contractors for the same scope.
- Finishing: list your choices — tiles, paint, fittings — and price them.
- Extras: approvals, utility connections, boundary wall, water tank, gate, solar.
- Contingency: add 10–15% for price changes and surprises.
Understanding contractor rates
Contractors often quote per square foot of covered area:
- Labour only: you buy the materials; the contractor supplies labour.
- With material (grey structure): the contractor buys materials for the shell.
- Turnkey: grey structure and finishing together.
Per-sq-ft rates are only comparable when the specification is the same — cement brand, steel grade, brick class, slab thickness, finishing level. Ask each contractor to state them in writing. See checking a contractor’s quotation.
Free · no sign-up needed
Price your BOQ with verified rates
Ask DAAM for each material in your city, or send a photo of your BOQ or quotation to check every line at once.
Opens DAAM with: “Grey structure material rates in Lahore”
Where the big costs are
In the grey structure, steel and cement are usually the largest material costs, followed by bricks or blocks, then sand and crush. Small changes in these rates make a large difference. Check them before each purchase:
Keeping the estimate honest
- Use delivered rates — freight and unloading add up. See delivery charges.
- Update rates before each stage — prices move between foundations and finishing.
- Track what you actually pay against the estimate, line by line.
- Send bills and quotations to DAAM as photos to check them against verified prices.
Timing and phasing
Building takes months, and prices change. Buy materials in stages matched to the work, lock rates in writing where possible, and avoid stockpiling cement. See when to buy construction materials.
City differences
Rates differ between cities because of distance from plants, kilns and quarries. See our guides for Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a house in Pakistan?
It depends on the covered area, city, specification and finishing level. Get a bill of quantities from your engineer, price each line with verified local rates, add labour, finishing, approvals and a 10–15% contingency.
What is grey structure?
Grey structure is the shell of the building: foundations, columns, beams, slabs, walls, plaster and basic conduits. Finishing — tiles, paint, doors, kitchen and bathrooms — comes after.
How many square feet is 5 marla?
In most housing societies a marla is 225 sq ft, so 5 marla is 1,125 sq ft of plot. Covered area can be more or less than this, depending on bylaws and the number of storeys.
What is a BOQ in construction?
A bill of quantities lists the materials and work needed — bags of cement, tons of steel, thousands of bricks and so on — so each line can be priced and compared.
Free · no sign-up needed
Price your BOQ with verified rates
Ask DAAM for each material in your city, or send a photo of your BOQ or quotation to check every line at once.
Opens DAAM with: “Grey structure material rates in Lahore”
Written by
Hamza writes DAAM’s price guides for shoppers in Pakistan: where to buy, what to check before paying and how to use verified prices to avoid being overcharged.
