Calculator
House Construction Cost Calculator
Most calculators give you one number and nothing else. This one also tells you how many cement bags, how much steel and how many bricks you need. You can take that list to any supplier and check the price yourself.
The formula
What this assumes
- This is for a normal RCC frame house (columns, beams, slab). Load-bearing brick houses cost less.
- Material quantities are standard thumb rules used across India. Your engineer may use slightly different numbers.
- Labour is taken as about 24% of the total. In big cities it goes higher.
- Boundary wall, gate, borewell, water tank and approval fees are NOT included. Add them separately.
- Rates change with season. Cement and steel move the most.
- Deep foundation, hill slope or bad soil will push the cost up. This assumes normal flat land.
Common questions
How much does it cost to build a house in India?
For a normal house with standard finishes, plan for about Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,100 per sq ft. Basic work can be done around Rs 1,400. Premium finishes go past Rs 2,800. Metro cities are roughly 20% costlier than small towns.
What is built-up area?
Built-up area is the total floor area on all floors, including walls. Plot area is your land. If you have a 1,200 sq ft plot and build on 60% of it across 2 floors, your built-up area is 1,440 sq ft. Always ask a contractor which one his rate is based on. This one point can change a quote by 8 to 10%.
Why do two contractors give very different rates?
Usually because they are quoting different things. One may include steel and cement, the other may not. One may count balcony area fully, the other at half. Ask both for a written material list before comparing.
How much cement is needed for 1000 sq ft?
About 400 bags for a normal RCC house. That is the 0.40 bags per sq ft thumb rule. Steel comes to about 4,000 kg.
Can I trust this number for a bank loan?
Use it for planning only. Banks want a proper estimate from a licensed engineer or architect. Take this number to understand if your budget is realistic, then get a formal estimate.