DailyNumeric
Construction & Building

Construction Cost Calculator

Enter your built-up area and local cost per unit area to estimate the total cost to build, with a contingency buffer and design, permit and other costs included.

Your calculation is performed in your browser.
Use a rate quoted by local contractors for your area and finish level.
Buffer for price changes and unexpected work. 5–15% is common.
Architect and engineer fees, approvals and similar costs, as a share of the base cost.

Enter your area and cost per unit above to estimate the total construction cost.

How it works

The calculator multiplies your total built-up area by the construction cost per unit of area to get a base cost. It then adds a contingency percentage for unexpected costs and a percentage for design, permits and other costs, both applied to the base cost. The sum is your estimated total.

Formula & methodology

Base cost = area × cost per unit area. Contingency and design, permit and other costs are each a percentage of the base cost, and the total is the sum of all three. The all-in cost per unit area is the total divided by the area. The cost per unit area is the number that matters most, and it varies widely by location, materials and finish level, so use a figure from local contractors.

Base costBase cost = Area × Cost per unit area
ContingencyContingency = Base cost × (Contingency % ÷ 100)
Other costsOther costs = Base cost × (Design, permits & other % ÷ 100)
TotalTotal = Base cost + Contingency + Other costs
All-in rateAll-in cost per unit area = Total ÷ Area

What each term means

Area
Total built-up area across all floors, in sq ft or m².
Cost per unit area
Local construction rate per sq ft or m², in your chosen currency.
Contingency %
Buffer for price changes and unexpected work. 5–15% is a common planning range.
Design, permits & other %
Architect and engineer fees, approvals and similar costs as a share of the base cost.
Conversion
1 m² = 10.7639 sq ft.

Worked example

A 1,500 sq ft house at 150 per sq ft has a base cost of 225,000. A 10% contingency adds 22,500 and 10% for design, permits and other costs adds another 22,500, for a total of 270,000. That works out to 180 per sq ft all-in.

Common uses

  • —Getting a first budget figure before talking to architects or contractors.
  • —Comparing the cost of different house sizes or finish levels.
  • —Checking a contractor’s quote against a rough area-based estimate.

Important notes

  • —This is a planning estimate, not a quote. Real costs depend on location, site conditions, materials, labour rates and design complexity.
  • —The result does not include land, furniture, landscaping or financing costs unless you include them in your cost per unit area.
  • —Get itemized quotes from local contractors and consult a qualified architect or engineer before committing to a budget.