Soil and foundations
Weak soil, a basement, retaining work or dewatering can increase excavation, concrete and reinforcement.
Pakistan construction planning
Grey Structure Cost Calculator Pakistan
Estimate total grey structure cost and material quantities from covered area, plot size, marla or kanal—with every rate and conversion explained.
- Selectable marla conventions
- City, quality and storey adjustments
- Print, CSV, copy and local saving
Free planning calculator
Enter construction details
Choose how your area is measured. The calculator converts it to total covered area before applying the estimate.
Your estimate will appear hereEnter the project details, then choose Calculate estimate.
Planning estimate
Estimated grey structure cost
Illustrative sensitivity range (±%):
Effective rate
Total covered area
City
Quality
Storeys
Area interpretation
Rate evidence
Calculation record
Approximate material quantities
Cement
Steel / saria
Bricks
Sand
Crush
Rate method:
Scope: Core grey structure planning allowance only. Confirm finishes, design changes, abnormal ground conditions, taxes and every quotation inclusion or exclusion separately.
Share links include the calculator inputs needed to reproduce the estimate. Anyone with the link can view those inputs; do not include sensitive project information.
Saved estimates on this device
This browser keeps up to 10 estimates. Saving an eleventh requires confirmation and replaces the oldest record. 0 of 10 saved.
No saved estimates yet. Saved data stays in this browser and does not create an account.
Transparent inputsPlot size, covered area and total floor area are kept distinct.
Editable local rateUse your contractor or supplier rate without double adjustments.
Private by defaultSaved calculations stay in local browser storage.
Scope first
What is a grey structure?
Grey structure is the unfinished structural shell of a building. It usually covers foundations, reinforced concrete work, masonry and roof slabs before decorative finishes are installed.
In Pakistan, “grey structure” commonly means the load-bearing shell and basic masonry—not a ready-to-live-in house. The signed contract and drawings, not the label alone, determine the actual scope.
| Usually included | Usually excluded |
|---|---|
| Excavation, foundations and footings | Floor and wall tiles |
| RCC columns, beams, lintels and slabs | Paint, polish and decorative ceilings |
| Brick or block masonry | Doors, cabinetry and wardrobes |
| Cement, saria, bricks, sand and crush used in the shell | Electrical and sanitary fixtures |
| Structural labour under the agreed scope | Kitchen, landscaping and loose equipment |
Calculation method
How the estimate is calculated
The tool first converts your entry to total covered square feet, then applies either the built-in planning rate or your custom all-in rate.
Built-in effective rate = quality base rate × city factor × storey cost factor
Total estimate = total covered area × effective rate
If you enter a custom rate, that value is used as the effective rate directly. This avoids applying a city or storey adjustment twice to a local rate that may already include those conditions.
| Input | Assumption | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Economy quality | PKR 2,800/sq ft base | Lower-cost specification planning baseline |
| Standard quality | PKR 3,350/sq ft base | Default mid-range planning baseline |
| Premium quality | PKR 3,950/sq ft base | Higher-specification planning baseline |
| City factor | 0.92 to 1.09 | Relative adjustment around Lahore = 1.00 |
| Storey cost factor | 1.00 / 1.06 / 1.12 | Single / double / triple-storey complexity |
| Sensitivity range | No default | Displayed only when the user enters a project-specific percentage; it is not a confidence interval |
Rates/assumptions last reviewed: 9 August 2026. These values were retained from the original 2026 calculator because no authoritative rate source was supplied. They are planning assumptions, not official market prices.
Read every city factor, material ratio and floor adjustment in the full methodology.
Using local rates around Pakistan
Whether you use this grey structure cost calculator near Gilgit, Rawalpindi or elsewhere in Pakistan, replace the built-in assumption with a dated local quotation whenever possible. The grey structure rate in Islamabad, for example, can differ from a rate in Rawalpindi because delivery, access, labour availability, scope and contractor overhead may not be the same.
A rate per square foot is meaningful only when its date, covered-area rule and inclusions are stated. Record those details beside the rate so later quotations can be compared on the same basis.
For a labour-only quotation, keep the labour rate separate from material allowances. The CSV export provides an auditable starting row for adding project-specific quantities, taxes, exclusions and contingency.
What is an order-of-cost estimate?
An order-of-cost estimate is an early budget range prepared before detailed quantities and firm quotations are available. It is one of several cost estimate categories and should not be presented with the same certainty as a measured estimate or accepted contractor quotation.
| Estimate category | Typical basis | Appropriate use |
|---|---|---|
| Order of cost | Area, broad scope and benchmark rate | Early affordability and option screening |
| Elemental or budget estimate | Developed drawings, quantities and stated allowances | Design-stage cost control |
| Measured estimate | Itemized quantities, specifications and current rates | Detailed budgeting and tender comparison |
| Contractor quotation | Written scope, commercial terms and offered prices | Procurement after exclusions and risks are normalized |
Worked example
Example: 3,000 sq ft double-storey house in Lahore
This hypothetical example uses standard quality and total covered area across both floors.
PKR 3,350 × Lahore 1.00 × double-storey 1.06 = PKR 3,551/sq ft
3,000 sq ft × PKR 3,551 = PKR 10,653,000
No uncertainty range is added automatically. If the project team enters a sensitivity percentage supported by its own risk review, the calculator displays the corresponding illustrative lower and upper values. Approximate materials would be 1,342 cement bags, 13,482 kg steel, 105,060 bricks, 5,408 cft sand and 4,481 cft crush.
That example does not prove a current Lahore market price. It demonstrates the calculator formula so you can audit the result or replace the rate with a current local figure.
Cost drivers
Why actual construction cost changes
Covered area is only the starting point. The structural design and site can materially change quantities, labour and waste.
Structural design
Long spans, cantilevers, seismic detailing, water tanks and unusual loads affect RCC and steel quantities.
Access and logistics
Narrow streets, storage limits, pumping, transport distance and security can change labour and delivery cost.
Specification
Cement brand, brick class, steel grade, concrete mix and waterproofing scope affect the contractor rate.
Measurement method
Covered-area definitions may include or exclude stairs, balconies, shafts, mumty and boundary walls.
Timing and contract
Price movement, taxes, wastage responsibility and labour-only versus material contracts change the final bill.
Material planning
Material ratios used by the calculator
The ratios estimate major materials from total covered area. They are useful for early budgeting, not for ordering without drawings and a bill of quantities.
| Material | Base ratio | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Cement | 0.43 | Bags per sq ft |
| Steel / saria | 4.20 | kg per sq ft |
| Bricks | 34 | Bricks per sq ft |
| Sand | 1.75 | cft per sq ft |
| Crush / aggregate | 1.45 | cft per sq ft |
For item-level calculations, use the concrete and cement calculator, steel weight calculator or brick wall calculator.
Keep scopes separate
Grey structure versus finishing
Finishing can vary more widely because appearance, brand and fixture choices are open-ended. Do not treat the grey-structure result as a full-house budget.
Common questions
Grey structure calculator FAQ
What does grey structure include in Pakistan?
It normally covers foundations, reinforced concrete structure, brick masonry, roof slabs and structural labour. Finishes such as tiles, paint, cabinetry, fixtures and decorative work are excluded. The contract scope should always define the exact inclusions.
Should I enter plot size or covered area?
Total covered area gives the most direct estimate. If you only know plot size, choose Plot size, enter a coverage percentage and the calculator will estimate covered area across the selected storeys.
Which marla size does the calculator use?
You choose the convention: 225 sq ft, 272.25 sq ft, or a custom value. No single marla conversion is silently assumed.
Are the rates official market prices?
No. The built-in values are transparent planning assumptions, not current market quotations. Enter your own dated all-in rate per square foot whenever one is available.
Does the estimate include finishing?
No. The estimate is for grey structure planning only and excludes paint, tiles, doors, cabinetry, sanitary fixtures, electrical fixtures and other finishes.
Why can the actual cost differ from the estimate?
Soil conditions, structural design, covered-area measurement, site access, material specifications, labour contracts, taxes, waste, price changes and the exact scope can all change actual cost.
Use the estimate responsibly
What to verify before you treat a rate as a budget
A per-square-foot rate becomes useful only when the area definition, structural scope and commercial exclusions are written down.
Ask for three things before comparing prices: the drawing revision used for measurement, an inclusion-and-exclusion schedule, and a dated rate breakdown. Without those, two apparently different quotations may describe different work.
| Check | Why it matters | Useful evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Measured area | Plot area is not the same as constructed floor area. | Area schedule by floor, including treatment of stairs, balconies, mumty and shafts. |
| Structural basis | Foundation depth, spans and reinforcement can change quantities materially. | Current architectural and structural drawings plus soil recommendations where required. |
| Material specification | Brand names alone do not define grade, standard, testing or storage. | Written cement, steel, masonry, aggregate and concrete requirements. |
| Commercial scope | Taxes, transport, pumping, water, curing and waste may sit outside a headline rate. | Bill of quantities or scope schedule with unit, quantity, rate and amount. |
| Rate date | Construction inputs move over time and differ by market. | Dated supplier quotations checked against official price-series direction. |
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics publishes monthly urban and rural construction-item price tables. Those tables are useful for checking price direction; they are not a substitute for a project quotation because delivery, grade, quantity and local availability still matter.
Sources and verification
- Pakistan Bureau of Statistics — Price StatisticsMonthly urban and rural construction-item price tables and national price-index publications.
- Pakistan Engineering Council — Building Code of Pakistan 2021National building-code context for safety, administration, structural work and the authority having jurisdiction.
- Pakistan Engineering Council — Bidding Documents ImplementationOfficial context for project-specific tender data, schedules, specifications, drawings and bills of quantities.
- Capital Development Authority — Laws and regulationsExample of local building-control rules; the authority and limits differ by city, society and project.
Sources establish the technical context. Calculator planning assumptions remain separately labelled and should be checked for the specific project.
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