There is no single official grey-structure rate for Pakistan. Current Lahore evidence reviewed on 17 September 2026 spans roughly PKR 2,848 to PKR 3,600 per sq ft for stated examples and specifications. Multiply a rate that matches your city and scope by total covered area; do not multiply the whole plot area unless it is actually covered.
Calculate from your covered area
Editorial status
Draft for genuine human editorial review before publication. A reviewer should recheck the dated rates, local rules, arithmetic and links. No named professional review is claimed.
Key assumptions
- Example plot: 5 Marla at 225 sq ft per Marla = 1,125 sq ft.
- Planning coverage: 75% per floor; two storeys.
- Total covered area: 1,125 × 75% × 2 = 1,687.5 sq ft.
- Website model: standard quality, Lahore, double-storey factor; effective illustrative rate PKR 3,551/sq ft.
Area convention: 225 sq ft is common in many schemes, while 272.25 sq ft is the traditional Marla. Read the land document and calculate the floors; land area is not automatically constructed area.
Worked calculation
The website calculator follows one auditable rule:
Estimated grey-structure cost = total covered construction area × applicable cost per square foot
Plot area = 5 × 225 = 1,125 sq ft
Covered area = 1,125 × 0.75 × 2 = 1,687.5 sq ft
Estimate = 1,687.5 × PKR 3,551 = PKR 5,992,313 (about PKR 59.92 lakh)
What the dated evidence says
| Evidence | Date / scope | Observed amount |
|---|---|---|
| Zameen 5 Marla Lahore example | Updated 9 Sep 2026; 2,025 sq ft | PKR 57.75 lakh; PKR 2,852/sq ft |
| QualityGhar Lahore guide | 19 Mar 2026; stated grey-structure band | PKR 3,000–3,600/sq ft |
| This website model | Illustrative standard Lahore, two storeys | PKR 3,551/sq ft |
These are not interchangeable quotations. Differences can reflect area, structural design, specification and inclusions.
Set a written grey-structure boundary
A useful Pakistan-wide definition starts with excavation, foundations, RCC frame or slabs, masonry and agreed plaster. It may also include concealed conduits and rough plumbing, but only where the quotation names them. Record labour, plant, transport, wastage, contractor overhead and tax instead of assuming they sit inside “per sq ft”.
Keep finishing and site extras outside the shell rate
Land, design approvals, soil investigation, abnormal foundations, basement, boundary wall and utility connections need separate lines unless included. Tiles, paint, doors, windows, cabinetry, sanitary fittings, lights and switches are finishing items.
National quotation checklist
- Issue one drawing revision and covered-area schedule to all bidders.
- Ask for a measurable specification for cement, saria, masonry, concrete and testing.
- Separate labour-only from material-and-labour offers.
- Reconcile stairs, mumty, tanks, porch, plaster and service rough-ins.
- Compare total exclusions and commercial terms before comparing rates.
Use a local all-in rate once
The built-in figures demonstrate the method. A dated custom rate already reflecting the city and project should be entered directly; the calculator does not add its city or storey factors again.
What changes the local result
- City logistics, labour availability and supplier distance.
- Soil, excavation depth, basement or retaining requirements.
- Structural spans, storeys, seismic design and concrete placement method.
- Whether the quote includes plaster, tanks, waterproofing, boundary wall and service rough-ins.
Questions people ask
How much does gray structure cost in Pakistan?
For planning, first confirm covered area and scope. Current Lahore sources reviewed here show about PKR 2,848–3,600 per sq ft, but another city or specification can differ materially.
What is the grey structure of a house?
It is the structural shell and agreed rough works: typically foundations, RCC, masonry and plaster, plus only the service rough-ins specifically written into the contract. Finishes are separate.
Is plot price included?
No. Land price and construction cost are separate. Approval, design, utilities and taxes may also sit outside the contractor's grey-structure rate.
Sources and limitations
- Zameen — 5 Marla grey construction cost, LahoreObserved 17 September 2026; source says prices updated 9 September 2026. It shows 2,025 sq ft, PKR 57.75 lakh and PKR 2,852/sq ft.
- QualityGhar — Lahore house construction cost guidePublished 19 March 2026; reports PKR 3,000–3,600/sq ft grey and PKR 6,500–8,500/sq ft standard turnkey, with a 5 Marla turnkey example of PKR 1.3–1.7 crore.
- Pakistan Engineering Council — Building Code of PakistanOfficial technical context; a cost guide does not replace structural design or approval by the authority having jurisdiction.
Prices are observations or published estimates, not guaranteed transaction values or quotations. Source scope and dates are stated so a reviewer can repeat the check.