Construction cost calculator
Turn built-up area into a budget: area per floor × floors × your rate, plus contingency — with the exclusions spelled out, not hidden.
| Breakdown | Value |
|---|
Estimate. The method and sources are on this page — check them against your own case before you act.
How it is calculated
A construction budget is an area multiplied by an all-in rate, with a buffer. The useful question is not 'what is the rate' but 'what does this rate include', which the calculator makes you choose.
Built-up area = area per floor × floors · Cost = area × rate × (1 + contingency % )
Add up the built-up area
Take the covered area of each floor, including walls, and multiply by the number of floors. A 30 × 40 ft plot with a 1,000 sq ft ground floor and a 1,000 sq ft first floor is 2,000 sq ft built-up.
Choose an all-in rate you can defend
The rate should include structure, masonry, plaster, flooring, doors, windows, wiring and plumbing for the specification you want. Rates differ by city, specification and access — start from a quote, not a website average.
Add contingency, then compare
Add 5% for a straightforward build and up to 10% if the design is still changing. Compare the per-square-foot and per-square-metre figures with contractors' quotes on the same specification.
What the estimate includes and excludes
| Item | What it covers | How the calculator treats it |
|---|---|---|
| Built-up area | Covered area on all floors, including walls | Area per floor × number of floors |
| All-in rate | Structure, finishes, services for your spec | Editable input, default ₹1,900 per sq ft |
| Contingency | Design changes, wastage, price rise | Editable, default 5% |
| Cost per sq m | Metric comparison with quotes | Total cost ÷ built-up area in m² |
| Square foot | 0.092903 m² | Conversion used throughout |
| Excluded | Land, stamp duty, registration, interiors, compound wall, solar | Not added — this is construction cost only |
| Carpet area | Usable floor area, usually 70–80% of built-up | Not used; estimates are on built-up area |
What most pages get wrong
The rate is the estimate; the area is arithmetic
Anyone can multiply area by a rate. The rate decides whether the number is real, so the calculator makes it an input and asks you to source it from a quote or CPWD plinth-area rate.
Upper floors are not simply cheaper or costlier
An upper floor may save on foundation share but adds scaffolding, lifting and slab work. The calculator applies the same rate to every floor — adjust the rate if your quote differs by floor.
5% is a buffer, not padding
Design changes, extra electrical points and material price moves are normal. A contingency of 5–10% keeps a build from stopping for want of a small amount.
The biggest costs are often outside the rate
Land, stamp duty and registration can exceed construction cost. Interiors, modular kitchens and solar are separate budgets — the result is construction only.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to build a 2,000 sq ft house?+
What is the difference between built-up, carpet and super built-up area?+
Is the rate per sq ft the same for every floor?+
Does this include land, registration and stamp duty?+
Which rate should I use for a basic versus premium house?+
How do I convert the cost to per square metre?+
Should I add 10% contingency?+
Sources, dates and a changelog.
Every number this calculator uses is either an input you control or a value from the sources below. The formula is compiled and tested at build time, so the page cannot ship with a broken calculation.
Sources
This page
- Last verified: 29 October 2026
- Next review: 29 April 2027
- Vertical: Construction & Real Estate
- Build tests: 4 passed
- Changelog: 1 entry
How we handle errors
- Spotted a mistake? Report it — we correct and log it.
- Corrections appear in the changelog below.
- Read the methodology and the disclaimer.