How Much Does It Cost To Build A House?

To get a quick outline of how much it will cost to build a house, the Superficial Area Method of estimating is a quick and simple way of pricing that is directly related to the build and allows for early comparisons between differing designs. Using a cost per m² for the gross internal floor area of a building; measured over stairwells, internal partitions, columns etc. This cost estimate is generally carried out during the Order of Cost Estimate stage of a project and is detailed in the RICS’ NRM1 best practice guide.

It is worth noting that this method is a yard stick calculation, will make adjusting the costs associated with internal design amendments difficult to calculate and should generally be used with caution. Therefore, it is recommended that special items are priced separately from this cost estimate to improve accuracy of the overall cost.

Gross internal floor area costs for a wide variety of new build developments are shown below. These costs are from actual building contracts in the UK and include preliminaries and contractor’s OHP but they exclude furnishings, external works, contingencies, design fees and VAT.

As a rule of thumb, you would typically add 20% for external works, 15% for contingencies and between 5% – 10% for design costs.

If you have already got your plans and require a more detailed cost breakdown for your project and get a more accurate answer to the question; how much does it cost to build a house? You can contact us here to discuss how we may be able to help you.