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Building Construction Cost Calculator
Get a complete itemised cost estimate for your building project — from foundation to painting. Works for residential, commercial, and mixed-use construction. Supports Economy, Standard and Premium grades. This construction cost calculator gives instant results with no signup.
Rates based on 2024–25 Bangladesh construction market. All prices are editable. For reference only.
How to Use
- 1Select your construction grade — Economy, Standard, or Premium.
- 2Choose your preferred currency for the cost display.
- 3Select the area unit (Sq Ft or Sq M) that matches your drawings.
- 4Enter the built-up floor area per level in your chosen unit.
- 5Enter the number of floors (ground floor = 1).
- 6Review the full itemised cost breakdown and grand total.
Example Calculation for Building Construction Cost
- Grade: Standard
- Floor area: 1,200 sqft per level
- Number of floors: 4
- Total built-up area: 4,800 sqft
Estimated Total: approx. ৳ 1.78 Crore (Standard grade, 4,800 sqft)
What Is Included
The breakdown covers 12 cost heads: foundation, RCC structure, brickwork, plastering, flooring, doors and windows, electrical, plumbing, painting, roof waterproofing, labour and supervision, and 5% overhead. Land cost, design fees, and furnishing are not included.
How Construction Cost Is Estimated
The calculator uses a rate-per-square-foot model — the standard method used by quantity surveyors and contractors in Bangladesh. Each cost head is calculated from a grade-specific rate per sqft, derived from market surveys.
Total Built-up Area = Floor area per level × Number of floors
Item Cost (BDT) = Total area (sqft) × Rate per sqft for that item
Grand Total = Sum of all 11 item costs + 5% overhead & contingency
Cost per sqft = Grand Total ÷ Total Built-up Area
Economy ≈ BDT 2,300–2,700/sqft · Standard ≈ BDT 3,500–4,200/sqft · Premium ≈ BDT 6,000–8,000/sqft. Rates compiled from PWD Schedule of Rates, REHAB member surveys, and Dhaka contractor market data 2024–25. Sqm inputs are converted to sqft internally (1 sqm = 10.7639 sqft).
Typical Cost Breakdown by Item
Approximate share of total construction cost — Standard grade residential building, Bangladesh.
| Cost Item | % of Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation & Earthwork | 8–12% | Soil condition and depth are the biggest variables |
| RCC Structure (columns, beams, slabs) | 25–30% | Largest single cost — rod, cement, formwork, labour |
| Brickwork & Masonry | 10–13% | Wall construction with mortar; 9-inch walls for load-bearing |
| Plastering (internal + external) | 6–8% | External needs richer mix (1:5) for rain resistance |
| Flooring & Tiles | 7–10% | Ceramic, marble, or mosaic — major grade differentiator |
| Doors, Windows & Grills | 5–8% | Wood, aluminium, or uPVC; grills add 1–2% more |
| Electrical Wiring & Fittings | 5–7% | Wiring, MCB board, switches, sockets, fixtures |
| Plumbing & Sanitary | 4–6% | Pipes, sanitary ware, water tank, pump |
| Painting & Wall Finish | 3–5% | Putty + primer + 2 coats emulsion for standard finish |
| Roof Waterproofing | 2–3% | Essential in Bangladesh — skipping leads to major repair cost |
| Labour & Supervision | 8–12% | Daily labour, mason, rod binder, site supervisor |
| Overhead & Contingency | 5% | Fixed buffer for price changes and unforeseen items |
Source methodology: PWD Schedule of Rates Bangladesh (2023–24); RICS BCIS cost breakdown framework; BNBC 2020 structural standards.
Building Construction Cost References & Data Sources
- Public Works Department (PWD), Government of Bangladesh — Schedule of Rates for civil construction works (2023–24 edition). pwd.gov.bd
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) — BCIS Building Cost Information Service methodology for residential cost estimation.
- Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2020 — structural load standards, minimum steel ratios, and material specifications for RCC construction.
- REHAB (Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh) — member contractor rate survey data, Dhaka and major urban areas 2024–25. rehab-bd.org
- BUET Department of Civil Engineering — cost estimation guidelines used in academic and professional quantity surveying practice in Bangladesh.
All rates are estimates for budgeting purposes. Actual costs vary by location, contractor, soil condition, and material prices at time of construction. Last reviewed: May 2026.
Tips for Cost-Effective Construction
- 1Get at least 3 written contractor quotes — prices for the same specification can vary 20–30% in Bangladesh
- 2Fix your structural design with a licensed engineer before starting — changing column positions or slab spans mid-construction is extremely costly
- 3Use BSTI-certified Grade 43 or Grade 53 cement for all structural RCC work — avoid uncertified brands that may be 15–20% underweight per bag
- 4Buy MS rod (deformed bar) from BSRM, KSRM, or AKS with BSTI certification — always check the markings on the rod itself
- 5Budget 10–15% contingency on top of the estimate — material price swings, soil issues, and design changes always add cost
- 6Invest in proper roof waterproofing — a BDT 50,000 waterproofing job now prevents BDT 3–5 lakh in repair costs over 10 years in Bangladesh's climate
- 7MS rod prices fluctuate monthly with global scrap prices — fix the rate in your contractor agreement before work starts
- 8Hire a site engineer or architect for full-time supervision — their fee (typically BDT 20,000–40,000/month) consistently prevents material theft, substandard work, and costly rework
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is this construction cost calculator?
The rates are based on 2024–25 market surveys in Dhaka and major urban areas of Bangladesh, cross-referenced against PWD Schedule of Rates and REHAB member data. For budgeting purposes, expect a margin of ±15–20% — actual costs vary with site soil condition, floor slab span, material brand choices, and the contractor you hire. Always get 2–3 written quotes before committing to a contractor.
What is the difference between Economy, Standard, and Premium grades?
Economy uses basic local materials — standard burnt clay bricks, cement screed flooring, aluminium windows, single-coat paint. Standard uses mid-range materials — good-quality tiles, uPVC or powder-coated aluminium windows, two-coat emulsion paint, better sanitary fittings. Premium uses imported or premium-brand materials — marble or large-format porcelain tiles, hardwood or premium uPVC doors, designer fittings, multiple paint coats with putty finishing.
What is not included in this estimate?
The estimate covers construction only. Not included: land purchase cost, architect and structural engineering design fees (typically 1–3% of project cost), soil investigation/boring test, utility connections (gas, WASA, DESCO), boundary wall, parking structure, lift/elevator, generator, landscaping, furniture, and interior decoration beyond wall painting. Add 10–15% of the construction estimate for a fully furnished project.
What does 'floor area per level' mean?
It is the built-up covered area on each floor — not the plot size. A 1,500 sqft plot typically yields 1,100–1,300 sqft of built-up area per floor after deducting setbacks required by RAJUK or the local authority. Enter the actual built-up area per floor, multiply by floors, and the calculator gives the total construction area.
What is the current construction cost per sqft in Bangladesh?
Based on 2024–25 Dhaka market rates: Economy grade BDT 2,300–2,700/sqft; Standard grade BDT 3,500–4,200/sqft; Premium grade BDT 6,000–8,000/sqft. Rates in Chittagong and Sylhet are typically 5–10% lower than Dhaka. Rural and upazilas outside divisional cities can be 15–25% lower due to lower labour costs.
Is labour cost included in the estimate?
Yes — Labour & Supervision is a separate line item covering daily labour, skilled masons, rod binders, and a site supervisor. It typically runs 8–12% of total project cost for standard residential construction in Bangladesh. The estimate does not include professional fees for a licensed architect or structural engineer, which are separate from site labour.
Why is the RCC structure the biggest single cost?
In Bangladesh's RC frame construction method, the structural skeleton — reinforced concrete columns, beams, and floor slabs — accounts for 25–30% of total cost. This is driven by the price of MS deformed bars (BDT 95–110/kg as of 2025) and Grade 53 cement (BDT 450–520/bag). Bangladesh also follows BNBC 2020 seismic zone requirements, which dictate minimum steel ratios in columns.
Does this work for commercial or mixed-use buildings?
The calculation method works for any building type. Commercial construction typically costs 10–20% more than residential at the same grade due to heavier structural loads, larger spans, additional fire safety requirements, and higher-grade electrical and plumbing systems. For commercial projects, treat this as a floor-level estimate and add accordingly.