Guide
Construction Cost in Lahore: Per Sq Ft Rate Today
Guide
How much does house finishing cost per sq ft in Pakistan in 2026? This guide compares A, B and C category rates item by item, covers Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore, explains grey structure vs finishing cost, and gives finishing budgets for 5 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal houses.
What does construction labour cost per sq ft in Pakistan in 2026? This guide covers theka rates for Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore, mason and trade daily wages, finishing labour rates, labour cost for 5 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal houses, and labour-only vs with-material contracts.
A double-storey 10 marla grey structure costs roughly Rs 92 lakh to Rs 1.19 crore with material in late 2026. See cement, steel and brick quantities, plus labour-only costs for Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore.
A double-storey 5 marla grey structure costs roughly Rs 53–68 lakh with material in late 2026. See how many cement bags, bricks and kg of steel you need, plus labour-only costs for Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore.
By Laraib Noor
Real Estate Analyst
13 min read
The construction cost in Lahore in 2026 is about Rs 7,200 to Rs 8,600 per square foot of covered area for a standard (B-category) house, at November 2026 rates. Grey structure alone costs about Rs 3,400 to Rs 3,800 per sq ft. An economy build can come in near Rs 5,400 per sq ft, and a premium house can cost Rs 9,700 to Rs 11,600. These rates cover construction only; land, approvals and furniture are extra.
Lahore is a little cheaper to build in than Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Chenab sand, bricks from nearby kilns and labour all cost less here, which takes about 3% to 4% off a typical house. To check a figure for your own design, enter your covered area in the Milkiyat Lahore construction cost calculator.
| Construction level | Grey structure | Finishing | Total (with material) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy (C-category) | Rs 3,100 – 3,400 | Rs 2,300 – 2,800 | Rs 5,400 – 6,200 |
| Standard (B-category) | Rs 3,400 – 3,800 | Rs 3,800 – 4,800 | Rs 7,200 – 8,600 |
| Premium (A-category) | Rs 3,800 – 4,200 | Rs 5,900 – 7,400 | Rs 9,700 – 11,600 |
All rates are per sq ft of covered area: every floor added together, including the stair tower (mumty) and any basement. Rates are estimates; your final cost depends on your design, contractor and brands.
What changes between the levels:
These are standard (B-category) double-storey budgets with no basement, at Lahore rates. The 5 marla figure comes from a full material-by-material budget. The other sizes apply the same Lahore rate card to each size's typical covered area.
| Plot size | Typical covered area | Rate per sq ft | Total construction cost | Construction cost per marla |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Marla (25 x 45 ft) | 2,000 sq ft | Rs 8,033 | Rs 1.61 crore | Rs 32.1 lakh |
| 7 Marla | 2,450 sq ft | Rs 7,920 | Rs 1.94 crore | Rs 27.7 lakh |
| 10 Marla (35 x 65 ft) | 3,200 sq ft | Rs 7,820 | Rs 2.50 crore | Rs 25.0 lakh |
| 1 Kanal (50 x 90 ft) | 5,400 sq ft | Rs 7,530 | Rs 4.07 crore | Rs 20.3 lakh |
| 2 Kanal | 9,500 sq ft | Rs 7,340 | Rs 6.97 crore | Rs 17.4 lakh |
How to read one row: for 10 marla, 3,200 sq ft × Rs 7,820 = Rs 2,50,24,000, and dividing by 10 gives about Rs 25 lakh per marla.
Covered area depends on where your plot is. In LDA-approved schemes, plots from 1 kanal up to 30 marla may cover about 65% of the plot at ground level. DHA Lahore limits the first floor on 10 marla and larger plots, so a DHA house of the same size often has less covered area, and a lower total.
As the table shows, the construction cost per marla in Lahore falls as plots get bigger: about Rs 32 lakh at 5 marla, Rs 25 lakh at 10 marla and Rs 20 lakh at 1 kanal. Small houses pack more covered area, bathrooms and stairs onto each marla, while bigger houses spread their foundations and fixed costs over more land.
So when someone quotes a single "per marla" rate, ask which plot size and covered area it assumes. A per marla figure from a 5 marla house will badly overstate the budget for a 1 kanal house.
The grey structure (dhancha) is the shell of the house: foundation, columns, beams, roof slabs, brick walls, plaster, and the pipes and conduits inside them. In Lahore it costs about Rs 3,400 to Rs 3,800 per sq ft with material at a standard specification.
Here is where the money goes on a standard 5 marla house of 2,000 sq ft at Lahore rates:
| Item | Quantity | Rate | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cement | 840 bags | Rs 1,630 | Rs 1,369,200 |
| Steel, Grade 60 | 7.6 tons | Rs 277,000 | Rs 2,105,200 |
| Bricks | 44,000 | Rs 23.4 | Rs 1,029,600 |
| Sand (Chenab) | 3,600 cft | Rs 70 | Rs 252,000 |
| Crush (Sargodha) | 2,500 cft | Rs 140 | Rs 350,000 |
| Excavation, waterproofing, conduits, plumbing rough-in, shuttering, site costs | Allowances | Rs 1,320,000 | |
| Labour (theka) | 2,000 sq ft | Rs 600 | Rs 1,200,000 |
| Grey structure total | Rs 7,626,000 (Rs 3,813 per sq ft) |
Steel and cement make up about 45% of Lahore's grey structure cost, so they are the two rates to watch. On this house, a Rs 100 rise per cement bag adds about Rs 84,000, and Rs 10 more per kg of steel adds about Rs 76,000.
| Material | Rate used | Basis and date |
|---|---|---|
| Cement (50 kg bag) | Rs 1,630 | PBS weekly average for Lahore, 8 Oct 2026 |
| Steel, Grade 60 | Rs 277,000 per ton | Leading mills' rates, Oct 2026 |
| Bricks (first class) | Rs 23.4 each | PBS Lahore average, Aug 2026 (Rs 23,355 per 1,000) |
| Sand (Chenab) | Rs 70 per cft | Supplier quotes, Oct 2026 |
| Crush (Sargodha) | Rs 140 per cft | Supplier quotes, Oct 2026 |
Cement in Lahore is slightly dearer than in Islamabad (Rs 1,630 against Rs 1,611 in the same PBS week), but bricks are about Rs 3,600 per 1,000 cheaper and sand costs well under the Lawrencepur sand used in the twin cities. Steel prices are almost the same nationwide.
Most houses in Lahore are built on one of two contract types.
Labour-only contract (theka): the owner buys all the material, and the thekedar supplies masons, helpers and steel fixers. In late 2026 this costs about Rs 550 to Rs 700 per sq ft of covered area for grey structure work in Lahore, about Rs 150 per sq ft below Islamabad.
With-material (turnkey) contract: the contractor buys everything and quotes one all-in rate, usually adding a margin of 10% to 20% for buying, supervision and price risk. The rates per sq ft in this guide are with-material figures.
| Trade | Typical Lahore rate (late 2026) |
|---|---|
| Mason (raj mistri) | Rs 2,200 – 2,600 per day |
| Grey structure theka | Rs 550 – 700 per sq ft |
| Finishing trades (tiles, paint, electrical, plumbing) | Usually charged per sq ft or per point, separately |
Government price data put the average mason wage in Lahore at Rs 2,260 a day in January 2026, and market quotes have risen since then.
Inside LDA's area, a building plan (naqsha) must be approved before construction starts. LDA publishes its building plan charges, and you can download its building and zoning regulations from the LDA downloads page.
WASA charges, the FBR tax challan, malba charges and the architect's fees come on top. Our LDA fee schedule 2026 lists the full set of LDA charges.
DHA Lahore, Bahria Town Lahore and other large private societies have their own map approval and completion fees and their own review timelines. Ask your society office for its current schedule before the drawings are made.
Add the land price to the construction cost for your plot size, then compare the total with ready houses of the same size in the same area. If ready houses cost less, buying may be the better deal. Before deciding, look at current houses for sale in Johar Town Lahore or in the area you are considering.
Building makes most sense when you plan to live in the house for many years, want a layout that suits your family, or can supervise the work closely.
Whichever route you choose, keep a copy of the approved plan, every payment receipt and the contractor's written specification. They protect you if there is a dispute, and buyers will ask for them when you sell.
Once the house is finished, apply for a completion certificate, which many Lahore homeowners never get. Our article on why your Lahore house probably does not have a completion certificate explains why it matters when you sell.
A standard house costs about Rs 7,200 to Rs 8,600 per sq ft of covered area at late-October 2026 rates. That works out to about Rs 1.61 crore for a 5 marla house and Rs 4.07 crore for a 1 kanal house.
About Rs 3,400 to Rs 3,800 per sq ft with material at a standard specification. Economy grey structure starts near Rs 3,100 per sq ft.
A labour-only (theka) contract for grey structure costs about Rs 550 to Rs 700 per sq ft of covered area. Masons earn about Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,600 a day.
LDA's published residential fee is Rs 15 per sq ft of total covered area for a first or revised plan, so a 2,000 sq ft house pays about Rs 30,000. WASA, FBR and malba charges are extra.
Yes, slightly. Cheaper sand, bricks and labour bring a typical house in about 3% to 4% below Islamabad. A 5 marla house costs about Rs 1.61 crore in Lahore against Rs 1.66 crore in Islamabad.
It depends on the area. Compare the land price plus construction with ready houses in the same scheme. If you are also open to Islamabad, compare with apartments for sale in Park View City Islamabad as a lower-cost option.
Construction in Lahore costs about Rs 7,200 to Rs 8,600 per sq ft for a standard house at late-2026 rates, with grey structure at about Rs 3,400 to Rs 3,800. LDA's map fee of Rs 15 per sq ft adds tens of thousands, not lakhs. The figures that matter most are your covered area, your finish level, and the cement and steel prices on the day you buy. Get LDA or society approval first, get a bill of quantities (BOQ), compare contractors on the same scope, and keep a 10% contingency.
Disclaimer: All figures are estimates based on rates from late October 2026 and the stated assumptions. Fees and rates change; confirm them with LDA, your society and your contractor before committing any money.