House construction cost in Lahore 2026 sits at PKR 5,500 — 8,500 per built-up square foot for a standard-finish home, and PKR 9,000 — 14,000 per sq ft for premium finishes. The wide spread reflects real choices builders make on structure (grey vs full RCC frame), finishes (local vs imported), and fixtures (basic vs designer). This guide breaks down the actual cost per phase, by plot size, with current material rates.
All figures are based on contractor quotes and material rates as of Q2 2026 in Lahore.
Standard vs premium: what the gap pays for
Standard finish (PKR 5,500-8,500/sq ft built-up) includes:
- RCC frame, brick infill, plaster, paint
- Standard porcelain floor tiles (PKR 80-150/sq ft material)
- Local ceramic bath tiles
- MDF kitchen cabinetry
- Standard PVC plumbing + standard electrical wiring
- Basic Pakistani-brand sanitary (Master, Sonex, Sitara)
- Basic interior doors, basic main door
Premium finish (PKR 9,000-14,000/sq ft built-up) replaces the above with:
- Designer porcelain or marble flooring (PKR 250-600/sq ft material)
- Imported sanitary (Kohler, Toto, Grohe)
- Solid wood or veneered kitchen + bedroom wardrobes
- Branded copper or PEX plumbing + branded electrical (Polycab, GM)
- Imported kitchen appliances (Bosch, Miele, Siemens)
- Solid wood interior doors, hand-crafted main door
- Premium HVAC system with central or VRV AC
The premium spec roughly doubles total construction cost on a like-for-like square footage basis.
Total cost by plot size (standard finish)
| Plot size | Typical built-up area | Construction cost (PKR) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 marla | 2,500 — 3,200 sq ft | 1.5 — 2.5 crore |
| 7 marla | 3,500 — 4,500 sq ft | 2 — 3.5 crore |
| 10 marla | 4,500 — 5,500 sq ft | 2.8 — 4.5 crore |
| 1 kanal | 7,500 — 10,000 sq ft | 4.5 — 8 crore |
| 2 kanal | 12,000 — 16,000 sq ft | 7 — 13 crore |
For premium finish, roughly 1.6 to 2x these numbers.
Cost breakdown by category (standard finish, 10-marla)
For a typical 10-marla (~5,000 sq ft built-up) standard-finish house, expect:
| Category | Cost (PKR) | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Structure (frame, slab, brick) | 80 — 120 lac | 25 — 30% |
| Plaster, paint, exterior finish | 30 — 50 lac | 10% |
| Flooring (tiles, fitting) | 25 — 40 lac | 8 — 10% |
| Bathrooms (5 baths) | 30 — 50 lac | 10% |
| Kitchen (cabinetry + countertop + appliances) | 20 — 40 lac | 7 — 10% |
| Electrical + wiring | 15 — 25 lac | 5 — 7% |
| Plumbing | 12 — 20 lac | 4 — 6% |
| Doors + windows | 15 — 25 lac | 5 — 7% |
| Roof waterproofing + insulation | 8 — 15 lac | 3 — 4% |
| Boundary wall + gate + driveway | 15 — 25 lac | 5 — 7% |
| Contractor profit + project management | 35 — 50 lac | 10 — 12% |
Material rate snapshot (Q2 2026)
- Cement (per 50 kg bag): PKR 1,250 — 1,400
- Steel rebar (per ton): PKR 240,000 — 280,000
- Brick (per 1,000 units, A-grade Lahore brick): PKR 18,000 — 24,000
- RCC ready-mix concrete (per cu yard): PKR 22,000 — 28,000
- Standard porcelain floor tile (per sq ft material): PKR 80 — 150
- Standard sanitary (full bath, Pakistani brand): PKR 1.2 — 2 lac per bath
- Standard kitchen MDF cabinetry (per running foot): PKR 6,000 — 10,000
Timeline expectations
| Plot size | Typical construction time (standard finish) |
|---|---|
| 5 marla | 8 — 11 months |
| 10 marla | 11 — 15 months |
| 1 kanal | 14 — 20 months |
| 2 kanal | 18 — 28 months |
Add 30-40% to all timelines if you switch contractors mid-project, change major design specs after structure is done, or experience material delivery delays during peak monsoon.
How to avoid the four most-common cost overruns
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Finalize finishes BEFORE starting structure. Most overruns happen because owners change tile, sanitary, or kitchen specs after the structure is already built — forcing rework.
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Buy major materials in bulk through your own contracts. Steel + cement + tiles bought directly (not through the contractor) saves 8-15% on those line items. The contractor's "material cost" markup is real.
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Use a project supervisor independent of the contractor. PKR 80,000-150,000/month for a supervisor on a 1-kanal build is the best money you spend. Catches quality issues that would cost 10x to fix later.
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Build a 12-15% contingency into your budget. Real construction always exceeds initial estimates. Plan for it; don't be surprised by it.
For Lahore market context on resale value, see our Lahore property prices 2026 market report. For design inspiration in the modern Pakistani idiom, see Modern Pakistani house design trends 2026.