Setting A Budget

Building a house or undertaking a significant renovation or extension to your home? The first question you need to answer is how much is it all going to cost. It is notoriously difficult to estimate an exact figure as there are so many variables to consider.

The first step is to do your research and decide what you want to be done. Then you can begin to work on the scope of the project, get plans produced and decide on what level of finish you want. This will enable us to give you an accurate quote and tender for your job.

If you're building a new home, it's important to have an idea of costs. Knowing how much it costs to build a house means you to plan how much you need to borrow or invest into the project. It can also help you to negotiate with a builder when you're getting quotes.

Based on actual costings used by builders, architects and quantity surveyors, the cost to build a house in Australia can range from $1300 per square metre to $3900+ per square metre, depending on the specifications of your project.

Read this page to get a better idea of house building costs and start planning your budget. It covers:

Is it cheaper to buy or build a house?
Average house cost by number of rooms
How much does it cost to build a 3 bedroom house?
How much does it cost to build a 4 bedroom house?
How much does a 5 bedroom and second storey house cost?
What else affects house building cost?
House design costs

Average house cost by number of rooms

The cost of building a house is mainly determined by the number of rooms and the level of finish. This table gives you an idea of the average house cost in Australia per square metre, keeping in mind that there are always going to be many variables to take into account.

How much does it cost to build a 3 bedroom house?

How much does it cost to build a 3 bedroom house? You can expect to pay in the region of:

$1300 per square metre for a 3 bedroom weatherboard house on a level block, using budget materials
$1600 – $1900 per square metre for a 3 bedroom full brick single level project home, on a level block using mid-range to high-end materials and finishes

How much does it cost to build a 4 bedroom house?

How much does it cost to build a 4 bedroom house? You can expect to pay in the region of:

$2400 per square metre for a 4 bedroom brick veneer single level project home on a level block using mid-range finishes
$3900+ per square metre for an architect-designed 4 bedroom full brick, two-level home on a level block using high-end materials and finishes

How much does a 5 bedroom and second storey house cost?

How much does it cost to build a 5 bedroom house? You can expect to pay upwards of $4300 per square metre for an architect-designed 5 bedroom home.

If you want to know how much does a second storey extension cost, expect to be charged anywhere from $1850 to $3300 per square metre, depending on the quality and price of the construction materials and inclusions.

Just remember that these figures are a rough guide, as building costs can vary significantly based on your location, the project design and level of fitout.

House design costs

Design costs also need to considered alongside house building costs. You will need a professional to help you design your home, such as an architect or building designer. Architects will charge anywhere from 8% to 15% of total building costs to design your house plans, with 10% being the average for residential projects.

These house plans will then need to be submitted to the council for approval. The council approval process could take anywhere from 30 days to 100 days, depending on your local council. Your builder or architect can help to ensure that your submission meets all the relevant criteria, so you can avoid delays.

What else affects house building cost?

As well as the size of the house, other factors that will impact on the final cost of your house building project include:

Type of construction, specifically timber frame ($), brick veneer ($$) or double skin brick ($$$)
Number of levels, with multi-level buildings costing more
The individual builder and their pricing structure
Choice of materials, finishes and accessories
Site access and slope of the property
Whether it's a volume-built project home or custom built

Use this link as a guide of what a new build will cost you per m2