# Grey structure cost per sq ft in Pakistan (2026): what's included and current rates by city

URL: https://which.pk/property/guides/grey-structure-cost/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 19 Oct 2026

## Summary

Grey structure costs about Rs 2,762 to Rs 3,032 a sq ft on Zameen's calculator (16 Oct 2026) for Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, and Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,500 in Lahore builders' own October 2026 rates. Avenir charges Rs 3,300 standard in Lahore and Rs 3,500 in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. At PBS September 2026 prices, the five bulk materials alone come to Rs 1,479 to Rs 2,506 a sq ft in Lahore. Builders draw the scope differently, so compare written lists, not rates.

## Key facts

- Grey structure, 10 marla Lahore (Zameen, 16 Oct 2026): Rs 2,874 a sq ft
- Lahore builders' rates (Oct 2026): Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,500
- Bulk materials alone, Lahore (PBS Sep 2026): Rs 1,479 to Rs 2,506 a sq ft
- Official rate: None published

Grey structure cost per square foot in Pakistan is about **Rs 2,762 to Rs 3,032 on Zameen's calculator** (updated 16 October 2026) for Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, and **Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,500 in Lahore builders' own October 2026 rates**. That is with material, for a double storey. No government body publishes an official rate.

The rates differ partly because builders put different work inside "grey structure". Below are the rates by city and source, what each one includes, and what the bulk materials alone cost at official prices.

## Grey structure cost per square foot by city in 2026

| City | Zameen calculator (16 Oct 2026) | Builders' published rates |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore | Rs 2,874 (10 marla) to Rs 2,985 (1 kanal) | Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,500 (ACCO, Oct 2026); Rs 3,300 standard (Avenir, Q4 2026) |
| DHA Lahore | not separate | Rs 3,500 standard (Avenir); Rs 3,400 to Rs 3,600 A-grade (Elegant Properties) |
| Karachi | Rs 2,921 (10 marla) to Rs 3,032 (1 kanal) | none found |
| Islamabad | Rs 2,762 (10 marla) to Rs 2,865 (1 kanal) | Rs 3,500 standard (Avenir) |
| Rawalpindi | no usable figure | Rs 3,500 standard (Avenir) |

Zameen figures are per sq ft of covered area, "with material", double storey. Avenir's tiers in Lahore run from Rs 3,000 ("Essential") to Rs 4,000 ("Luxury"), and in Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Rs 3,200 to Rs 4,200.

Zameen's pages for Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta showed the same fallback numbers with no labour cost when we checked on 18 October 2026, so we left them out. We found no named builder publishing a dated rate for those cities.

The cheaper end exists too. Elegant Properties says budget (C-grade) contractors in Lahore charge Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,500 and B-grade Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,875. The M Square's May 2026 guide gives Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,800 for economy work, without saying whether that includes materials.

## What does grey structure include?

There is no standard list. These are the three most detailed ones we found:

| Item | Zameen | Avenir | Elegant Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation and foundations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brick walls, RCC columns, beams, slabs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Damp proof course, termite proofing | Termite and waterproofing listed | Yes | DPC yes |
| Plaster | Yes | Yes (not the ceiling where a false ceiling is planned) | **No** |
| Underground pipes and conduits | Plumbing and electrical works listed | Yes | Yes (pipes and conduit only) |
| Boundary wall | Not stated | **No** | **Yes**, with gate frame |

All three leave out tiles, paint, wiring, fittings, the kitchen and windows. Avenir also leaves out design fees, approval charges and utility connections. ACCO leaves out DHA and LDA fees.

A lower rate that leaves out plaster isn't the same job. Avenir says curing is often dropped from low quotes, and tells you to confirm in writing whether scaffolding and shuttering are in the rate.

## How much of the grey structure rate is materials?

The bulk materials (cement, sarya, bricks, sand and crush) are the biggest part. Our [construction material calculator](/property/tools/construction-material-estimator/) prices them at the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) city averages for September 2026:

| City | Brick walls carry the load | Full RCC frame |
|---|---|---|
| Lahore | Rs 1,479 to Rs 2,039 | Rs 1,951 to Rs 2,506 |
| Karachi | Rs 1,348 to Rs 1,860 | Rs 1,812 to Rs 2,305 |
| Islamabad | Rs 1,585 to Rs 2,230 | Rs 2,049 to Rs 2,667 |
| Rawalpindi | Rs 1,571 to Rs 2,209 | Rs 2,032 to Rs 2,643 |
| Faisalabad | Rs 1,375 to Rs 1,889 | Rs 1,857 to Rs 2,366 |
| Multan | Rs 1,255 to Rs 1,737 | Rs 1,759 to Rs 2,249 |
| Gujranwala | Rs 1,535 to Rs 2,115 | Rs 1,991 to Rs 2,544 |
| Peshawar | Rs 1,383 to Rs 1,927 | Rs 1,855 to Rs 2,380 |
| Quetta | Rs 1,193 to Rs 1,639 | Rs 1,706 to Rs 2,159 |
| Hyderabad | Rs 1,123 to Rs 1,512 | Rs 1,615 to Rs 2,006 |

Per sq ft of covered area, no wastage. These come from published rules of thumb (sources on the [calculator page](/property/tools/construction-material-estimator/)), not an engineer's bill of quantities (BOQ).

The rest of the rate is labour, plumbing and electrical pipes, waterproofing, shuttering, transport and the contractor's margin. In Zameen's Lahore 10 marla estimate, labour is Rs 16.23 lakh of Rs 97 lakh. In its Karachi 10 marla breakdown, plumbing works add Rs 9.74 lakh and electrical works Rs 2.24 lakh.

**Labour in Zameen's Lahore 10 marla grey estimate:** About Rs 481 a sq ft (Rs 16.23 lakh over 3,375 sq ft covered, 16 Oct 2026. Our calculation.)

For cities without a published rate, such as Multan or Peshawar, the table gives you a floor: a quote below the bulk materials cost can't cover the materials. PBS's daily wage for a mason in September 2026 was Rs 2,461 in Lahore, Rs 2,482 in Karachi, Rs 1,909 in Multan and Rs 2,421 in Peshawar.

## Why is the rate higher for bigger houses?

Bigger houses need thicker slabs, deeper beams and more steel, Avenir says, so they cost more per sq ft. Zameen's figures show this in all three cities: 1 kanal is Rs 103 to Rs 111 a sq ft dearer than 10 marla.

A basement is priced separately. Avenir charges Rs 4,300 a sq ft in Lahore and Rs 4,500 in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for a standard basement.

## Is the grey structure rate going up?

Yes, slowly. PBS's urban index of construction input items was 6.24% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, and construction wages 9.69% higher. Avenir reviews its rates each quarter; the ones above are for Q4 2026.

For this month's cement, sarya and brick prices by city, see [construction material prices in Pakistan](/property/guides/construction-material-prices/).

**How to check a grey structure quote:** 1. Ask for the scope in writing, item by item, and compare it with the table above.
2. Ask for the quantities, or a BOQ from your structural drawings, and price them with the [material calculator](/property/tools/construction-material-estimator/).
3. Check whether the rate is per sq ft of covered area, and whether the mumty, porch and basement count.
4. Get two or three quotes for the same written scope.

## Plan the rest of the build

For the full cost with finishing, see [house construction cost in Pakistan](/property/guides/house-construction-cost-pakistan/). Worked examples for two plot sizes are in [5 marla house construction cost](/property/guides/5-marla-house-construction-cost/) and [10 marla house construction cost](/property/guides/10-marla-house-construction-cost/). How much of your plot you may cover is in [covered area and setbacks in Lahore](/property/guides/covered-area-setbacks-lahore/).

Deciding how to hire? Read [contractor with material vs labour-only](/property/guides/contractor-with-material-vs-labour-rate/). For finishing, see [which paint is best for a house](/property/guides/best-paint-for-house-pakistan/).

More guides: [building a house to rent out](/property/guides/building-a-house-to-rent-out/), [marla to square feet](/property/tools/marla-to-square-feet/), [Property](/property/).

## Questions people ask

### What is the grey structure rate in Lahore in 2026?

Zameen's calculator gives Rs 2,874 a sq ft for a 10 marla double storey (16 Oct 2026). Lahore builders publish Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,500 (ACCO, October 2026) and Rs 3,300 for a standard specification (Avenir, Q4 2026).

### What is the grey structure rate in Rawalpindi and Islamabad?

Avenir quotes Rs 3,500 a sq ft for a standard specification in both cities, and Rs 3,710 in DHA Islamabad (Q4 2026). Zameen's calculator gives Rs 2,762 to Rs 2,865 for Islamabad. We found no usable Zameen figure for Rawalpindi.

### What is the grey structure rate in Karachi?

Zameen's calculator gives Rs 2,921 a sq ft for 10 marla and Rs 3,032 for 1 kanal, double storey, with material (16 Oct 2026). We found no Karachi builder publishing its own dated rate.

### Does grey structure include plaster and the boundary wall?

It depends on the builder. Zameen and Avenir include plaster; Elegant Properties leaves it out. Elegant includes the boundary wall; Avenir leaves it out. Get the list in writing.

### What is the grey structure rate without material?

That is a labour-only rate, quoted per project by most builders. See our guide to contractor with material vs labour-only for the published labour figures.

## Sources

- [Construction cost calculator: grey structure, with material, Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad](https://www.zameen.com/tools/construction-cost-calculator/10-marla-grey-construction-cost-lahore-1/), Zameen.com (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Grey Structure Cost Calculator (2026)](https://avenirdevelopments.com/house-construction-cost/grey-structure-cost/), Avenir Developments (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [House Construction Cost in Lahore](https://acco.com.pk/house-construction-cost-lahore/), Ahmed Construction Company (ACCO) (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Cost Of Construction In Lahore (2026 Complete Guide)](https://themsquare.com.pk/cost-of-construction-in-lahore/), The M Square (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Grey Structure: Complete Guide & Rates 2026](https://elegantdha.com/construction-services/grey-structure/), Elegant Properties (accessed 19 Oct 2026)
- [Urban Inter-City Consumer Prices of Construction and Energy Items, September 2026](https://www.pbs.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Urbn-Construction-11.xlsx), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Monthly Review on Price Indices, September 2026](https://www.pbs.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Monthly-Review-September2026.pdf), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (accessed 18 Oct 2026)