Building cost per sq m

There are many advantages to building your own home, from choosing the design and look of the home to the layout and size of the rooms. Depending on where you live, it can actually be a cheaper way to get your perfect house.

However, it can also be expensive, stressful and time-consuming to build your own house. It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons carefully before starting and make sure you can afford it.

To help you plan your project and your budget, we’ve put together a handy guide to the average building cost per sq m. Plus, any other relevant building costs you need to know.

What’s the average building cost per sq m?

Building a house involves a huge number of different processes, starting with surveying the site and digging the foundations. Your construction crew will need to build the substructure, lay drains and pour the floor slab.

Other works include building the external walls, installing the roof structure, insulating the property and adding internal walls. Then there are finishes, such as doors and windows, plus installing all the services and finally, landscaping and decorating.

The cost of building can vary depending on the difficulty, time required and specification of all of these different jobs. The higher quality of the finish, the more the build will cost.

What else affects average building costs? You’ll need to factor in your location, the size of the property, the layout and the complexity of the design.

In the UK, the average building cost per sq m is between £1,775 and £3,000.

The prices in the table do not include VAT. For new builds, VAT is zero-rated.

Average cost per sq m to build a house

The cost of building a house is usually calculated in square metres. This means that the larger the floor area, the more you can expect to pay.

The average new build cost per square metre is around £2,387.50

Looking at what this could mean in terms of overall costs, let’s take a quick look at the average cost to build new homes of different sizes:

• Average cost to build 2 bedroom house – £226,812
• Average cost to build 3 bedroom house – £286,500
• Average cost to build 4 bedroom house – £358,125

Other construction costs you need to know about

The average building cost per sq m doesn’t take absolutely everything into account. There are other services and jobs you’ll need to pay for outside of this.

For example, hiring an architect and/or building engineer, and employing a project manager. Experts recommend allowing an extra 15% of the total building price to cover these costs.

You may also want to allow an additional 8% for any permits, permissions or consents you may need.

FAQs

Do I need to hire a project manager for my build?

You can manage the build project yourself, without a project manager, but it’s important to bear in mind that building can be extremely complicated. Any delays, mixups or lack of coordination on site can end up costing you more. A project manager will have the knowledge to help solve any potential problems.

How much does planning permission cost?

The cost of submitting a planning application is £462 in England. However, you’ll also need to spend money to have relevant professionals prepare the plans and conduct any necessary surveys. Another potential cost relates to addressing any conditions attached to the consent, if and when it comes through.

Do I need self-build insurance?

Taking out a specialist self-build policy is highly recommended. This will cover public liability, building works, employers’ liability and personal accidents on site.