Typical UK Construction Costs of Buildings

Release date 1 October 2024

Typical Construction Costs of Buildings

This page contains a guide of indicative construction costs of various buildings per m2 of gross internal floor area (internal area of the building measured over internal walls and partitions, stairwell openings etc).

Construction costs include the following group elements:

  • Substructure
  • Superstructure
  • Finishes
  • Fittings, furnishings and equipment
  • Services
  • Main Contractor's overheads and profit
  • Preliminaries

All costs are set at current index 221 (4Q2024 - Year 2000 = 100), at UK national average (index 100) and a building works value factor of 1 (building works value of approximately £1,000,000). See the Construction Indices, the Regional Variations and the Project Value Adjustments pages for more details.

The costs below are for the building only (i.e. no external works), and are inclusive of preliminaries, and contractor's overheads and profit set at 5.5%.

All costs exclude land purchase, fees, VAT, and any fittings, furnishings and equipment supplied by the Client.

The costs given here are provided in good faith as an indicative guide only and should be used with understanding. You should also consider other sources of information. Costmodelling Limited cannot accept any liability for any work produced using these figures. You should always seek professional advice in producing costs for any construction project.

Unless stated otherwise, the costs are based on buildings constructed to a typical or mid-range specification. However, no two buildings are the same. Building size and shape, number of storeys, ground conditions, design and material specification, number and size of windows, number of lifts, local market conditions, etc. can all have a significant impact on costs.

Costs can vary from the range of guide costs given here.

The costs below should only be used to give a general indication of what a building MAY cost to construct. They do not provide a cost of what your actual project WILL cost to construct. You should always seek the advice of a professional quantity surveyor who will be able to advise an accurate budget for your project.



Typical costs per m2


We have used our Costmodelling CostAdviser Professional software to produce cost models for all the buildings detailed in the table below. A chart plotting these building costs in a distribution curve is provided below:

bldgcosts

Analysis of the building costs provides the following information:

  • The lowest cost for a building is: £490/m2
  • The 25% quartile cost of a building is: £1,830/m2
  • The median cost of a building is: £2,390/m2
  • The 75% quartile cost of a building is: £2,990/m2
  • The 90% percentile cost of a building is: £3,990/m2
  • The highest cost for a building is: £7,760/m2
  • 50% of buildings are be within the cost range: £1,830/m2 - £2,990/m2
  • 90% of buildings are within the cost range: £490/m2 - £3,990/m2

All costs are set at Tender Price index 221, a building works value factor of 1 and a UK regional factor of 100


We have also used our software to generate a cost model for a typical building comprising all elements at average design and pricing. This produces an average construction cost of £2,190/m2

Using this average cost, and through analysis of multiple cost models we have produced using differing element unit quantities and element unit rates allows us to determine the standard deviation of the construction costs of buildings. Our calculations determine this to be £880/m2

We can use this information to create a normal distribution of building costs, which is given in the chart below:

cpm2

All normal density curves satisfy the following property which is often referred to as the 'Empirical Rule':

  • 68% of the observations fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean
  • 95% of the observations fall within 2 standard deviations of the mean
  • 99.7% of the observations fall within 3 standard deviations of the mean

Applying the Empirical Rule to our cost data allows us the predict likely construction costs of buildings as follows:

  • The cost of a building comprising normal components, and average design and pricing is: £2,190/m2. In the Empirical Rule this is taken as the average or mean cost.
  • 68% of buildings will be within the cost range: £1,310/m2 - £3,070/m2
  • 95% of buildings will be within the cost range: £430/m2 - £3,950/m2
  • 99.7% of buildings will cost below £4,830/m2

All costs are set at Tender Price index 221, a building works value factor of 1 and a UK regional factor of 100



Table of costs


All the costs in the table below are produced by our Costmodelling CostAdviser Professional software. The software constructs complete cost models from first principles using typical element unit quantities and typical element unit rates applicable to the type of building for every element of the building. If you use our software you will see this in action.

Important! When using the information from the table below, it is important that any costs produced are adjusted using the project value adjustment factor obtained from the project value adjustment chart.

benchmark

All the costs in the table below are set at a project value factor of 1. When you obtain a total building cost for your project by multiplying the gross internal floor area by the cost per m2, you should multiply the resultant total cost by the factor obtained from the chart that corresponds to your total. This will help ensure that your project costs reflect the economies of scale appropriate to your project size.

An example of how to use the information to create a construction works budget is provided at the end of this page.


Building entities £/m2
Administrative, commercial and protective service entities
Offices, non air-conditioned: 1-2 storey 2,020 - 2,240
Offices, non air-conditioned: 3-5 storey 2,150 - 2,390
Offices, non air-conditioned: 6+ storey 2,470 - 2,730
Offices, air-conditioned: 1-2 storey 2,350 - 2,610
Offices, air-conditioned: 3-5 storey 2,510 - 2,790
Offices, air-conditioned: 6+ storey 2,860 - 3,180
Offices with shops and flats, non air-conditioned: 1-2 storey 1,990 - 2,210
Offices with shops and flats, non air-conditioned: 3-5 storey 2,060 - 2,280
Offices with shops and flats, non air-conditioned: 6+ storey 2,230 - 2,470
Embassies 3,380 - 3,740
County, City and Town halls 2,660 - 2,960
Local admin buildings 2,520 - 2,800
Record offices, archives, patent offices 2,620 - 2,900
Vehicle repair and maintenance buildings 1,730 - 1,930
Wholesale trading building/auction rooms 1,330 - 1,490
Department stores 2,730 - 3,030
Banks and building society branches 3,080 - 3,420
Bank head offices 3,680 - 4,080
Market building providing accommodation for stalls, etc 1,100 - 1,220
Vehicle showrooms 1,730 - 1,930
Vehicle showrooms with workshops 1,620 - 1,800
Shops: shell only 1,030 - 1,150
Shops, simple stores: shell and fitting out 1,540 - 1,720
Shops, designer stores: shell and fitting out 1,900 - 2,120
Shops with domestic or office accommodation 2,500 - 2,780
Mixed commercial developments 1,380 - 1,540
Retail warehouses: shell only 750 - 830
Retail warehouses: shell and fitting out 1,110 - 1,230
Supermarkets: shell only 910 - 1,010
Supermarkets: shell and fitting out 2,430 - 2,690
Hypermarkets: shell only 910 - 1,010
Hypermarkets: shell and fitting out 1,990 - 2,210
Shopping centres: comfort cooled 5,710 - 6,330
Shopping centres: air conditioned 7,370 - 8,150
Branch post offices 1,730 - 1,930
Postal sorting and delivery offices 1,730 - 1,930
Air Force facilities, operations building 2,140 - 2,380
Territorial Army centres 1,940 - 2,160
Military buildings 2,140 - 2,380
Camps, depots, bases, ranges, etc 2,140 - 2,380
Police stations 2,510 - 2,790
Police admin/control buildings 2,580 - 2,860
County courts 4,100 - 4,540
Magistrates courts 2,210 - 2,450
Prisons 3,230 - 3,570
Reformatories and secure residential units for children 3,440 - 3,820
Ambulance stations 1,520 - 1,700
Ambulance control centres 2,500 - 2,780
Fire stations 2,660 - 2,960
Fire service admin/control buildings 2,500 - 2,780
Fire training buildings 2,240 - 2,480
Mountain and cave rescue centres 1,810 - 2,010
Cultural, educational, scientific and information entities
Nursery schools 2,540 - 2,820
Primary/junior schools 2,450 - 2,710
Secondary/middle schools 2,500 - 2,780
Sixth form colleges 2,420 - 2,680
Special schools 2,560 - 2,840
Schools for those with learning disabilities 2,470 - 2,750
Schools for the physically disabled 2,140 - 2,380
Training colleges 2,130 - 2,370
Management training centres 2,210 - 2,450
Universities and colleges 2,370 - 2,630
Learning resource centres 2,500 - 2,780
Adult education facilities 2,450 - 2,710
Art and drama centres 2,140 - 2,380
Lecture theatres 4,410 - 4,890
Research facilities 2,880 - 3,200
Laboratories 3,580 - 3,960
Artists' studios 1,660 - 1,840
Art galleries, facilities for special displays 3,790 - 4,190
Museums, planetaria 5,210 - 5,770
Exhibition centres 3,570 - 3,950
Conference centres 2,900 - 3,220
Libraries 4,060 - 4,500
Churches, chapels, etc. 2,780 - 3,080
Temples, mosques, synagogues, etc 3,210 - 3,550
Mission halls, meeting houses, etc. 3,130 - 3,470
Convents 2,630 - 2,910
Industrial entities
Advance factories: generally 1,080 - 1,200
Advance factories/offices: mixed facilities 1,510 - 1,670
Factories: generally 1,180 - 1,320
Purpose-built factories 1,220 - 1,360
Purpose-built factories/offices: mixed facilities 1,460 - 1,620
Factories for food and drink 2,470 - 2,730
Factories for chemical and allied industries 2,330 - 2,590
Factories for metals 1,620 - 1,800
Factories for mechanical and electrical engineering 1,520 - 1,700
Factories for electronics, computers and the like 2,480 - 2,760
Factories for paper, printing and publishing 1,490 - 1,650
Advance warehouses/stores 1,040 - 1,160
Warehouses/stores: generally 1,060 - 1,180
Purpose-built warehouses/stores: generally 1,090 - 1,210
Builders yards and maintenance depots 1,060 - 1,180
Distribution centre/warehouse 10m to 15m high (10000m2 footprint) 510 - 570
Distribution centre/warehouse 16m to 24m high (10000m2 footprint) 570 - 630
Cold stores/refrigerated stores 1,300 - 1,440
Livestock buildings 460 - 520
Stud farms, stables, etc 1,490 - 1,650
Refuse depots 1,570 - 1,750
Medical, health, welfare and sanitary entities
Day hospitals 2,690 - 2,990
Community hospitals 3,680 - 4,080
General hospitals 4,060 - 4,500
Mental, psychiatric hospital facilities 3,490 - 3,870
Psychiatric units 4,000 - 4,440
Psychiatric units for the elderly 3,610 - 4,010
Learning disability units 3,720 - 4,120
Ear, nose and throat units 2,470 - 2,750
Cardiac units 3,350 - 3,710
Hospital facilities for the treatment of parts of the body 2,520 - 2,800
Maternity, gynaecological hospital facilities 3,580 - 3,960
Genito-urinary facilities 2,640 - 2,920
Paediatric, geriatric hospital facilities 2,680 - 2,980
Paediatric units, children's hospitals 2,600 - 2,880
Surgery including operating theatres 4,480 - 4,960
Hospital laboratories 3,380 - 3,740
Pathology laboratories 3,380 - 3,740
Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy units 2,990 - 3,310
Pharmacies 3,230 - 3,570
Hospital mixed specialist facilities 4,330 - 4,790
Diagnostic units excluding radiography 2,660 - 2,960
Radiography (x-ray) units 5,610 - 6,210
Chemotherapy units 4,210 - 4,670
Radiotherapy units 4,520 - 5,000
Specialised facilities 4,470 - 4,950
Outpatients/casualty units 2,780 - 3,080
Ward blocks 4,010 - 4,450
Intensive care/acute wards 3,990 - 4,430
Sterile stores/serialisation units 3,420 - 3,780
Medical research facilities 3,470 - 3,850
Observation and assessment centres 2,600 - 2,880
Blood transfusion facilities 3,040 - 3,380
Hospital teaching centres 2,500 - 2,780
Health centres, clinics, group practice surgeries 2,480 - 2,760
Welfare consultation centres 2,470 - 2,750
Day centres 2,730 - 3,030
Nursing homes 2,020 - 2,240
Homes for the elderly 2,300 - 2,560
Homes for the mentally ill 1,920 - 2,140
Childrens homes 2,520 - 2,800
Homes for children with special needs 3,380 - 3,740
Hospices 2,480 - 2,760
Mortuaries 4,580 - 5,080
Crematoria 3,070 - 3,410
Public conveniences 3,230 - 3,570
Utility blocks: washing and toilet facilities 3,840 - 4,260
Animal rearing and living facilities 2,610 - 2,890
Kennels and catteries 2,260 - 2,500
Veterinary hospitals 2,510 - 2,790
Animal clinics 2,170 - 2,410
Recreational entities
Public houses, licensed premises 2,510 - 2,790
Restaurants 2,420 - 2,680
Canteens, refectories, cafes, etc 2,370 - 2,630
Arts and drama centres 2,850 - 3,150
Theatres: less than 500 seats 3,790 - 4,190
Theatres: over 500 seats 5,740 - 6,360
Concert halls 4,560 - 5,040
Cinemas 3,200 - 3,540
Multiplex cinemas 4,640 - 5,140
Community centres 2,280 - 2,540
General purpose halls 2,120 - 2,360
Youth clubs 2,540 - 2,820
Visitors centres 3,560 - 3,940
Mixed recreations buildings, holiday camps, caravan site buildings, etc 2,680 - 2,980
Sport and activity entities
Squash courts 1,680 - 1,860
Indoor bowls halls 1,200 - 1,340
Indoor tennis courts 750 - 830
Table tennis centres 1,240 - 1,380
Indoor cricket centres 1,400 - 1,560
Indoor bowling greens 910 - 1,010
Indoor athletic training centres 1,560 - 1,740
Indoor sports arena 2,330 - 2,590
Health and fitness clubs 2,360 - 2,620
Sports centres, recreational centres 2,280 - 2,540
Sports centres, recreational centres including swimming pools 3,430 - 3,810
Gymnasium/sports halls 1,830 - 2,030
Sports pavilions, club houses and changing rooms 1,910 - 2,130
Sports changing rooms 2,430 - 2,690
Sports pavilions and club houses 2,280 - 2,520
Club houses 2,000 - 2,220
Golf club houses 2,090 - 2,310
Bowls pavilions 1,490 - 1,650
Rifle ranges 1,490 - 1,650
Golf driving ranges 1,990 - 2,210
Riding schools 690 - 770
Boat houses 2,880 - 3,200
Leisure centres: dry 2,500 - 2,780
Leisure centres: wet and dry 3,800 - 4,200
Swimming pools: small 3,450 - 3,830
Swimming pools: 25m 2,780 - 3,080
Swimming pools: 50m 3,740 - 4,140
Leisure pools 4,430 - 4,910
Covered ice rinks 2,140 - 2,380
Residential entities
Estate housing: generally 1,500 - 1,660
Estate housing: single storey 1,610 - 1,790
Estate housing: 2 storey 1,470 - 1,630
Estate housing: 3 storey 1,490 - 1,650
Estate housing: detached, generally 1,720 - 1,920
Estate housing: detached, single storey 1,690 - 1,870
Estate housing: detached, 2 storey 1,660 - 1,840
Estate housing: detached, 3 storey 1,710 - 1,910
Estate housing: semi-detached, generally 1,500 - 1,660
Estate housing: semi-detached, single storey 1,610 - 1,790
Estate housing: semi-detached, 2 storey 1,500 - 1,660
Estate housing: semi-detached, 3 storey 1,520 - 1,680
Estate housing: terraced, generally 1,410 - 1,570
Estate housing: terraced, single storey 1,580 - 1,760
Estate housing: terraced: 2 storey 1,350 - 1,510
Estate housing: terraced: 3 storey 1,420 - 1,580
Small - medium scale housing developments: generally 1,880 - 2,080
Small - medium scale housing developments: single storey 1,910 - 2,130
Small - medium scale housing developments: 2 storey 1,840 - 2,040
Small - medium scale housing developments: 3 storey 1,880 - 2,080
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, generally 1,990 - 2,210
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, single storey 1,930 - 2,150
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, 2 storey 1,990 - 2,210
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, 3 storey 2,050 - 2,270
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, generally 1,830 - 2,030
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, single storey 1,900 - 2,100
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, 2 storey 1,790 - 1,990
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, 3 storey 1,810 - 2,010
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced, generally 1,810 - 2,010
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced, single storey 1,900 - 2,120
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced: 2 storey 1,740 - 1,940
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced: 3 storey 1,770 - 1,970
One-off housing: generally 2,300 - 2,560
One-off detached housing: generally 2,430 - 2,690
One-off detached housing: single storey 2,170 - 2,410
One-off detached housing: 2 storey 2,320 - 2,580
One-off detached housing: 3 storey 2,390 - 2,650
One-off semi-detached housing: generally 2,170 - 2,410
One-off semi-detached housing: single storey 2,170 - 2,410
One-off semi-detached housing: 2 storey 2,090 - 2,310
One-off semi-detached housing: 3 storey 2,090 - 2,330
One-off terraced housing: generally 2,190 - 2,430
One-off terraced housing: single storey 2,240 - 2,480
One-off terraced housing: 2 storey 2,120 - 2,360
One-off terraced housing: 3 storey 2,120 - 2,360
Flats/apartments without lifts: generally 1,780 - 1,980
Flats/apartments without lifts: single storey 1,860 - 2,060
Flats/apartments without lifts: 2 storey 1,610 - 1,790
Flats/apartments without lifts: 3-5 storey 1,920 - 2,140
Flats/apartments without lifts: 6+ storey 1,970 - 2,190
Flats/apartments with lifts: generally 2,370 - 2,630
Flats/apartments with lifts: 2 storey 1,800 - 2,000
Flats/apartments with lifts: 3-5 storey 1,950 - 2,170
Flats/apartments with lifts: 6+ storey 2,040 - 2,260
'One-off' custom-built apartments/flats: standard quality, 3-5 storeys 2,870 - 3,190
'One-off' custom-built apartments/flats: high quality in residential tower 3,820 - 4,240
Sheltered housing: generally 1,680 - 1,860
Sheltered housing: single storey 1,920 - 2,140
Sheltered housing: 2 storey 1,680 - 1,860
Sheltered housing: 3 storey 1,550 - 1,730
Sheltered housing: 4 storey 1,730 - 1,930
Student residences: large budget schemes with ensuite accommodation 2,220 - 2,460
Student residences: smaller schemes (40-100 units) mid-range specification 1,960 - 2,180
Student residences: smaller high quality courtyard schemes college style 2,220 - 2,460
Nurses residences 1,870 - 2,070
Staff residential accommodation 2,100 - 2,340
Hotels: budget roadside excluding dining facilities 2,090 - 2,310
Hotels: budget city centre with dining and bar facilities 2,540 - 2,820
Hotels: mid range with conference and leisure facilities 2,680 - 2,980
Hotels: business city centre with conference and leisure facilities 3,730 - 4,130
Hotels: luxury city centre with conference and leisure facilities 5,130 - 5,670
Barracks, mess accommodation, section houses etc 3,270 - 3,630
Youth hostels 2,540 - 2,820
Short-stay hostels for the homeless, etc 2,280 - 2,520
Electrical power generation and distribution entities
Electricity substations 2,660 - 2,960
Generator houses, power stations, etc 2,200 - 2,440
Communications, security, safety and protection entities
TV, radio and video studios 3,570 - 3,950
Computer buildings/Data centres 3,330 - 3,690
Telephone exchanges 1,870 - 2,070
Telephone engineering centres 1,280 - 1,420
Transport entities
Airport hangers 1,970 - 2,190
Airport terminals 4,490 - 4,970
Airport piers or satellites 5,210 - 5,770
Airport cargo handling bases 1,250 - 1,390
Airport distribution centres 700 - 780
Bus and coach stations 3,610 - 4,010
Bus garages 1,370 - 1,530
Residential detached garage (traditional construction) 1,090 - 1,210
Multi-storey car parks 780 - 880
Underground car parks with mechanical ventilation 1,230 - 1,370
Railway stations 3,650 - 4,050
Railway lineside buildings 2,510 - 2,790
Railway relay buildings/substation 1,940 - 2,160
Rail vehicle storage/repair buildings 2,850 - 3,150
Port and harbour terminals/buildings 4,520 - 5,000
Boat control buildings 2,810 - 3,110
Circulation and storage entities
Bulk goods storage facilities 1,030 - 1,150
Agricultural storage buildings 910 - 1,010
Vehicle storage buildings 790 - 890
Links, corridors, etc 2,800 - 3,100
Boiler houses excluding boiler plant 2,550 - 2,830
Boiler houses including boiler plant 5,510 - 6,110

Building classifications are based on Uniclass Building En Entities - October 2022 - v1.26


If you wish to create a detailed cost model yourself, download our app. It's simple, easy to use, quick and a fully-operational trial version available completely free of charge for 30-days! Go to our download section and use our wizard to create your cost model from scratch.



Example of putting a budget together


The following is an example of how an early cost advice budget may be put together when all that is know about the project is building size (gross floor area), location and an indicative start of construction date.

If you don't know any better, we would typically add a further 10 - 20% of the building cost to cover the costs of external works depending on how extensive these works are. External works include site preparation works, roads, paths and pavings, planting, fencing, railings and walls, site/street furniture and equipment, external drainage and external services.

We would typically add a figure of 10 - 15% to cover risk.

Professional fees can be anything from 5% to 15% depending on the size of the project - generally the larger the project the smaller fee percentage.

Important! When using the information above it is important that any costs produced are adjusted for building works value. As stated, all the costs per m2 on this page are based on a building works value factor of 1 (building works value of approximately £1,000,000).

The cost per m2 given for a detached house for example is for a project in which the house is costing some £1,000,000 (i.e. a building works value factor of 1). If your house is only costing £250,000 the project value adjustment must be applied to produce the cost per m2 appropriate for your building value (in this example, the building works value factor would be 1.07 i.e. cost per m2 needs to be 7% more than the cost per m2 given in the table above).

Making this adjustment will help produce costs that are relevant to your project size and value.

This example is for a proposed new office block in York, 4000m2 gross floor area, with a proposed construction start date of October 2025.

Proposed 4-storey air-conditioned office block, York
Gross floor area: 4000m2
Location: York
Proposed construction start date: October 2025
Construction period: 52 weeks
Base cost from cost per m2 table
Offices, air-conditioned: 3-5 storey:
 
£2,650/m2
Budget calculation
Building works cost (at bwv factor of 1.00) 4000m2 x £2,650/m2 10,600,000
Adjustment for building works value
(Factor for £10,600,000 is 0.89)
 
0.89
9,434,000
Adjustment for location (York = 96) 0.96
9,057,000
Adjustment for tender inflation
Current tender price index October 2024 221
Forecasted tender price index October 2025 227
Adjustment (227 - 221) / 221 2.71% 246,000
9,303,000
Adjustment for construction inflation
Current building cost index October 2025 242
Forecasted building cost index October 2026 248
Adjustment ((248 - 242) / 242) x 50% * 1.24% 115,000
9,418,000
Allowance for external works say 15% 1,395,000
10,813,000
Allowance for risk say 12% 1,298,000
12,111,000
Indicative total construction works cost £12,100,000

Estimate base date: 1 October 2024.

Cost excludes land purchase, fees, VAT, fittings and furnishings supplied by the Client.


* Because on larger value contracts the contractor is usually paid in monthly instalments, the normal method of calculating construction inflation is that half the construction inflation rate applies to the whole of the construction works cost. If the contractor is not paid until after completion of the works, then the calculation should be the full construction inflation rate applied to the whole of the construction works cost.