Lahore builds in fired brick on LDA, DHA Lahore and society plots, and the rate per square foot depends on the scope of work and the quality of finish. Here are the 2026 rates, a calculator for your own covered area, and worked examples for 5 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal.
By Modood Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Zell·Updated 17 October 2026
Quick answer
In 2026, building a house in Lahore is costed per square foot of covered area: grey structure about Rs 2,900–4,200 and finishing about Rs 3,600–9,500, so turnkey runs roughly Rs 6,500–13,700 per sq ft depending on the finish. A 5-marla house (about 1,700 sq ft over G+1) is around Rs 1.1–1.7 crore; a 10-marla house (about 3,200 sq ft) Rs 2.1–3.2 crore; a 1-kanal house (about 5,000 sq ft) Rs 3.3–5 crore, at standard-to-premium turnkey rates.
Estimate your own build
What will your house cost to build?
Enter your covered area for a figure at current October 2026 Lahore rates.
Indicative turnkey cost
Rs 2.43 Cr – Rs 3 Cr
Rs 8,100–Rs 10,000 per sq ft
Construction only — excludes land, design fees, government approvals and utility connections. Rates move with cement and steel prices, so confirm against contractor quotes before you commit.
Updated October 2026 · Indicative market rates, averaged from published 2026 Lahore contractor price lists
Construction in Lahore is priced per square foot of covered area, and the rate depends mainly on two things: the scope of work (grey structure only, or turnkey with finishes) and the quality of finish you choose. Lahore builds in fired clay brick rather than Karachi's concrete block, the labour market is a little cheaper than Islamabad's, and the big cost swings come from the finishes, not the structure.
In 2026, grey structure in Lahore runs roughly Rs 2,900–4,200 per sq ft and finishing adds about Rs 3,600–9,500 per sq ft, so a turnkey build is about Rs 6,500–13,700 per sq ft of covered area depending on the finish.
Grey structure vs turnkey
Grey structure is the bare building: excavation, foundations, columns, beams, brick walls, slabs, the staircase and plaster, with no finishes. Most Lahore contractors quote it "with material" (they buy the cement, steel, bricks and sand) or "labour only" (you buy the material); the rates here are with material. Turnkey adds the finishing — flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, doors and windows, electrical and plumbing fittings, paint and woodwork — and hands over a house you can move into.
Rates are per sq ft of covered area and move with cement, steel and brick prices, so treat them as a current-2026 guide and get two or three written quotes against the same drawings.
Worked examples
5-marla house (25 × 45 ft plot, about 1,700 sq ft over Ground + 1): roughly Rs 1.1–1.3 crore at standard turnkey rates, Rs 1.4–1.7 crore at premium. 10-marla house (35 × 65 ft, about 3,200 sq ft): Rs 2.1–2.4 crore standard, Rs 2.6–3.2 crore premium. 1-kanal house (50 × 90 ft, about 5,000 sq ft): Rs 3.3–3.8 crore standard, Rs 4.1–5 crore premium. Grey structure alone is a little under half of each figure.
What drives the cost in Lahore
Beyond the finish quality, the biggest factors are the design (a basement, a double-height lounge or a third floor adds cost per sq ft), the soil and water table (parts of Lahore need deeper foundations or raft slabs), the boundary wall and gate, the brick grade (Awwal bricks cost more than Doum), the size of the house (a 5-marla build carries a higher rate per sq ft than a 1-kanal one because the fixed costs are spread over less area), and the authority: LDA-approved schemes, DHA Lahore and the private societies each have their own approval fees and NOC steps that sit outside the construction rate.
What's not included
These rates cover construction only. They exclude the plot, the architect's and structural engineer's fees, LDA / DHA Lahore / society approval fees and completion certificates, LESCO, SNGPL and WASA connections, the boundary wall and gate, solar panels and batteries, furniture, landscaping and the lift, if any. Budget those separately: on a typical 10-marla build they add 10–20% on top of the construction figure.
See what fits on your plot first: the Zell Home Studio draws LDA and DHA Lahore 5-marla and 7-marla designs to the city's rules, in 3D, with the cost at these rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the construction cost per square foot in Lahore in 2026?
In 2026, grey structure in Lahore costs roughly Rs 2,900–4,200 per sq ft of covered area and finishing adds about Rs 3,600–9,500, so a turnkey build is about Rs 6,500–7,600 per sq ft at a standard finish, Rs 8,100–10,000 premium and Rs 10,500–13,700 luxury.
How much does it cost to build a 5 marla house in Lahore?
A 5-marla house (25 × 45 ft) over Ground + 1 is around 1,600–1,800 sq ft of covered area. At 2026 turnkey rates that is roughly Rs 1.1–1.3 crore at a standard finish and Rs 1.4–1.7 crore at a premium finish, excluding the plot, approvals and connections.
How much does it cost to build a 10 marla house in Lahore?
A 10-marla house (35 × 65 ft) is typically 3,000–3,400 sq ft of covered area over Ground + 1. At 2026 turnkey rates that is roughly Rs 2.1–2.4 crore at a standard finish and Rs 2.6–3.2 crore premium.
How much does it cost to build a 1 kanal house in Lahore?
A 1-kanal house (50 × 90 ft) is typically 4,500–5,500 sq ft of covered area. At 2026 turnkey rates a 5,000 sq ft house is roughly Rs 3.3–3.8 crore at a standard finish and Rs 4.1–5 crore premium; luxury finishes take it past Rs 5 crore.
Is building cheaper in Lahore than in Karachi or Islamabad?
Lahore's 2026 rates sit a little above Karachi's and a little below Islamabad's: standard turnkey is about Rs 6,000–7,300 in Karachi, Rs 6,500–7,600 in Lahore and Rs 7,000–8,200 in Islamabad–Rawalpindi. The finish you choose matters far more than the city.
What should I budget on top of the construction rate?
Budget separately for the architect and structural engineer, LDA / DHA Lahore / society approval fees and the completion certificate, LESCO, gas and water connections, the boundary wall and gate, solar, furniture and landscaping. On a typical 10-marla build these add 10–20% to the construction figure.
