Typical UK Construction Costs of Buildings

Release date 1 July 2026

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 233 (3Q2026 - 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: £1,940/m2
  • The median cost of a building is: £2,500/m2
  • The 75% quartile cost of a building is: £3,090/m2
  • The 90% percentile cost of a building is: £4,210/m2
  • The highest cost for a building is: £8,240/m2
  • 50% of buildings are be within the cost range: £1,940/m2 - £3,090/m2
  • 90% of buildings are within the cost range: £490/m2 - £4,210/m2

All costs are set at Tender Price index 230, 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 £2,270/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 £900/m 2

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: £2,270/m2. In the Empirical Rule this is taken as the average or mean cost.
  • 68% of buildings will be within the cost range: £1,360/m2 - £3,180/m2
  • 95% of buildings will be within the cost range: £490/m2 - £4,090/m2
  • 99.7% of buildings will cost below £5,000/m2

All costs are set at Tender Price index 230, 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 2,090 - 2,330
Offices, non air-conditioned: 3-5 storey 2,240 - 2,480
Offices, non air-conditioned: 6+ storey 2,570 - 2,850
Offices, air-conditioned: 1-2 storey 2,450 - 2,710
Offices, air-conditioned: 3-5 storey 2,620 - 2,900
Offices, air-conditioned: 6+ storey 2,980 - 3,300
Offices with shops and flats, non air-conditioned: 1-2 storey 2,080 - 2,300
Offices with shops and flats, non air-conditioned: 3-5 storey 2,140 - 2,380
Offices with shops and flats, non air-conditioned: 6+ storey 2,310 - 2,570
Embassies 3,520 - 3,900
County, City and Town halls 2,790 - 3,090
Local admin buildings 2,630 - 2,910
Record offices, archives, patent offices 2,580 - 2,860
Vehicle repair and maintenance buildings 1,800 - 2,000
Wholesale trading building/auction rooms 1,320 - 1,460
Department stores 2,850 - 3,150
Banks and building society branches 3,140 - 3,480
Bank head offices 3,840 - 4,260
Market building providing accommodation for stalls, etc 1,120 - 1,240
Vehicle showrooms 1,810 - 2,010
Vehicle showrooms with workshops 1,680 - 1,860
Shops: shell only 1,080 - 1,200
Shops, simple stores: shell and fitting out 1,570 - 1,750
Shops, designer stores: shell and fitting out 1,980 - 2,200
Shops with domestic or office accommodation 2,550 - 2,830
Mixed commercial developments 1,410 - 1,570
Retail warehouses: shell only 780 - 880
Retail warehouses: shell and fitting out 1,140 - 1,280
Supermarkets: shell only 950 - 1,050
Supermarkets: shell and fitting out 2,520 - 2,800
Hypermarkets: shell only 950 - 1,050
Hypermarkets: shell and fitting out 2,070 - 2,290
Shopping centres: comfort cooled 5,960 - 6,600
Shopping centres: air conditioned 7,690 - 8,510
Branch post offices 1,800 - 2,000
Postal sorting and delivery offices 1,800 - 2,000
Air Force facilities, operations building 2,180 - 2,420
Territorial Army centres 1,980 - 2,200
Military buildings 2,180 - 2,420
Camps, depots, bases, ranges, etc 2,190 - 2,430
Police stations 2,570 - 2,850
Police admin/control buildings 2,640 - 2,920
County courts 4,280 - 4,740
Magistrates courts 2,300 - 2,560
Prisons 3,370 - 3,730
Reformatories and secure residential units for children 3,510 - 3,890
Ambulance stations 1,580 - 1,760
Ambulance control centres 2,610 - 2,890
Fire stations 2,720 - 3,020
Fire service admin/control buildings 2,610 - 2,890
Fire training buildings 2,280 - 2,520
Mountain and cave rescue centres 1,850 - 2,050
Cultural, educational, scientific and information entities
Nursery schools 2,600 - 2,880
Primary/junior schools 2,500 - 2,780
Secondary/middle schools 2,600 - 2,880
Sixth form colleges 2,470 - 2,750
Special schools 2,620 - 2,900
Schools for those with learning disabilities 2,530 - 2,810
Schools for the physically disabled 2,230 - 2,470
Training colleges 2,180 - 2,420
Management training centres 2,300 - 2,560
Universities and colleges 2,420 - 2,680
Learning resource centres 2,610 - 2,890
Adult education facilities 2,490 - 2,770
Art and drama centres 2,230 - 2,470
Lecture theatres 4,500 - 4,980
Research facilities 2,940 - 3,260
Laboratories 3,730 - 4,130
Artists' studios 1,700 - 1,880
Art galleries, facilities for special displays 3,950 - 4,370
Museums, planetaria 5,440 - 6,020
Exhibition centres 3,640 - 4,040
Conference centres 3,030 - 3,350
Libraries 4,220 - 4,680
Churches, chapels, etc. 2,840 - 3,140
Temples, mosques, synagogues, etc 3,270 - 3,630
Mission halls, meeting houses, etc. 3,200 - 3,540
Convents 2,680 - 2,980
Industrial entities
Advance factories: generally 1,130 - 1,250
Advance factories/offices: mixed facilities 1,570 - 1,750
Factories: generally 1,230 - 1,370
Purpose-built factories 1,250 - 1,390
Purpose-built factories/offices: mixed facilities 1,520 - 1,680
Factories for food and drink 2,570 - 2,850
Factories for chemical and allied industries 2,380 - 2,640
Factories for metals 1,690 - 1,870
Factories for mechanical and electrical engineering 1,580 - 1,760
Factories for electronics, computers and the like 2,590 - 2,870
Factories for paper, printing and publishing 1,550 - 1,730
Advance warehouses/stores 1,090 - 1,210
Warehouses/stores: generally 1,100 - 1,220
Purpose-built warehouses/stores: generally 1,130 - 1,250
Builders yards and maintenance depots 1,080 - 1,200
Distribution centre/warehouse 10m to 15m high (10000m2 footprint) 540 - 600
Distribution centre/warehouse 16m to 24m high (10000m2 footprint) 580 - 660
Cold stores/refrigerated stores 1,330 - 1,470
Livestock buildings 450 - 510
Stud farms, stables, etc 1,460 - 1,620
Refuse depots 1,600 - 1,780
Medical, health, welfare and sanitary entities
Day hospitals 2,750 - 3,050
Community hospitals 3,840 - 4,260
General hospitals 4,210 - 4,670
Mental, psychiatric hospital facilities 3,560 - 3,940
Psychiatric units 4,080 - 4,520
Psychiatric units for the elderly 3,680 - 4,080
Learning disability units 3,800 - 4,200
Ear, nose and throat units 2,580 - 2,860
Cardiac units 3,420 - 3,780
Hospital facilities for the treatment of parts of the body 2,630 - 2,910
Maternity, gynaecological hospital facilities 3,640 - 4,040
Genito-urinary facilities 2,610 - 2,890
Paediatric, geriatric hospital facilities 2,740 - 3,040
Paediatric units, children's hospitals 2,650 - 2,930
Surgery including operating theatres 4,570 - 5,070
Hospital laboratories 3,510 - 3,890
Pathology laboratories 3,510 - 3,890
Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy units 3,040 - 3,380
Pharmacies 3,370 - 3,730
Hospital mixed specialist facilities 4,410 - 4,890
Diagnostic units excluding radiography 2,790 - 3,090
Radiography (x-ray) units 5,720 - 6,340
Chemotherapy units 4,380 - 4,860
Radiotherapy units 4,610 - 5,110
Specialised facilities 4,560 - 5,040
Outpatients/casualty units 2,850 - 3,150
Ward blocks 4,100 - 4,540
Intensive care/acute wards 4,070 - 4,510
Sterile stores/serialisation units 3,370 - 3,730
Medical research facilities 3,540 - 3,920
Observation and assessment centres 2,560 - 2,840
Blood transfusion facilities 3,110 - 3,450
Hospital teaching centres 2,550 - 2,830
Health centres, clinics, group practice surgeries 2,530 - 2,810
Welfare consultation centres 2,520 - 2,800
Day centres 2,790 - 3,090
Nursing homes 2,090 - 2,330
Homes for the elderly 2,390 - 2,650
Homes for the mentally ill 1,960 - 2,180
Childrens homes 2,580 - 2,860
Homes for children with special needs 3,440 - 3,820
Hospices 2,530 - 2,810
Mortuaries 4,670 - 5,170
Crematoria 3,140 - 3,480
Public conveniences 3,290 - 3,650
Utility blocks: washing and toilet facilities 3,910 - 4,330
Animal rearing and living facilities 2,660 - 2,960
Kennels and catteries 2,300 - 2,560
Veterinary hospitals 2,560 - 2,840
Animal clinics 2,210 - 2,450
Recreational entities
Public houses, licensed premises 2,610 - 2,890
Restaurants 2,520 - 2,800
Canteens, refectories, cafes, etc 2,430 - 2,690
Arts and drama centres 2,970 - 3,290
Theatres: less than 500 seats 3,940 - 4,360
Theatres: over 500 seats 5,980 - 6,620
Concert halls 4,750 - 5,270
Cinemas 3,340 - 3,700
Multiplex cinemas 4,840 - 5,360
Community centres 2,380 - 2,640
General purpose halls 2,170 - 2,410
Youth clubs 2,630 - 2,910
Visitors centres 3,630 - 4,030
Mixed recreations buildings, holiday camps, caravan site buildings, etc 2,740 - 3,040
Sport and activity entities
Squash courts 1,750 - 1,950
Indoor bowls halls 1,260 - 1,400
Indoor tennis courts 760 - 860
Table tennis centres 1,260 - 1,400
Indoor cricket centres 1,430 - 1,590
Indoor bowling greens 920 - 1,020
Indoor athletic training centres 1,590 - 1,770
Indoor sports arena 2,380 - 2,640
Health and fitness clubs 2,460 - 2,720
Sports centres, recreational centres 2,370 - 2,630
Sports centres, recreational centres including swimming pools 3,570 - 3,950
Gymnasium/sports halls 1,870 - 2,070
Sports pavilions, club houses and changing rooms 1,990 - 2,210
Sports changing rooms 2,480 - 2,760
Sports pavilions and club houses 2,320 - 2,580
Club houses 2,040 - 2,260
Golf club houses 2,120 - 2,360
Bowls pavilions 1,550 - 1,730
Rifle ranges 1,460 - 1,620
Golf driving ranges 2,030 - 2,250
Riding schools 710 - 790
Boat houses 2,930 - 3,250
Leisure centres: dry 2,610 - 2,890
Leisure centres: wet and dry 3,960 - 4,380
Swimming pools: small 3,520 - 3,900
Swimming pools: 25m 2,880 - 3,200
Swimming pools: 50m 3,880 - 4,300
Leisure pools 4,610 - 5,110
Covered ice rinks 2,230 - 2,470
Residential entities
Estate housing: generally 1,550 - 1,730
Estate housing: single storey 1,680 - 1,860
Estate housing: 2 storey 1,520 - 1,700
Estate housing: 3 storey 1,540 - 1,720
Estate housing: detached, generally 1,760 - 1,960
Estate housing: detached, single storey 1,720 - 1,920
Estate housing: detached, 2 storey 1,690 - 1,870
Estate housing: detached, 3 storey 1,740 - 1,940
Estate housing: semi-detached, generally 1,550 - 1,730
Estate housing: semi-detached, single storey 1,680 - 1,860
Estate housing: semi-detached, 2 storey 1,550 - 1,730
Estate housing: semi-detached, 3 storey 1,580 - 1,760
Estate housing: terraced, generally 1,470 - 1,630
Estate housing: terraced, single storey 1,620 - 1,800
Estate housing: terraced: 2 storey 1,410 - 1,570
Estate housing: terraced: 3 storey 1,450 - 1,610
Small - medium scale housing developments: generally 1,930 - 2,150
Small - medium scale housing developments: single storey 1,980 - 2,200
Small - medium scale housing developments: 2 storey 1,900 - 2,120
Small - medium scale housing developments: 3 storey 1,930 - 2,150
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, generally 2,040 - 2,260
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, single storey 1,990 - 2,210
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, 2 storey 2,030 - 2,250
Small - medium scale housing developments: detached, 3 storey 2,090 - 2,330
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, generally 1,900 - 2,120
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, single storey 1,960 - 2,180
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, 2 storey 1,860 - 2,060
Small - medium scale housing developments: semi-detached, 3 storey 1,880 - 2,080
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced, generally 1,880 - 2,080
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced, single storey 1,970 - 2,190
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced: 2 storey 1,810 - 2,010
Small - medium scale housing developments: terraced: 3 storey 1,830 - 2,030
One-off housing: generally 2,390 - 2,650
One-off detached housing: generally 2,480 - 2,760
One-off detached housing: single storey 2,260 - 2,500
One-off detached housing: 2 storey 2,380 - 2,640
One-off detached housing: 3 storey 2,440 - 2,700
One-off semi-detached housing: generally 2,260 - 2,500
One-off semi-detached housing: single storey 2,260 - 2,500
One-off semi-detached housing: 2 storey 2,170 - 2,410
One-off semi-detached housing: 3 storey 2,180 - 2,420
One-off terraced housing: generally 2,280 - 2,540
One-off terraced housing: single storey 2,320 - 2,580
One-off terraced housing: 2 storey 2,210 - 2,450
One-off terraced housing: 3 storey 2,220 - 2,460
Flats/apartments without lifts: generally 1,850 - 2,050
Flats/apartments without lifts: single storey 1,930 - 2,150
Flats/apartments without lifts: 2 storey 1,680 - 1,860
Flats/apartments without lifts: 3-5 storey 2,000 - 2,220
Flats/apartments without lifts: 6+ storey 2,040 - 2,260
Flats/apartments with lifts: generally 2,470 - 2,730
Flats/apartments with lifts: 2 storey 1,870 - 2,070
Flats/apartments with lifts: 3-5 storey 2,030 - 2,250
Flats/apartments with lifts: 6+ storey 2,110 - 2,350
'One-off' custom-built apartments/flats: standard quality, 3-5 storeys 3,000 - 3,320
'One-off' custom-built apartments/flats: high quality in residential tower 3,990 - 4,430
Sheltered housing: generally 1,710 - 1,910
Sheltered housing: single storey 1,970 - 2,190
Sheltered housing: 2 storey 1,710 - 1,910
Sheltered housing: 3 storey 1,580 - 1,760
Sheltered housing: 4 storey 1,770 - 1,970
Student residences: large budget schemes with ensuite accommodation 2,310 - 2,570
Student residences: smaller schemes (40-100 units) mid-range specification 2,050 - 2,270
Student residences: smaller high quality courtyard schemes college style 2,310 - 2,570
Nurses residences 1,900 - 2,120
Staff residential accommodation 2,140 - 2,380
Hotels: budget roadside excluding dining facilities 2,170 - 2,410
Hotels: budget city centre with dining and bar facilities 2,650 - 2,930
Hotels: mid range with conference and leisure facilities 2,800 - 3,100
Hotels: business city centre with conference and leisure facilities 3,890 - 4,310
Hotels: luxury city centre with conference and leisure facilities 5,340 - 5,920
Barracks, mess accommodation, section houses etc 3,330 - 3,690
Youth hostels 2,590 - 2,870
Short-stay hostels for the homeless, etc 2,320 - 2,580
Electrical power generation and distribution entities
Electricity substations 2,790 - 3,090
Generator houses, power stations, etc 2,250 - 2,490
Communications, security, safety and protection entities
TV, radio and video studios 3,720 - 4,120
Computer buildings/Data centres 3,400 - 3,760
Telephone exchanges 1,940 - 2,160
Telephone engineering centres 1,330 - 1,490
Transport entities
Airport hangers 2,060 - 2,280
Airport terminals 4,680 - 5,180
Airport piers or satellites 5,440 - 6,020
Airport cargo handling bases 1,310 - 1,450
Airport distribution centres 730 - 810
Bus and coach stations 3,770 - 4,170
Bus garages 1,420 - 1,580
Residential detached garage (traditional construction) 1,130 - 1,250
Multi-storey car parks 810 - 910
Underground car parks with mechanical ventilation 1,280 - 1,420
Railway stations 3,730 - 4,130
Railway lineside buildings 2,560 - 2,840
Railway relay buildings/substation 1,980 - 2,200
Rail vehicle storage/repair buildings 2,810 - 3,110
Port and harbour terminals/buildings 4,600 - 5,100
Boat control buildings 2,860 - 3,180
Circulation and storage entities
Bulk goods storage facilities 1,050 - 1,170
Agricultural storage buildings 950 - 1,050
Vehicle storage buildings 800 - 900
Links, corridors, etc 2,850 - 3,170
Boiler houses excluding boiler plant 2,610 - 2,890
Boiler houses including boiler plant 5,620 - 6,220

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 m 2 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 April 2027.

Proposed 4-storey air-conditioned office block, York
Gross floor area: 4000m2
Location: York
Proposed construction start date: April 2027
Construction period: 52 weeks
Base cost from cost per m2 table
Offices, air-conditioned: 3-5 storey:
 
£2,810/m2
Budget calculation
Building works cost (at bwv factor of 1.00) 4000m2 x £2,810/m2 11,240,000
Adjustment for building works value
(Factor for £11,240,000 is 0.89)
 
0.89
10,004,000
Adjustment for location (York = 96) 0.96
9,604,000
Adjustment for tender inflation
Current tender price index April 2026 230
Forecasted tender price index April 2027 237
Adjustment (237 - 230) / 230 3.04% 292,000
9,896,000
Adjustment for construction inflation
Current building cost index April 2027 253
Forecasted building cost index April 2028 260
Adjustment ((260 - 253) / 253) x 50% * 1.38% 137,000
10,033,000
Allowance for external works say 15% 1,484,000
11,517,000
Allowance for risk say 12% 1,382,000
12,899,000
Indicative total construction works cost £12,900,000

Estimate base date: 1 July 2026.

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.