Work out what a new house could cost to build in Australia. Enter the floor area, pick the type of home and your city. You get a low, typical and high budget, a full cost breakdown with site work, connections, contingency and GST, every home type compared, and example stage payments.
The calculator did not load. Refresh the page to try again.
| Item | Low | Typical | High |
|---|
| Home | Build Rate | Total |
|---|
Build rates are typical, per m², before GST and extras. Totals use your own settings.
| Stage | Share | Payment | Paid So Far |
|---|
Already inside the build rate. Beams add more concrete.
ABS figures are for 2024-25, so they run behind 2026 prices.
Estimated Total Budget
0
This house construction cost calculator gives you a first budget before you talk to a builder or a bank. It does not replace a quote, but it helps you see what size of home your budget can reach.
The best starting point for any house construction cost is official building data. The Master Builders Association of NSW has published ABS Building Activity figures for each state. These cover the house, not the land.
| Area | Average Cost | Average Floor Area | Cost Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | $474,939 | 241.5 m² | $1,967 |
| New South Wales | $565,749 | 236.1 m² | $2,396 |
| Victoria | $485,292 | 253.5 m² | $1,914 |
| Queensland | $458,868 | 230.9 m² | $1,987 |
| South Australia | $389,949 | 218.1 m² | $1,788 |
| Western Australia | $407,114 | 256.8 m² | $1,586 |
The first three columns are from the Master Builders report. The last column is our own division of cost by floor area, except that the $2,396 for NSW also matches the report. It also lists Tasmania at $2,537.73 per m², the highest it mentions. The Northern Territory and the ACT were not in the data we could read.
Prices have moved since then. The Good Builder reports ABS figures showing the average new house approval reached $529,790 in June 2026, the highest in ten years of data, and $517,430 across 2025-26.
Keep in mind that these are averages across all kinds of homes. They mix small project homes with large custom builds. They also depend on what owners and builders declare in approvals, so a real contract may differ.
Most people start with a rate per square metre. Here is what current guides list. They measure slightly different things, so do not mix them without care.
| Home | Per m² | Source | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Or Project Home | $1,600 to $2,700 | Aussie | 2025-26, national |
| Mid-Range Custom | $2,700 to $3,500 | Aussie | 2025-26, national |
| Premium Or Architectural | $3,500 to $4,500 or more | Aussie | 2025-26, national |
| 3 Bed Brick Veneer, One Level | $2,176 to $2,895 | BMT, via Feasly | 2026, Sydney, ex GST |
| 3 Bed Full Brick, One Level | $2,261 to $3,140 | BMT, via Feasly | 2026, Sydney, ex GST |
| 4 Bed Brick Veneer, Unique Design | $3,047 to $4,016 | BMT, via Feasly | 2026, Sydney, ex GST |
| 4 Bed Full Brick, Two Level | $3,418 to $4,284 | BMT, via Feasly | 2026, Sydney, ex GST |
| Architect Designed | $4,536 to $8,123 | BMT, via Feasly | 2026, Sydney, ex GST |
BMT is a firm of quantity surveyors, so these are professional rates, measured on gross floor area. We read them through the Feasly guide, dated July 2026, as the BMT page itself was not available to us. Finder also lists 2025 BMT rates, which sit a little lower.
The ABS average of about $1,967 per m² sits well under the BMT rates. Part of this is date, as ABS data is for 2024-25. Part is the mix of homes, as large builders can build standard designs for less. And part is what gets counted. A rate on internal floor area looks higher than the same home measured to the outside of the walls and garage.
So the calculator uses two kinds of rate. Volume Builder Home uses the Aussie range for budget and project homes, and it starts as the default because it sits closest to the ABS average. The other types use the BMT rates. If you have a real price from a builder, that beats any table.
This table shows typical all-in budgets for a volume builder home, using the calculator's default settings. That means site preparation, connections, a soil test, 10% contingency and GST.
| Floor Area | Low | Typical | High | All-In Per m² |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 m² | $230,989 | $333,597 | $436,205 | $2,780 |
| 150 m² | $283,806 | $404,564 | $525,322 | $2,697 |
| 200 m² | $371,833 | $522,841 | $673,849 | $2,614 |
| 240 m² | $442,255 | $617,463 | $792,671 | $2,573 |
| 300 m² | $547,888 | $759,396 | $970,904 | $2,531 |
Notice how the all-in rate falls as the home grows. Site costs stay about the same, so they spread over more area. Kitchens and bathrooms also take up less of the budget in a bigger home. So do not simply take the rate from a large home and apply it to a small one.
The national average new house was 241.5 m² in 2024-25, and that has barely changed since 2007-08, when it was 239 m². Trimming even 20 m² from your plan can save well over $40,000 at these rates.
Your choice of home matters more than almost anything else. Here is a 200 m² home in Sydney, on the default settings.
| Home | Typical Rate | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume Builder Home | $1,955 | $371,833 | $522,841 | $673,849 |
| Brick Veneer Home | $2,424 | $546,315 | $636,339 | $780,329 |
| Full Brick Home | $2,512 | $566,885 | $657,635 | $839,619 |
| Custom Design Home | $3,191 | $757,097 | $821,953 | $1,051,611 |
| Custom Two Storey | $3,924 | $846,879 | $999,339 | $1,116,467 |
| Architect Designed | $5,807 | $1,117,435 | $1,455,025 | $2,045,505 |
Aussie does not say if its figures include GST. It is a consumer guide, so we treat them as including GST. The calculator divides them by 1.1 to give $1,455, $1,955 and $2,455, then adds GST back in the total. The typical figure is the midpoint of the range. These are our own steps.
Brick veneer has a timber or steel frame with one skin of brick outside. Full brick has masonry walls. In the BMT rates, full brick adds about $88 per m² at the typical level. In the Finder table, weatherboard is the cheapest of the three walls, at $2,150 per m² for a 3 bedroom home against $2,280 for brick veneer. Our Cinder Block Calculator can help if you are building block walls.
Two storeys usually cost more per square metre. In Finder's table, a 3 bedroom brick veneer home goes from $2,280 to $2,359 per m². But a two storey home has a smaller footprint, so the slab and roof can be smaller, and it can make better use of a small block. Pick Storeys in the calculator to see the slab change.
The BMT rates are based on Sydney. Feasly lists BMT's location factors, which show how other cities compare. The calculator uses the low figure for its low estimate, the high figure for its high estimate, and the midpoint for typical. The midpoint is our own step.
| City | Range | Midpoint Used |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Base | 100% |
| Melbourne | 94% to 105% | 99.5% |
| Brisbane | 92% to 105% | 98.5% |
| Perth | 98% to 120% | 109% |
| Adelaide | 90% to 108% | 99% |
| Canberra | 92% to 110% | 101% |
| Hobart | 90% to 100% | 95% |
| Darwin | 110% to 120% | 115% |
| Cairns | 90% to 110% | 100% |
These two data sets disagree on Perth. The BMT factors put Perth above Sydney, but the ABS averages put Western Australia lowest of the five states listed, at about $1,586 per m². ABS averages reflect a different mix of homes and are older, while BMT factors reflect current trade costs. So treat Perth estimates with care, and get a local quote.
Regional and remote sites usually cost more again, as trades and materials travel further. Ask local builders for a real figure. Our Concrete Cost Per Square Metre page shows how the same pattern plays out for slabs and paths.
Here is how the calculator builds a typical budget for a 200 m² volume builder home.
If you start in 12 months and prices grow at 3.2% a year, the total becomes about $537,981, or $15,140 more. That excludes your land, driveway, fence, landscaping and furnishings. A large gap between low and high is honest. At this stage, nobody can know your site or finishes.
Advertised house prices often leave a lot out. Mozo warns that driveways and landscaping are often excluded from building contracts, and that changes during the build can cost extra. Check each of these before you compare prices.
Every builder sets inclusions differently, so a lower price can simply mean less in the box. Ask for the full inclusions list. For concrete extras, our Concrete Driveway Calculator and Concrete Pad Cost Calculator can price them.
Simonds describes site costs as the extra costs of preparing your land so that construction can begin safely. They are worked out after site assessments, and they depend on slope, access, soil type, overlays and easements.
| Item | Published Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Site Preparation | $10,000 to $50,000 | Aussie |
| Knockdown Demolition | $10,000 to $50,000 | Aussie |
| Utility Connections, Metro | $6,000 to $15,000 | Duotax |
| Utility Connections, Rural | Can reach $140,000 | Duotax |
| Connecting Power, Water And Gas | $5,000 to $15,000 | Aussie |
| Basic Soil Test | $300 to $900 | Duotax |
| Tree Removal, Per Tree | $1,500 to $10,000 | Duotax |
| NSW s7.11 Contributions | Usually capped at $20,000 or $30,000 | Duotax |
Aussie also lists a combined $1,500 to $5,000 for soil testing, surveys and connections, which does not fit neatly with its own $5,000 to $15,000 for connections. So we use the separate Duotax figures. In Victoria, Duotax says the permit levy applies to work over $10,000, at 0.00128 of the cost of works. So a $500,000 build pays about $640.
Mozo says sloped land costs more, as it can need drop edge beams and sometimes a specialist. It also lists retaining walls, and more work on bushfire or flood-prone land. The calculator's $50,000 site figure is not a ceiling. A steep or rocky block can cost more. Get a site inspection before you sign anything.
The slab is the first big stage of most Australian homes. New Life In Aus lists these slab types by footprint.
| Slab | Per m² | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Waffle Pod | $70 to $110 | 120 m² footprint: $8,400 to $13,200 |
| Stiffened Raft | $90 to $150 | 150 m² footprint: $13,500 to $22,500 |
| Raft On Reactive Soil | Up to about $200 | Site-specific |
The calculator uses $100 to $150 per m², which the same author lists for standard residential house slabs. So a single storey 200 m² home has a slab of about $20,000 to $30,000. That is about 5% to 8% of the $391,000 house build. A 300 m² home on two levels has a 150 m² footprint, so its slab is about $15,000 to $22,500.
Soil matters most. A soil test sets the site class, and an engineer designs the footings. New Life In Aus says a raft typically costs 25% to 35% more than a waffle pod, and that geotechnical reports and engineering are extra. A house slab is engineered work, so it is not a DIY job.
Our Concrete Slab Calculator shows the volume for a slab, and the Concrete Slab Thickness Guide and Concrete Footing Calculator explain the parts. The Concrete At 100 mm figure in the results is only a rough guide, as beams add more.
A knockdown rebuild keeps your location but replaces the house. Aussie lists demolition at $10,000 to $50,000. Turn on Knockdown Rebuild in Site Costs to add it. On a 200 m² volume builder home with the default settings, the typical figure adds $30,000 before contingency and GST, or about $36,300 in all.
Older homes can bring extra costs. Asbestos must be handled by the right people, and service lines may need to be capped. Trees, overlays and neighbours can also add time. Ask for a demolition quote before you commit, and check your council's rules. You will also need somewhere to live during the build, so add rent to your personal budget.
Your estimate has a shelf life. These are the latest figures we found.
| Measure | Latest Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average New House Approval, June 2026 | $529,790 | The Good Builder, citing ABS |
| Rise On June 2020 | About 58% | The Good Builder |
| New Dwelling Inflation, Year To June 2026 | 5.8% | The Good Builder, citing ABS |
| Cordell Construction Cost Index, Year To September 2026 | 3.2% | Broker News |
| Cordell, September 2026 Quarter | 1.0% | Broker News |
The two rates measure different things, so they differ. The ABS said builders were passing on higher material and labour costs. The calculator uses the Cordell 3.2% figure when you enter the months until you start. If you want a more cautious view, add more contingency.
A fixed-price contract helps protect you, but read the rise and fall clauses and the provisional sums. Allowances for rock or site work can move once digging starts.
The calculator adds contingency to everything except land. It starts at 10%, which is our own starting value. Use 15% or more on an old site, a knockdown or a custom design. If you do not spend it, that is a good outcome.
GST is added by default because the BMT rates exclude it. Most builders quote homeowners with GST included, so set GST to Leave GST Out if you enter a price that already has it. Land is added at the end, with no GST or contingency.
Professional fees can sit on top of a custom home, including an architect or designer, engineer, surveyor and certifier. Volume builders often include much of this. The Quote Yard lists engineer design for a shed slab in South Australia at $800 to $2,500, so a whole house will be more. Add these under Your Other Costs. Stamp duty and loan costs are separate again. Ask your broker or conveyancer, as they vary by state.
You pay a builder in stages as work is completed. Victoria sets the most detailed percentages, so they work as a useful example. These are from Consumer Affairs Victoria.
| Stage | Share | What It Means | On $463,100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | 5% | Cap for contracts of $20,000 or more | $23,155 |
| Base | 10% | Slab or floor base is complete | $46,310 |
| Frame | 15% | Frame is finished and approved | $69,465 |
| Lock-Up | 35% | Walls, roof, doors and windows are fixed | $162,085 |
| Fixing | 25% | Internal linings, cabinets and fittings are in | $115,775 |
| Completion | 10% | The balance | $46,310 |
The dollar column uses the worked example's contract of $463,100. That is the house and site work with GST. Completion is our own balance of the percentages. The Good Builder reports that Victoria plans to change these rules by 31 March 2027, with draft rules showing a higher deposit and a new site stage. So check the current rules before you sign.
Most other states do not set stages. Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania require payments to track work done. New South Wales requires payment for a completed stage, or backed by invoices. The Northern Territory has standard stages for detached homes. Your bank will also inspect each stage if you use a construction loan.
Each state limits deposits differently. These are from The Good Builder, as at 26 October 2026. Home warranty is from Canstar. Rules change, so check with your state regulator. This is general information, not legal advice.
| State | Deposit Cap | Home Warranty From |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 10% | $20,000 |
| Victoria | 5% at $20,000 or more | $20,000 |
| Queensland | 5% at $20,000 or more | $3,300 |
| Western Australia | 6.5% | $20,000 |
| South Australia | 5% at $20,000 or more | $20,000 |
| Tasmania | 5% at $50,000 or more | Not required, per Canstar |
| Northern Territory | 5% | $25,000 |
| ACT | No statutory cap found | $12,000 |
Home warranty insurance, under whatever name your state uses, can protect you if a builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent. Check that your builder has it before you pay a deposit. Also check the licence, insurance and past work of any builder.
A calculator gives you a range. These steps turn that range into a figure you can bank on.
Your house construction cost will keep firming up at each step. Update the calculator with real numbers as you get them, by using the Your Other Costs box and the Site Costs choices.
Some people cut costs by running the job themselves, using licensed trades. It can save the builder's margin, but you take on the risk, the scheduling and the paperwork. Each state has its own permit and insurance rules, and the loan may be harder to get. Only take this on with a clear view of what can go wrong. Even then, the slab should still be engineered and built by people who do it every day.
Do not save on the things that are hard to fix later, such as the slab, the waterproofing or the insulation.
The ABS-based national average for a new detached house was $474,939 in 2024-25, for 241.5 m². By June 2026, the average new house approval had reached $529,790. These figures exclude land. A real budget also needs site work, connections and a contingency.
Aussie lists $1,600 to $2,700 per m² for budget and project homes, $2,700 to $3,500 for mid-range custom homes, and $3,500 to $4,500 or more for premium homes. BMT Quantity Surveyors, as quoted by Feasly, runs from about $2,176 to over $8,000 per m², excluding GST, in Sydney.
At $1,600 to $2,700 per m², the house itself is about $320,000 to $540,000. Aussie gives $320,000 to $900,000 or more across all build types. Our calculator gives about $523,000 as a typical all-in budget for a volume builder home, once site work, connections, contingency and GST are added.
It depends on the area, the land and the home. Building lets you choose the design, but you carry site costs, delays and price changes. Compare a full build budget, including land, with similar homes on sale nearby.
Usually, per square metre, as stairs, scaffolding and extra structure add cost. In the BMT figures quoted by Finder, a 3 bedroom full brick home is $2,363 per m² on one level and $2,490 on two. A two storey home can still suit a small block better.
Site costs prepare your land for building. Simonds lists council fees, soil testing, levelling, rock removal and termite protection. Aussie says site preparation typically costs $10,000 to $50,000.
New Life In Aus lists standard residential house slabs at $100 to $150 per m², and up to about $200 for rafts on reactive soil. So a 200 m² slab is about $20,000 to $30,000 on a good site. Your engineer decides the slab type.
It depends on the state. In Victoria the cap is 5% for contracts of $20,000 or more, and in Western Australia it is 6.5%. New South Wales allows up to 10%. Rules are changing in Victoria, so check your own state.
It varies with the builder, design, site and weather. Ask for a build period in your contract, along with what happens if it runs late.
Consumer quotes from builders usually should, but cost tables often do not. The BMT rates used here exclude GST, so the calculator adds it by default. Check every quote.
The calculator starts at 10%. That is our own starting value, not a rule. Use more for older sites, knockdowns, sloping blocks or custom designs.
No. Your numbers stay in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Use Download Budget to keep a copy.
Figures reviewed November 2026. Sources: Master Builders NSW, ABS as reported by The Good Builder, BMT via Feasly, Finder, Aussie, Duotax, Mozo, Simonds, New Life In Aus, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Canstar and Broker News. This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Read our Disclaimer and Calculator Methodology.