The short answer
Grey-structure materials are estimated per square foot of covered area. Typical thumb-rules used by site engineers are about 0.4 bags of cement, 3.5–4 kg of steel, 22–25 bricks, 1.8 cft of sand and 1.25 cft of crush per sq ft; multiply each by today’s market price to get the material budget.
How the material estimate is calculated
The calculator multiplies your covered area by standard per-square-foot quantities for a framed RCC house, then by the prices you enter:
- Cement — bags of 50 kg for foundations, columns, slabs, brickwork mortar and plaster.
- Steel — reinforcement bars for foundations, columns, beams and slabs.
- Bricks — walls and partitions.
- Sand — mortar, plaster and concrete.
- Crush (bajri) — the coarse aggregate in concrete.
Material prices move every few weeks in Pakistan, especially steel and cement, so every price field is editable. The defaults are sample rates dated on the page.
Why quantities differ from site to site
The real quantities come from the structural drawings. Soil that needs a deeper foundation, larger spans, a basement or extra storeys all add steel and concrete. Treat this estimate as a budgeting guide and a way to sanity-check a contractor’s bill of quantities — not as a replacement for one.
Checking what arrives on site
Quantity is only half the story; quality matters more. Our guide to construction materials in Pakistan explains what to insist on and how to check cement, steel grades and bricks when they are delivered.
How to use the material quantity & cost
- 1Enter the covered area in square feet (the Construction Cost tool calculates it).
- 2Type in today’s prices for cement, steel, bricks, sand and crush from your supplier.
- 3Read the quantity and cost for each material and the total material budget.
Frequently asked questions
+How many cement bags are needed for a 5 marla house?
At the common thumb-rule of about 0.4 bags per sq ft of covered area, a double-storey 5 marla house of roughly 1,900 sq ft needs in the region of 800 bags for the grey structure. The structural drawings give the exact figure.
+How much steel is used per square foot in a house?
Residential framed structures typically use about 3.5 to 4 kg of steel per square foot of covered area. Longer spans, basements and more storeys increase it.
+How many bricks are needed per square foot of construction?
Roughly 22 to 25 bricks per square foot of covered area for a typical house, depending on wall thickness and how many partitions the design has.
+Are the material prices current?
They are sample rates dated on the page. Steel and cement prices change often, so enter the rate your supplier quotes today.