How much cement, steel and bricks does a house need?
Material quantities for a 5 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal double-storey house — cement bags, tons of steel, bricks, sand and crush — with current prices.
Updated
If you are buying materials yourself and paying a contractor for labour only, you need to know roughly how much of everything to order — and when. These figures are for the grey structure of a double-storey framed house with typical brick walls.
| Material | 5 marla | 10 marla | 1 kanal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cement (bags) | 810 – 891 | 1,440 – 1,584 | 2,520 – 2,772 |
| Steel (sarya) (tons) | 6.7 – 7.7 tons | 11.9 – 13.7 tons | 20.8 – 23.9 tons |
| Bricks (first class) (bricks) | 38,494 – 44,572 | 68,400 – 79,200 | 119,700 – 138,600 |
| Sand (cft) | 3,444 – 3,849 | 6,120 – 6,840 | 10,710 – 11,970 |
| Crush (bajri) (cft) | 2,229 – 2,634 | 3,960 – 4,680 | 6,930 – 8,190 |
Current prices
| Material | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cement | per bag (50 kg) | Rs 1,500 – 1,610 |
| Steel (sarya) | per kg | Rs 258 – 277 |
| Bricks (first class) | per brick | Rs 18 – 23 |
| Sand | per cft | Rs 55 – 90 |
| Crush (bajri) | per cft | Rs 70 – 110 |
At those prices the materials for a 5 marla double storey come to about Rs 39.8 – 52.3 lakh, before labour and site costs.
Buying tips
- Buy steel and cement stage by stage, not all at once. Prices move weekly, cement hardens if stored badly, and you avoid paying for stock you do not yet need.
- Check the steel grade and weight. Grade 60 is standard for columns and slabs; weigh a sample bundle, because underweight bars are a common shortcut.
- Count bricks on delivery and look at the class. First-class bricks are well burnt, evenly sized and ring when struck together.
- Sand matters: Chenab sand is preferred for concrete and plaster in Punjab; Ravi sand is finer and cheaper, used for filling and masonry.
- Order around 5% extra on bricks and tiles for breakage and cutting.
Steel and cement together are more than half of the material cost. A small change in their price moves your budget more than anything else.