Contractor quote checker
Is your thekedar's rate fair?
Type in the per-square-foot rate from your quote. You'll see where it sits against current market rates for your city — and what to ask if it looks off.
Enter the per-sq-ft rate from your contractor's quote to see how it compares.
Fair rates per sq ft, by city
| City | Labour only (you buy materials) | Grey structure with materials | Complete house, standard finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore | Rs 550 – 750 | Rs 2,720 – 3,600 | Rs 4,620 – 6,300 |
| Islamabad / Rawalpindi | Rs 610 – 830 | Rs 2,830 – 3,770 | Rs 4,920 – 6,740 |
| Karachi | Rs 580 – 790 | Rs 2,770 – 3,680 | Rs 4,770 – 6,520 |
| Faisalabad | Rs 520 – 710 | Rs 2,660 – 3,510 | Rs 4,460 – 6,080 |
| Multan | Rs 520 – 710 | Rs 2,660 – 3,510 | Rs 4,460 – 6,080 |
| Peshawar | Rs 530 – 730 | Rs 2,680 – 3,550 | Rs 4,520 – 6,170 |
Questions people ask
- What is the difference between a labour-only and a grey structure rate?
- With a labour-only (or 'labour rate') contract you buy all the materials and the contractor supplies the workers. A grey structure rate includes materials too — cement, steel, bricks, sand and crush — so it is several times higher per square foot.
- Why can a low quote cost more in the end?
- The usual ways to undercut are cheaper steel grades, fewer or lower-class bricks, thinner slabs or plaster, and leaving items out to charge later as 'extras'. Always get the brands, grades and inclusions in writing.
- What should a contractor's quote include?
- The covered area it is priced on, the brands and grades of cement and steel, the class of bricks, what is excluded (boundary wall, water tank, septic, approvals), the payment schedule by stage, and the expected timeline.