Area
Define the area covered by the estimate and use the same area basis as the unit cost.
Construction Budget Basics
Launch FeatureStart with area and cost per square foot. Add other project costs to see what belongs in the total.
From area to total cost
Review the starting assumptions, inspect the hard-cost calculation, then add other project costs.
Fixed illustrative figures. Select a chapter to focus on a step in the calculation.
Follow the budget
1 / 3 · Budget overviewFrom area to total cost.
- Area
- 10,000 SF
- Hard cost / SF
- $185
- Other project costs
- $650,000
Area × cost/SF = hard cost
10,000 SF × $185/SF = $1,850,000
Hard cost + other costs = total cost
$1,850,000 + $650,000 = $2,500,000
Fixed illustrative figures
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Review the assumptions
Fixed construction-budget illustration. The stated scope omits detailed timing and other underwriting costs; these are not current local prices.
Cost per square foot
Keep the scope and source of the unit cost with the assumption.
Other project costs
Add the costs outside this simplified hard-cost estimate to understand the total.