Construction cost calculator for Kenya
Per m² or per sq ft, any of Kenya's 47 counties
Get an indicative range in seconds. For a breakdown by element (foundations, walls, roof, finishes, services), request a free indicative breakdown. For costing from your plans, request a professional fee quotation.
Indicative cost
KES 6.9m to KES 8.7m
House or bungalow, middle finish, in Nairobi
- Per m²
- KES 46,000 to 58,000
- Per sq ft
- KES 4,274 to 5,388
Includes VAT at 16%. Excludes land, approvals, fees and external works.
Choose the estimate you need
For houses, maisonettes and apartment blocks
Choose a free planning breakdown based on your inputs, or request a fee quotation for detailed costing from drawings. The free breakdown includes assumptions and exclusions.
How to read the numbers
The ranges are Beaver Concepts' indicative costs per m² for each building type and finish level, set from current Kenyan construction market prices and adjusted for the county. They include VAT at 16%, materials, labour and the contractor's overheads and profit.
A range is not a price for your building. Design, ground conditions, site access and specification can each move the cost by more than the difference between two finish levels. The indicative breakdown helps you plan. Detailed costing from your drawings is a paid service; scope and fees are agreed first.
| Standard | Machine-cut stone or block walls, iron-sheet roof, ceramic floor tiles, PVC ceilings, steel windows |
|---|---|
| Middle | Concrete roof tiles, gypsum ceilings, aluminium windows, better sanitary fittings |
| Premium | Clay tiles, porcelain or timber floors, uPVC windows, premium fittings and finishes |
Building something else? The calculator covers house or bungalow, maisonette or townhouse, apartment block, offices, shops and retail, warehouse or industrial. For anything larger or unusual, we prepare a cost plan or bill of quantities from your drawings.
Building costs in Kenya: common questions
How much does it cost to build a house in Kenya per square metre?
Our indicative ranges for a house in Nairobi, including VAT, are: standard finish KES 40,000 to KES 51,000; middle finish KES 46,000 to KES 58,000; premium finish KES 56,000 to KES 71,000 per m². Costs vary by county, ground conditions and specification, which the calculator allows for.
What is the cost per square foot?
There are 10.76 square feet in a square metre, so a middle-finish house at KES 46,000 to KES 58,000 per m² works out at about KES 4,274 to KES 5,388 per sq ft. Switch the calculator to sq ft if you think in square feet.
How is the free indicative breakdown worked out?
Our estimating model builds up your project element by element: foundations, frame, walls, roof, windows and doors, finishes, electrical and plumbing, using current Kenyan market unit rates for your region. We email it to you with the assumptions and exclusions.
Is the estimate a quotation?
No. Both the range and the indicative breakdown are indicative, to help you plan and compare options. A firm price needs drawings and a bill of quantities, which prices every item of your actual design.
What is not included?
Land, approvals, professional fees and utility connection charges, fitted kitchens and wardrobes, gutters, and external works such as boundary walls, gates, driveways and landscaping, boreholes and solar.
Why does the county change the price?
Materials, transport and labour cost more in some parts of Kenya than others. The calculator adjusts for the county you choose.
Ready for a firm number?
Send us your plot details and drawings, or the estimate you just made, and we will come back with a priced proposal.