Overview
A reliable estimate comes from the drawings, not from a rate per square foot. It shows where the money goes, what each floor will cost, and how much cement, sand, stone, and rod need to be bought and when. It also makes a quotation that is too high or too low easy to spot.
Many building projects in Bangladesh are funded floor by floor or stage by stage, so knowing the cost of each stage matters as much as knowing the total. Cost estimation measures the quantities in the drawings, such as concrete, steel, brickwork, and finishes, and prices them at current market rates. The result is a bill of quantities and a budget that you can plan your funding around and use to compare contractor quotations.
When you need it
- Before deciding the size or number of floors of a building.
- To compare structural options, such as RCC and steel, or different foundation types.
- To prepare a tender or compare contractor quotations.
- When a bank or lender asks for a construction estimate.
- To check bills submitted by a contractor during construction.
What's included
- 01
Quantity take-off
Concrete, reinforcement, brickwork, plaster, and finishing quantities measured from the drawings.
- 02
Bill of quantities (BOQ)
Itemised work descriptions, units, and quantities organised for tendering and contracts.
- 03
Rate analysis
Current market rates for materials and labour, cross-checked against the PWD schedule of rates where useful.
- 04
Stage-wise budget
Cost by stage or floor, with an indicative cash-flow plan for funding the construction.
- 05
Option comparison
Side-by-side costs for alternative structural systems, materials, or building sizes.
- 06
Material schedules
Quantities of cement, sand, stone chips, bricks, and rod needed for each stage.
How it works
- 01
Drawing review
Architectural and structural drawings are reviewed, and the scope is confirmed.
- 02
Take-off
Quantities are measured item by item from the drawings.
- 03
Pricing
Quantities are priced at current market rates and organised into the BOQ and budget.
- 04
Review
The estimate is explained to the owner, and options to adjust the budget are discussed.
What you receive
- Detailed estimate
- Itemised quantities and costs for the full building.
- Tender BOQ
- A bill of quantities that contractors can price, so their quotations can be compared directly.
- Stage-wise budget
- Cost and timing for each construction stage or floor.
- Material requirement schedule
- What to buy, how much, and for which stage.
Codes & inputs
- PWD schedule of ratesThe Bangladesh Public Works Department rate schedule, used as a reference for rate analysis.
- Local market ratesCurrent prices for materials and labour where the project is located.
Estimates reflect the drawings and market rates at the time they are prepared. Material prices in Bangladesh can change quickly, so budgets should be reviewed before each major purchase.
Questions about cost estimation
How accurate is a construction cost estimate?
An estimate prepared from complete architectural and structural drawings is far more reliable than one based on a rate per square foot. The main uncertainty in Bangladesh is the price of materials, especially rod and cement, which can change over the course of construction. We state the rates used, so the budget can be updated when prices move.
Why not use a simple cost per square foot?
A rate per square foot is useful for a first rough figure, but it hides the things that change the cost most: the foundation type, the number of floors, the structural system, and the level of finish. An itemised estimate shows where the money goes and lets you compare contractor quotations line by line.
