Complete Guide to House Construction Cost in Lahore – Grey Structure vs Turnkey (2025 Update)
If you’re planning to build a house in Lahore in 2025, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll face is choosing between grey structure construction and turnkey construction. This decision not only impacts your timeline and involvement level, but also your total budget, quality of finishing, and how soon you can move in.
In this complete guide, we’ll break down the costs, differences, pros, and cons of grey structure and turnkey construction—based on current market trends, material prices, and plot sizes typically found in Lahore’s major housing societies like DHA, Bahria Town, Lake City, Park View City, and LDA City.
✅ What is Grey Structure Construction?
Grey structure refers to the bare skeleton of a house. It includes all the essential civil work needed to prepare the structure for finishing.
🛠️ What’s Included in Grey Structure:
- Excavation and foundation
- RCC structure: columns, beams, roof slabs
- Brick masonry (walls)
- Cement plaster (internal & external)
- Waterproofing of roof
- Underground and overhead water tanks
- Septic tank and staircase structure
- MEP conduits (electrical and plumbing pipework)
- Boundary wall (optional)
❌ What’s NOT Included:
- Paint and polish
- Doors and windows
- Flooring
- False ceilings
- Kitchen and bathroom installations
- Electrical and sanitary fixtures
Grey structure is ideal for homeowners who want to control costs, source their own materials, or complete the house in phases.
✅ What is Turnkey Construction?
Turnkey construction means the builder takes care of everything from start to finish. The house is delivered fully finished—ready for you to move in.
🧰 What’s Included in Turnkey:
- Complete grey structure (as listed above)
- Tiling, marble, or other flooring options
- False ceilings and paint (internal and external)
- Kitchens, wardrobes, vanities
- Sanitary and electrical fixtures (commodes, taps, lights, switches)
- Woodwork (doors, cabinets, wardrobes)
- Stair railings, aluminum windows, and grills
- External landscaping (optional)
Turnkey construction is ideal for busy professionals or overseas Pakistanis looking for a hassle-free, all-inclusive solution.
💰 Grey Structure Cost in Lahore (2025 Estimates)
The cost of grey structure construction varies depending on:
- Plot size (e.g., 10 Marla vs 1 Kanal)
- Covered area
- Soil quality and excavation needs
- RCC strength (3000–4000 PSI)
- Structural complexity (basement, double height, etc.)
📊 Average Grey Structure Rates (2025):
| Plot Type | Covered Area | Rate/ Sq. Ft. | Estimated Cost (PKR) |
| 10 Marla | 3,200–3,400 sft | 2,700 – 2,900 | 8.6M – 9.9M |
| 1 Kanal (Premium) | 5,000–5,500 sft | 2,900 – 3,100 | 15.0M – 17.0M |
| 2 Kanal | 8,000–9,000 sft | 2,800 – 3,100 | 22.4M – 27.9M |
These estimates include labor, RCC, masonry, plaster, MEP conduits, and tanks.
💰 Turnkey Construction Cost in Lahore (2025 Estimates)
Turnkey cost depends heavily on finishing choices:
- Tile quality and coverage
- Paint brands and coat thickness
- Wood type (Kail, ashwood, engineered, or solid)
- Local vs imported fittings (e.g., Grohe vs local)
📊 Average Turnkey Rates (2025):
| Plot Type | Rate/ Sq. Ft. | Estimated Cost (PKR) |
| 10 Marla | 7,500 – 8,200 | 24M – 27.5M |
| 1 Kanal (Premium) | 7,800 – 9,200 | 41M – 49M |
| 2 Kanal | 8,000 – 9,500 | 65M – 80M+ |
A 1 Kanal home with high-quality flooring, custom kitchens, branded fixtures, and detailed ceiling work may easily reach PKR 47M–49M.
⚖️ Grey Structure vs Turnkey – Cost Comparison Table
| Aspect | Grey Structure | Turnkey Construction |
| Cost Control | Flexible, pay-as-you-go | Fixed price, all-inclusive |
| Timeline | Can stretch without supervision | Set schedule with penalties |
| Site Supervision Needed | Yes | No (builder handles it) |
| Finishing Choices | Buyer-managed | Finalized in package |
| Risk of Rework | Higher if design unclear | Lower (managed end-to-end) |
| Ideal For | Local clients with time to manage | Overseas/Busy homeowners |
📍 Lahore-Specific Factors That Influence Cost
- Society Rules: DHA and LDA require approved maps and NOCs before construction begins.
- Soil Type: Clay-heavy areas in DHA Phase 6, 7, and 9 may need deeper excavation.
- Plot Orientation: West-facing homes may require insulation or thicker walls for heat control.
- Labor Rates: Peak season (March–June, September–December) sees higher demand.
- Material Price Fluctuation: Grey structure is more exposed to price variation unless fixed in contract.
💡 Tips to Stay Within Budget
- Finalize the full design and BOQ before starting.
- Stick to the approved plan to avoid structural rework.
- Avoid unnecessary luxuries in finishing unless budget allows.
- Use high-quality local materials where feasible.
- Keep a 5–10% contingency budget for unexpected expenses.
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