Tools · Free
Elemental cost estimate
Split an early-stage building budget by element — substructure, frame, roof, finishes, services — as a rand rate per m² and a share of the total. Top-down, for concept and feasibility stages before a Bill of Quantities exists.
Base rate pre-filled from the Gauteng-anchored AECOM typical for the building type — see the cost data for the sourced figure, and adjust it (and each element’s share) for your project.
| Element | % of cost | Rate (R/m²) | Cost (R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminaries & general | 1 320 | R 198 000 | |
| Substructure | 880 | R 132 000 | |
| Structural frame & upper floors | 1 320 | R 198 000 | |
| Roof | 770 | R 115 500 | |
| External walls, windows & doors | 1 320 | R 198 000 | |
| Internal walls & doors | 770 | R 115 500 | |
| Wall, floor & ceiling finishes | 1 320 | R 198 000 | |
| Fittings & fixtures | 330 | R 49 500 | |
| Sanitary fittings & plumbing | 770 | R 115 500 | |
| Electrical installation | 880 | R 132 000 | |
| Mechanical & HVAC | 550 | R 82 500 | |
| Fire & special services | 220 | R 33 000 | |
| External works & services | 550 | R 82 500 | |
| Total | 100.0% | 11 000 | R 1 650 000 |
Element shares total 100%. Figures exclude professional fees and VAT.
How it works
Enter the gross floor area and a base cost per m² — pre-filled from the Setout cost data for the building type, and fully editable. The tool distributes that rate across the standard building elements using an indicative split, and shows each element as a rand rate per m², a share of the total, and a rand cost. Adjust any element’s share to match your project, then export the whole estimate to Excel.
Elemental estimating is a top-down method for the stage before you have drawings and a measured Bill of Quantities. Once you do have a BoQ, price it item by item with the BoQ Pricer.
Questions
- What is an elemental cost estimate?
- An elemental estimate splits a building's cost by functional element — substructure, structural frame, roof, external walls, finishes, services, external works and preliminaries — rather than by trade or Bill of Quantities item. Each element is expressed as a rand rate per square metre of floor area and as a percentage of the total. Quantity surveyors use it for early cost planning and to sanity-check a tender before a full BoQ exists.
- How is it different from a Bill of Quantities?
- A BoQ is a bottom-up, item-by-item measure priced with rates — it needs drawings and detailed measurement. An elemental estimate is top-down: you start from a cost per m² for the building and distribute it across elements. It's faster and suits concept and feasibility stages, where a BoQ isn't available yet. Once you have a BoQ, use the BoQ Pricer instead.
- Where do the percentages come from?
- The default split is an indicative starting point for a typical building. Real splits vary widely by building type, structure, and specification — a warehouse carries far more in the frame and roof and far less in finishes than an office. Every percentage is editable, so adjust them to your project. The base rate per m² is pre-filled from the AECOM-calibrated cost data, which you can also override.
- Is this a quote?
- No. It's a planning-stage estimate to help you budget and test proportions early. It excludes professional fees, VAT, land and finance, and is no substitute for a measured BoQ priced against current market rates.
Compiled by Setout. Planning-stage estimate — excludes professional fees, VAT, land and finance. Not a quote.