Labour Cost Estimator
Work out construction labour three ways: by work item at piece rates, by crew at daily wages, or for a whole house per sq.ft. See the total, man-days, contractor margin and GST, and where the money goes.
1Breakdown
Where the labour money goes
Cost and man-days for each item, before margin and GST.
| Item | Basis | Cost | Man-days | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation | 60 cum × ₹250 | ₹15,000 | 23 | 4% |
| PCC | 6 cum × ₹900 | ₹5,400 | 8 | 1% |
| RCC with shuttering and steel | 25 cum × ₹3,000 | ₹75,000 | 113 | 19% |
| Brickwork | 45 cum × ₹1,500 | ₹67,500 | 101 | 17% |
| Plaster | 3,500 sq.ft. × ₹22 | ₹77,000 | 116 | 19% |
| Tiling, floor and wall | 1,100 sq.ft. × ₹40 | ₹44,000 | 66 | 11% |
| Putty and painting | 3,000 sq.ft. × ₹18 | ₹54,000 | 81 | 13% |
| Waterproofing | 300 sq.ft. × ₹20 | ₹6,000 | 9 | 1% |
| Plumbing points | 20 point × ₹1,200 | ₹24,000 | 36 | 6% |
| Electrical points | 60 point × ₹600 | ₹36,000 | 54 | 9% |
| Labour total | ₹4,03,900 | 606 | 100% |
2Reference
Typical labour rates by location
Planning figures used by this calculator. Wages change every season and differ between states, so confirm with local contractors.
| Daily wage | Village | Small town | Town | City | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason | ₹770 | ₹840 | ₹900 | ₹1,010 | ₹1,150 |
| Helper | ₹470 | ₹510 | ₹550 | ₹620 | ₹700 |
| Carpenter (shuttering) | ₹810 | ₹880 | ₹950 | ₹1,060 | ₹1,220 |
| Bar bender | ₹720 | ₹790 | ₹850 | ₹950 | ₹1,090 |
| Plumber | ₹770 | ₹840 | ₹900 | ₹1,010 | ₹1,150 |
| Electrician | ₹770 | ₹840 | ₹900 | ₹1,010 | ₹1,150 |
| Painter | ₹680 | ₹740 | ₹800 | ₹900 | ₹1,020 |
| Tile fitter | ₹810 | ₹880 | ₹950 | ₹1,060 | ₹1,220 |
| Welder or fabricator | ₹770 | ₹840 | ₹900 | ₹1,010 | ₹1,150 |
| Piece rate | Unit | Village | Small town | Town | City | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavation | cum | ₹210 | ₹230 | ₹250 | ₹280 | ₹320 |
| PCC | cum | ₹770 | ₹840 | ₹900 | ₹1,010 | ₹1,150 |
| RCC with shuttering and steel | cum | ₹2,550 | ₹2,790 | ₹3,000 | ₹3,360 | ₹3,840 |
| Brickwork | cum | ₹1,280 | ₹1,400 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,680 | ₹1,920 |
| Plaster | sq.ft. | ₹19 | ₹20 | ₹22 | ₹25 | ₹28 |
| Tiling, floor and wall | sq.ft. | ₹34 | ₹37 | ₹40 | ₹45 | ₹51 |
| Putty and painting | sq.ft. | ₹15 | ₹17 | ₹18 | ₹20 | ₹23 |
| Waterproofing | sq.ft. | ₹17 | ₹19 | ₹20 | ₹22 | ₹26 |
| False ceiling | sq.ft. | ₹30 | ₹33 | ₹35 | ₹39 | ₹45 |
| Plumbing points | point | ₹1,020 | ₹1,120 | ₹1,200 | ₹1,340 | ₹1,540 |
| Electrical points | point | ₹510 | ₹560 | ₹600 | ₹670 | ₹770 |
| House theka, civil only | sq.ft. | ₹240 | ₹260 | ₹280 | ₹310 | ₹360 |
| House theka, with tiling and painting | sq.ft. | ₹320 | ₹350 | ₹380 | ₹430 | ₹490 |
| House theka, complete | sq.ft. | ₹380 | ₹420 | ₹450 | ₹500 | ₹580 |
3Choose
Daily wage, piece rate or theka: how should you pay?
The way you pay changes who carries the risk of slow work, extra work and wastage.
Daily wage (hajri)
Workers × days × wageGood for: small repairs, unclear scope, work you can supervise every day.
Watch: slow progress costs you, not the worker.
Piece rate
Per sq.ft., cum or pointGood for: plaster, brickwork, tiling, painting and wiring, where work is easy to measure.
Watch: agree how openings and wastage are measured before starting.
Theka (labour contract)
Per sq.ft. of built-up areaGood for: a whole house with one responsible contractor.
Watch: scope gaps become extra bills; write down what is included.
Turnkey (with material)
Labour and material togetherGood for: owners who cannot supervise purchases.
Watch: specify brands and grades of every material in the contract.
Pay fair wages. Wages must not be below the state minimum wage for each category, and women and men doing the same work must be paid equally.
4Method
How the cost is worked out
Three methods, then margin and tax on top.
- Location factor. Rates are set for a town and scaled: village 0.85, small town 0.93, city 1.12, metro 1.28.
- Average daily wage. A mason and two helpers per team, about ₹667 a day in a town, is used to turn cost into man-days.
- Stage split. For a whole house: foundation 15%, frame 30%, masonry and plaster 30%, finishing 25%.
5Scope
What this calculator does and does not do
Knowing the limits helps you compare quotes fairly.
✓It does
- Price labour by work item, by crew or per sq.ft.
- Fill typical rates for your location
- Estimate man-days
- Add contractor margin and GST
- Give a summary, CSV, shareable link and print
✕It does not
- Include materials, tools or machinery hire
- Set legal minimum wages for your state
- Plan the schedule or productivity of your site
- Cover overtime, travel or food allowances
- Know your local rates; change them to match quotes
6FAQ
Questions
What is the labour cost to build a house in India per sq.ft.?
Labour-only contracts (theka) for a house are commonly quoted per sq.ft. of built-up area. As a planning figure this calculator uses about ₹280 per sq.ft. for civil labour only, ₹380 with tiling and painting, and ₹450 including plumbing and electrical work, for a town, adjusted up for cities and down for villages. Local quotes can differ a lot.
What is the daily wage of a mason and a helper?
In a typical town the calculator uses about ₹900 a day for a mason and ₹550 for a helper, with cities higher and villages lower. Wages vary by state, season and skill; enter the rates your contractor quotes. State minimum wage notifications set the floor for each category.
Daily wage, piece rate or theka: which is better?
Daily wages suit small or uncertain jobs where you can supervise. Piece rates, such as per sq.ft. of plaster or per cum of brickwork, suit clear, measurable work. A theka per sq.ft. of built-up area is simplest for a whole house but needs a written scope, measurement method and payment stages.
What is a man-day?
One worker for one day. Ten workers for five days is fifty man-days. The calculator shows man-days so you can plan the crew and check a contractor's schedule.
Is GST charged on labour contracts?
Registered labour contractors usually charge GST on their bills. Use the GST switch if your contractor is registered; small unregistered contractors do not charge it. Confirm with your tax adviser.
What should be in a labour contract?
The scope of work and what is excluded, who provides water, electricity, scaffolding and tools, how work is measured, the rate, payment stages linked to completed work, the timeline, and who is responsible for safety and damage.
Does labour cost include materials?
No. This calculator is for labour only. Use the cement, brick, steel and paint calculators on this site for materials, or the house construction cost calculator for everything together.
Is my data stored?
No. The calculator runs in your browser and loads no third-party scripts. Inputs leave the page only if you copy the link, share on WhatsApp or download the list.
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