Cost to build a house in Australia (2026)
Latest read (June 2026): in the June 2026 quarter, the value of new residential building work done reached $23.6bn (+1.4%), with new houses at $13.8bn (+1.5%). The average approval value for a new private house has reached $529,790, new-dwelling prices are up 5.8% over the year, and construction costs rose +1.0% in the June quarter, so forward budgets should sit above the older completion average. ABS Building Activity, Australia (June 2026 quarter, released October 2026); ABS Building Approvals & CPI (June 2026); Cotality Cordell Construction Cost Index (June 2026 quarter).
Average build cost by state (official ABS)
ABS Building Activity 2024–25, completed detached houses, excludes land.
| State | Cost per m² | Avg completed home |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | $2,396 | $565,749 |
| QLD | $1,987 | $458,868 |
| VIC | $1,914 | $485,292 |
| SA | $1,788 | $389,949 |
| WA | $1,585 | $407,114 |
National average: $474,939 ($1,967/m²). National average for a newly completed detached house. Excludes land, landscaping and non-structural site costs. Reflects contracts signed 12–24 months before completion, so new-2026 tender prices run higher (see market range).
Cost by builder type (2026 market rates)
Quick answer
Volume (project) builders run $1,600–$3,200/m², custom builders $2,500–$7,600/m², and architectural homes $8,000+/m², base build, excluding land.
| Build tier | Cost per m² | Est. total build |
|---|---|---|
| Volume / project builder – Pre-engineered designs, economies of scale. Lowest base price but often excludes site costs. | $1,600 - $3,200 | — |
| Custom builder – Full design freedom. Professional fees typically add 6–20%. | $2,500 - $7,600 | — |
| Architectural / executive – Bespoke, high-spec residences. | $8,000+ | — |
These are base-build ranges. Add roughly 25–45% for land, site works (slope, soil, retaining), professional fees and GST to reach a total project budget. Always treat a builder’s fixed-price contract as final — per-m² rates are for planning only.
Sources: ABS Building Activity, Australia (2024–25); Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Q4 2025 construction cost report; Housing Industry Association (HIA).
Detailed cost guides by city
Adelaide / SA
Full cost-by-tier and by-size tables for South Australia.
Melbourne / VIC
Full cost-by-tier and by-size tables for Victoria.
More states coming soon.
Sources & methodology
- ABS Building Activity, Australia (2024–25), Official completion data — avg cost & floor area
- Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) Q4 2025 construction cost report, Current market tender rates by city
- Housing Industry Association (HIA), Industry cost & activity commentary
- Master Builders Australia, Industry build-cost benchmarks
- BMT Quantity Surveyors, Project-home $/m² benchmarks
All figures last verified June 2026. Cost ranges are indicative planning guides, always rely on a builder's fixed-price contract.