Steel House Cost Calculator (Light-Gauge Steel)
Estimate light-gauge steel house construction cost from built-up area, number of floors, and quality tier with stage-wise breakdown in NPR / INR / PKR.
Per-ft² rates by tier
How this works
Light-gauge steel (LGS) houses are priced per ft² of built-up area, multiplied by the number of floors and the per-tier rate.
total = area_ft2 × floors × ratePerFt2[tier]
stage breakdown (% of total):
frame = 35% (cold-formed studs, joists, bracing)
decking = 15% (floor / roof metal decking)
cladding = 25% (sandwich panels, fibre cement, openings)
finishes = 25% (flooring, painting, fixtures)Plot cost, foundation, statutory fees, and MEP beyond rough-in are not part of the per-ft² rate and should be budgeted separately.
Worked example
A two-storey LGS house, 1,000 ft² per floor, standard tier at NPR 2,400 / ft²:
- Total =
1,000 × 2 × 2,400= NPR 48,00,000 - Frame (35%) = NPR 16,80,000
- Decking (15%) = NPR 7,20,000
- Cladding (25%) = NPR 12,00,000
- Finishes (25%) = NPR 12,00,000
Try the basic tier to see how a 25 percent drop in finish quality saves around NPR 12,00,000 on the same footprint.
Sources
- Light-gauge steel construction cost benchmarks (Kathmandu Valley LGS suppliers, 2024–2025)
FAQ
What does this steel house cost include?
The estimate covers the four major stages of a light-gauge steel (LGS) house: the steel frame (cold-formed studs and joists), metal decking for floors and roofs, external cladding (sandwich panels or fibre cement boards), and interior finishes (flooring, painting, fixtures). Plot cost, foundations, MEP services beyond rough-in, and statutory fees are not part of the per-ft² rate and should be added separately.
Why are steel-house rates lower than RCC rates per ft²?
Light-gauge steel houses use thin cold-formed sections with off-site fabrication, which cuts on-site labour, formwork, and curing time dramatically. The frame itself is also lighter, so foundations and transport costs are smaller. As a rough rule, a basic LGS house in Nepal lands around NPR 1,800 per ft², compared to NPR 2,500 to 3,000 per ft² for an equivalent RCC build in the same locality.
How are the three quality tiers different?
Basic uses standard galvanised studs, plain metal decking, single-layer sandwich panel cladding, and entry-grade finishes. Standard adds heavier-gauge studs, double-skin panels for better insulation, and mid-tier flooring and joinery. Premium uses certified fire-rated panels, architectural cladding, premium flooring, and brand-name fixtures. Tiers are an opinionated bundle of finish quality — engineering performance must be validated regardless of tier.
How does the floor count change the cost?
We multiply the per-ft² rate by the number of floors because the frame, decking, and cladding repeat per floor while the foundation cost is roughly constant. For a two-storey LGS house the per-floor rate is essentially the same as a single storey; the foundation savings are small because LGS already spreads load efficiently. Multi-storey LGS above three floors typically requires hot-rolled stiffeners and is outside this calculator's scope.
Can I override the default rates?
Yes. The defaults (NPR 1,800 / 2,400 / 3,000 per ft² for basic / standard / premium) are reasonable Kathmandu Valley figures as of 2024–2025. If you have a quote from an LGS supplier or a recent comparable build, type the supplier's per-ft² rate into the matching tier field and the breakdown updates immediately. Always cross-check with at least two suppliers before committing.
What is the breakdown of the per-ft² rate?
Approximate share of the all-in rate: 35 percent for the steel frame, 15 percent for metal decking, 25 percent for cladding (panels, doors, windows), and 25 percent for interior finishes. The breakdown is a planning aid — the actual share for your project depends on cladding choice (sandwich panel versus brick infill versus fibre cement) and the level of finishing you specify.
Does changing the currency convert NPR to INR or PKR?
No. The currency selector is a labelling change only. The numeric figures stay exactly the same — only the currency code in front of them changes. To estimate a project in another country, enter rates quoted by a local LGS supplier in that country's currency and select the matching code.