How much does it cost to build a house in 2024?

a self build house under construction
How much does it cost to build a house in 2024? (Image credit: getty images)

So how much does it cost to build a house? As you might imagine, it's a big question that's not easy to give a direct answer to. However, it's the first hurdle you'll need to make it over to decide if building a house is right for you. 

The truth is, a self build can cost almost anything, with houses built for just a couple of hundred thousand to houses in the millions. The variables that will affect the overall cost of building your own home is long, however, with the right guiding hand, you can break down this overall cost into smaller sections and start to decide where to spend your money. 

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Kitchen costs
Row 0 - Cell 0 Price starting from
Standard£8,000-£10,000
Good£15,000-£20,000
Excellent£25,000-£50,000
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Bathroom costs
Bathroom (WC, basin, bath and additional plumbing, doors, walls, windows and finishes)Shower Room (WC, basin, shower cubicle, doors, walls, windows and finishes)Cloakroom (WC, basin and additional plumbing, doors, walls, windows and finishes)
Standard£5,000£5,200£2,750
Good£7,000£7,250£3,500
Excellent£11,000£11,500£4,750
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Flooring costs (laid prices inc painted softwood skirting)
Standard£40/m²Row 0 - Cell 2
Good£60/m²Row 1 - Cell 2
Excellent£80/m²Row 2 - Cell 2
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Alternative floor finishes
Contract-quality carpet£30–45/m²
100% wool carpet£45–60/m²
Laminate (wood effect)£30–45/m²
Engineered oak flooring£80–95/m²
Reclaimed pine floorboards£60–75/m²
Natural stone flags£80–100/m²
Ceramic tiles£50–70/m²
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Electrics guide
Standard£80–100/m²
Good£100–125/m²
Excellent£125–150/m²
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Electrical additions (per room)
Low voltage down lights (7)£500–900
Structured cable network£75–140
Built-in hi-fi£400–600
Separately switched 2a lamp circuits£250–350
Security alarm system£600–1,500+
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Freehold sales and transfers
Property or lease premium or transfer value SDLT rate
Up to £250,000 zero
The next £675,000 (the portion from £250,001 to £925,000)5%
The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million)10%
The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million)12%
Michael Holmes

Michael is Homebuilding & Renovating's Director of Content, Vice Chair of the self build industry body, the National Custom and Self Build Association (NaCSBA), presenter of multiple property TV shows and author of Renovating for Profit (Ebury). He also runs an architectural and interior design practice, offering design and project management services. He is one of the country's leading property experts and has undertaken over 30 building projects including two self-builds and the renovation of a Grade-II listed farmhouse. 

Michael has presented over 150 property shows for BBC, ITV1, Channel 5, UK TV Style, and Discovery RealTime, including I Own Britain's Best Home; Don't Move Improve; Trading Up; Good Bid, Good Buy; Build, Buy or Restore?; How to Build A House; and Hard Sell.

Michael is also a regular expert at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows. He has written for leading British newspapers, including The Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times, Daily Express and The Independent and has appeared on news programmes such as BBC Breakfast.