How much is it to build a 4 bedroom house

The new build house costs in this article are correct as of 2022

Many of us dream of building our own home. Instead of buying a property and trying to make it fit what you need, you can start from scratch, and create a tailor-made home that is perfect from the start. We’ve put together this guide to new build house costs so you have some idea of cost to build a house before you hire a new home builder.

House building costs per m2

With such an incredibly broad category, it is very difficult to place a simple price on the cost to build a house. There are thousands of factors involved in home building, from the scale of the build, to the design, the materials and the finishing touches. Coming up with a one size fits all price is very difficult. For a very general estimate, it is easiest to think about the cost to build a house per square foot, or more usually, the cost per square metre. Breaking it down like this, at the lower end of the spectrum, a new build house might cost as little as £1,400 per square metre. At the top end of this range, you may be looking at more like £2,500, or even £3,000 per square metre. A typical, average price to bear in mind is probably around £1,800 per square metre.

Average cost of building a 3 bedroom house

The typical size of a three-bedroom home can range from around 90 square metres to 120 square metres, meaning the cost of building a three-bedroom house can range from around £126,000 to £300,000 with an average cost of around £213,000.

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Average cost of building a 4 bedroom house

The typical size of a four-bedroom house can range from around 140 square metres to 200 square metres, meaning the cost of building a four-bedroom house can range from around £196,000 to £500,000, with an average cost of around £348,000.

Average cost of building a 5 bedroom house

The typical size of a five-bedroom house can range from around 200 square metres to 240 square metres, meaning the cost of building a five-bedroom house can range from around £280,000 to £600,000, with an average cost of around £440,000.

Building a house budget breakdown

There are many factors that will contribute to the final price of a self-build project. Ultimately, the price to build a house will be influenced by the materials chosen, the scale of labour involved, the land you are building on, and many other elements. Some of the key costs are broken down below.

MyBuilder Top Tip

It is important that you only embark on any major project, like building your own home, when you are fully aware of the scale of the job and the costs involved. Set a budget and get several quotations for the work. Allowing yourself a contingency - around 10% of the overall budget - is always a wise move, to help you cover any extra expenses that could arise as a result of delays or issues with materials.

How much for materials to build a house?

This section breaks down different elements of the build and their specific costs. For more details on specific costs for individual parts of the build, check out our specific price guides.

Contruction costs

The majority of the costs involved in building a new property will be in its construction. The superstructure (such as the walls, roof beams and external cladding) will take up the bulk of the costs - sometimes around 30% of the total build cost. Brick and block is typically the cheapest method of construction - if using timber frame instead, the price can be increased by around 50%.

Foundation costs

The costs of the foundations and floor structure will usually be the next largest cost after the superstructure costs, though this is usually fairly static, unless the plot of land you are building on is on a slope or is of unusually poor quality.

Roof Costs

Roof costs are another significant portion of the overall build. The average cost of constructing a roof is around £5,000 to £6,000 though this will change depending on the scale and the kind of tiles used. For more details on roofing costs, take a look at our roofing price guide

Kitchen Costs

Whether you’re fitting a neat galley kitchen or a spacious kitchen-diner, the cost of kitchens can vary widely, with an average cost of around £5,000 to £6,000. Check out our kitchen fitting price guide for more information. 

Bathroom costs

Bathrooms are hardworking rooms, so it’s vital you install one that can put up with wear and tear. New bathrooms can range from around £1,400 for small, simple rooms such as en suites, to £6,000 for more luxurious affairs. Our bathroom price guide has more information.

Electrics cost

The cost of wiring a house is around £3,000 for a smaller home, rising to around £5,000 for larger projects. For more information on wiring costs, look at our electrics guide. 

Labour costs

Architect costs

Architect fees for a new build house typically come to between 5% and 15% of the overall costs. When setting a budget, remember to keep aside a suitable amount to cover these fees. For more information of architects fees, look at our guide on architects fees. 

Tradespeople costs

All of the costs above are calculated to include the cost of labour. However, the cost of individual tradespeople can be broken down by trade and the length of time they spend on the job.

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What factors affect costs?

Possibly the biggest single individual cost not covered above is the price of the land itself. Land prices vary widely depending on the size and condition of the plot, whether or not it has any planning permission attached to it, and of course, where in the country it is.

The design will also play a major factor. While a simple brick and block construction is realtively easy to calculate, using different materials such as a timber frame or metal cladding will change the overall costs.

Your final choice of fittings and fixtures will also play a part in the final costs - a basic bathroom suite from a major retailer will cost a few hundred pounds, while bespoke fixtures or reclaimed and refurbished items can cost thousands.