One of the first questions every home builder in Pakistan asks is: how much saria (steel) will my house need, and what will it cost? Steel is one of the biggest line items in a grey structure budget, so a realistic estimate early on helps you plan cash flow and avoid delays.
This guide explains the rule of thumb engineers and contractors use, shows estimated steel quantities for 5 marla, 7 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal houses, and works out the cost at Kamran Steel’s current rate. For today’s prices per kg, per 40 kg and per ton, see our steel rate in Pakistan today page.
The Rule of Thumb: Steel per Square Foot
For a standard RCC (reinforced concrete) framed house in Pakistan, steel consumption is commonly estimated at about 3.5 to 4 kg of steel per square foot of covered area. That covers the foundation, columns, beams and roof slabs of a typical residential design.
The simple formula is:
Steel needed (kg) = Covered area (sq ft) × 3.5 to 4 kg
Covered area is the total built-up area of all floors, not the plot size. A 5 marla plot with a double-storey house has roughly twice the covered area of the same house built as a single storey.
Your actual quantity can be lower or higher depending on the structural design, column spacing and slab spans, soil conditions, the number of storeys, basements, and the seismic zone your city falls in. Treat the figures below as a budgeting estimate. Your structural engineer’s bill of quantities (BOQ) is the final word.
Estimated Steel Quantity and Cost by House Size
The table below assumes typical covered areas and uses Kamran Steel’s current Grade 60 rate of Rs 277 per kg (Rs 277,000 per ton), the grade recommended for structural work.
| House Size | Typical Covered Area | Estimated Steel | Estimated Cost (Grade 60) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 marla, single storey | 1,000 sq ft | 3.5 – 4 tons | Rs 969,500 – Rs 1,108,000 |
| 5 marla, double storey | 2,000 sq ft | 7 – 8 tons | Rs 1,939,000 – Rs 2,216,000 |
| 7 marla, double storey | 2,600 sq ft | 9.1 – 10.4 tons | Rs 2,520,700 – Rs 2,880,800 |
| 10 marla, double storey | 3,600 sq ft | 12.6 – 14.4 tons | Rs 3,490,200 – Rs 3,988,800 |
| 1 kanal, double storey | 6,500 sq ft | 22.75 – 26 tons | Rs 6,301,750 – Rs 7,202,000 |
Prices are Kamran Steel’s current nationwide rate. Transportation to your site is charged separately at actual cost. If you choose Grade 40 steel (Rs 275 per kg), the cost is Rs 2,000 lower per ton.
How to Estimate Steel for Your Own House
- Find your covered area. Add up the built-up area of every floor from your approved map. For example, a double-storey house with 1,300 sq ft on each floor has 2,600 sq ft of covered area.
- Multiply by 3.5 and by 4. 2,600 × 3.5 = 9,100 kg and 2,600 × 4 = 10,400 kg. Your steel requirement will most likely fall in this range.
- Convert to tons. Divide by 1,000: about 9.1 to 10.4 tons.
- Multiply by the steel rate. At Rs 277 per kg for Grade 60, 9,100 kg costs Rs 2,520,700 and 10,400 kg costs Rs 2,880,800.
- Confirm with your engineer. Once your structural drawings are final, use the engineer’s BOQ for the exact quantity of each bar size and order against that.
You can check any quantity instantly in our Steel Rate Calculator. Choose the grade and bar size, enter the weight in tons and it calculates the total for you.
Which Bar Sizes Does a House Use?
A typical house uses a mix of bar sizes rather than a single size. As a general pattern:
- 10 mm (3 sutar) is widely used in roof slabs and for stirrups (rings) in beams and columns.
- 12 mm (4 sutar) is common in slabs, lintels and lighter beams.
- 16 mm (5 sutar) and above are used as main bars in columns, beams and foundations, where loads are highest.
The exact mix comes from your structural design. At Kamran Steel, every Grade 60 size from 10 mm to 36 mm is priced the same per kg, so the bar mix does not change your cost per ton. To convert lengths of bar into weight, see our guide on how to calculate the weight of steel bars.
Grade 40 or Grade 60 for a House?
Grade 60 steel has a yield strength of 60,000 psi compared with 40,000 psi for Grade 40, so it carries more load for the same bar size. Most engineers in Pakistan now specify Grade 60 for columns, beams and slabs, especially in seismic zones. At Kamran Steel the price difference is only Rs 2 per kg. Read more in Grade 40 vs Grade 60 steel and why builders prefer Grade 60.
Tips to Avoid Buying Too Much or Too Little
- Order in stages. Buy steel for the foundation and ground floor first, then the next floor, so money is not locked up in stock.
- Allow for wastage. Cutting and lapping usually adds a few percent to the theoretical quantity. Your engineer’s BOQ should include this.
- Store bars properly. Keep steel off the ground and covered to prevent rust. See how to store steel bars on a construction site.
- Check the bars on delivery. Confirm the grade, size and weight against your order. Our buyer’s checklist for avoiding substandard steel explains what to look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much saria is needed for a 5 marla double-storey house?
With about 2,000 sq ft of covered area, a 5 marla double-storey house typically needs around 7 to 8 tons of steel. At Kamran Steel’s Grade 60 rate of Rs 277 per kg, that is roughly Rs 1.94 million to Rs 2.22 million, plus transportation.
How much steel is required for a 10 marla house?
A 10 marla double-storey house with about 3,600 sq ft of covered area typically needs around 12.6 to 14.4 tons of steel, or roughly Rs 3.49 million to Rs 3.99 million at Rs 277 per kg for Grade 60.
How much steel is used per square foot in Pakistan?
For a standard RCC framed house, around 3.5 to 4 kg of steel per square foot of covered area is a common estimate. Your engineer’s design can change this.
What is the price of 1 ton of saria today?
Kamran Steel’s current rate is Rs 277,000 per ton for Grade 60 and Rs 275,000 per ton for Grade 40, the same in every city. See the latest on our steel price in Pakistan page.
Planning a house or a larger project? Contact Kamran Steel for a delivered quote to your site.
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