Construction Cost Per Square Meter Philippines 2026 — Every Building Type Compared
Search "construction cost per square meter Philippines" and you'll get a different number on every page — because "cost per sqm" isn't one figure. It changes by building type, finish tier, and what's actually included in the quote. A ₱20,000/sqm house and a ₱20,000/sqm warehouse are not comparable projects.
This page is the single reference: every current cost-per-sqm range AEDO publishes, side by side, for houses, commercial buildings, warehouses, and renovations — plus a free calculator and a clear breakdown of what a cost-per-sqm figure does and doesn't include.
An actual AEDO project mid-construction — the cost ranges on this page come from real builds like this one, not generic estimates.
House: ₱20,000–₱55,000+/sqm ·
Commercial: ₱22,000–₱55,000+/sqm ·
Warehouse: ₱14,000–₱32,000+/sqm ·
Renovation: ₱3,000–₱35,000+/sqm
Construction cost only — see "What's Included" below before comparing to a total project budget.
Full Comparison Table — Every Building Type & Tier
| Building Type | Tier / Finish | Cost per sqm (2026) | Full Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| House (Residential) | Economy | ₱20,000–₱26,000 | See guide → |
| House (Residential) | Standard | ₱27,000–₱38,000 | See guide → |
| House (Residential) | Mid-High | ₱38,000–₱55,000 | See guide → |
| House (Residential) | High-End / Custom | ₱55,000+ | See guide → |
| Shophouse (Commercial) | Standard commercial finish | ₱27,000–₱38,000 | See guide → |
| Office / Mixed-Use | Shell only | ₱22,000–₱28,000 | See guide → |
| Office / Mixed-Use | Semi-finished | ₱27,000–₱38,000 | See guide → |
| Office / Mixed-Use | Fully fitted | ₱38,000–₱55,000+ | See guide → |
| Warehouse | Basic steel-frame | ₱14,000–₱22,000 | See guide → |
| Warehouse | RC warehouse | ₱22,000–₱32,000 | See guide → |
| Warehouse | Cold storage / refrigerated | ₱38,000–₱60,000+ | See guide → |
| Renovation | Cosmetic | ₱3,000–₱8,000 | See guide → |
| Renovation | Mid-range | ₱8,000–₱18,000 | See guide → |
| Renovation | Full gut / extension | ₱18,000–₱35,000+ | See guide → |
Construction Cost Per Sqm Calculator
Pick your building type and finish tier, enter your floor area, and get an instant 2026 cost range.
What a Cost-Per-Sqm Figure Includes — and What It Doesn't
Most confusion around "construction cost per sqm" comes from comparing figures with different scope. Before you compare any quote to the ranges above, check what's actually covered:
Typical Scope of a Cost-Per-Sqm Figure
✓ Usually Included
- Structural works — foundation, columns, beams, slab or steel frame
- Masonry / wall systems
- Roofing system
- Basic electrical & plumbing rough-in
- Doors and windows
- Standard finishes (tiling, painting)
✕ Usually Excluded
- Land cost
- Architectural & structural design fees
- Building permit & utility connection fees
- Site development (grading, fencing, paving)
- Interior fit-out, furniture & equipment (FF&E)
- Landscaping
This is why a ₱2.7M "quote" for a 100 sqm house at ₱27,000/sqm can still land at ₱3.2M+ once permits, connections, and site work are added — not because the ₱27,000/sqm figure was wrong, but because it was never meant to cover those items.
Why the Range Is So Wide Within Each Type
Even within one building type, cost per sqm can swing 2-3x. Three factors explain almost all of it:
- Finish level. The single biggest driver. A shell-only commercial space and a fully-fitted one differ by ₱15,000–₱25,000/sqm on the same structural frame.
- Structural system and span. Steel-frame warehouses with large clear spans cost less per sqm than reinforced concrete precisely because they use less material per square meter of covered area — see our concrete vs. steel comparison for why.
- Building size. Cost per sqm typically drops as total floor area increases — fixed costs (mobilization, permits amortized per sqm, site office) spread over more area. A 400 sqm house often costs less per sqm than a 60 sqm house of the same finish level.
Get an Exact Number for Your Project
Ranges are a starting point. The Unit Cost Analysis app by AEDO computes construction costs by activity — structural, masonry, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and finishes — with editable material, labor, and equipment rates based on current Philippine market prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is warehouse construction cheaper per sqm than a house?
Generally yes at the low end — a basic steel-frame warehouse starts around ₱14,000/sqm versus ₱20,000/sqm for an economy house, because a warehouse has no interior partitioning or plumbing fixtures throughout. At the high end, refrigerated warehouses (up to ₱60,000+/sqm) can exceed even custom high-end houses.
How much cheaper is renovation than new construction per sqm?
Usually significantly cheaper, since the foundation, structure, and roof are often reused. Cosmetic work runs ₱3,000–₱8,000/sqm versus ₱20,000+/sqm for new construction. A full gut renovation with structural changes narrows that gap to ₱18,000–₱35,000+/sqm as it starts to resemble new-build scope.
Why does the same building type show different ranges on different pages?
Because finish tier changes everything. "Commercial construction cost" without a tier specified could mean anywhere from ₱22,000/sqm (bare shell) to ₱55,000+/sqm (fully fitted) — always check which tier a figure refers to before comparing it to your own project.
Ready to Turn a Range Into an Exact Number?
Every figure on this page is a market range. AEDO Construction designs houses, commercial buildings, warehouses, and renovations nationwide, and builds them in-house in Negros Oriental — and gives you a project-specific, transparent cost estimate before you commit to anything.
- Transparent, itemized cost estimates before you commit
- Architectural and NSCP-compliant structural design included
- Building permit processing handled
- Design-build: one contract, one team, full accountability
- Free initial project consultation