Get the latest construction costs with QV CostBuilder
QV CostBuilder is New Zealand’s most comprehensive construction cost database.
July 2024
In this update, approx. 10,000 current material & labour prices have been applied to the QV CostBuilder rates. This has produced about 1,200 changes to the data across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, specifically in the Cost Planning and Detailed Trade Rates’ sections. About 2% of the items have changed in this update.
Here are some notable changes since our last major construction cost update in June:
Cost planning rates
On average, the Elements have marginally increased by 0.1% since the last update, the first increase since the 2024 Q1.3 update. The range of changes are between -0.2% to +0.6%, as below::
- Structural Walls: up 0.6%
- Substructure: up 0.5%
- Upper Floors: up 0.3%
- Ceiling Finishes: down 0.2%
Detailed rates
On average, the Trades also increased 0.1%, with only three trades showing a percentage change:
- Concrete Blockwork: up 1.3%
- Concrete: up 1.0%
- Brickwork: up 0.4%
June 2024
In this update, approx. 10,000 current material & labour prices have been applied to the QV CostBuilder rates. This has produced about 600 changes to the data across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, specifically in the Cost Planning and Detailed Trade Rates’ sections. About 1% of the items have changed, the lowest number since CostBuilder’s inception in 2015.
Here are some notable changes since our last major construction cost update in May:
Cost planning rates
On average, the Elements have not increased since the last update, which is the fourth month in a row since the 2024 Q1.3 update. Only three elements showed a percentage change:
- Upper Floors: up 0.5%
- Frame: up 0.4%
- Structural Walls: up 0.1%
Detailed rates
On average, the Trades have not increased since the last update. Only two trades showed a percentage change:
- Concrete Blockwork: up 0.9%
- Concrete: up 0.2%
May 2024
In our latest May update, approximately 12,250 current material & labour prices have been applied to the QV CostBuilder rates, resulting in roughly 6,100 changes to the data across Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Here are some of the notable changes since our last construction cost update in April:
Cost planning rates
On average, the Elements have not increased since the last update, which is the third month in a row since the 2024 Q1.3 update. However, there are changes to some elements, ranging between -1.6% and +0.8%, including:
- Exterior Walls, Exterior Finish: up 0.8%
- Frame: down 0.7%
- Site Preparation: down 1.6%
Detailed rates
On average, the Trades increased by 0.1% since the last update, also a third month in a row since the 2024 Q1.3 update. The range of change is between -2.3% and +2.5%, with the major changes as below:
- Suspended Ceilings: up 2.5%
- Fire Proofing: up 2.2%
- Carpentry: up 1.6%
- Structural Steel: down 1.4%
- Metal Framing: down 2.3%
Building Costs per Square Metre
Inputting these changes into the Building Cost per Square Metre section, produces average changes over the six centres of 0.4% for non-residential, excluding Educational buildings, and 0.3% for residential buildings, since the 2024 Q1.2 update.
Want to know more?
To see the full list of changes – and to take the guesswork out of pricing your next project – subscribe to QV CostBuilder today.
Your subscription grants instant access to a wealth of regularly updated data, covering everything from the building costs per square metre for a range of different buildings, to the indicative costs of more than 10,500 other items, plus labour rates and hours, plant constants, and more than we can list here.