Costs

Builder Quote Comparison Checklist

Enter your builder quotes and mark what is included, excluded, or variable in each contract. See a comparable price that accounts for all exclusions so you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.

About 10 minutes
Cost data verified May 2026
Free, no sign-up

Your build

State or territory

Sets the typical cost to add for each quote. Costs you change yourself are kept.

Build type (storeys)

Double storey adds about 10% to costs to add, split level about 20%.

Quotes (2 of 5)

Quote 1
Quote 2

Lowest comparable total

Add your quotes

Enter each builder's base price below and mark what each contract includes. The comparable total adds the typical cost of every excluded or variable item, so quotes compare like for like.

Your quotes

Mark each category Included, Excluded or Variable. Variable is priced like Excluded, because provisional sums and prime cost items often end up costing more.

Builder name

Base (sticker) price

The contract price on the builder's quote or tender.

Quote 1: inclusion checklist

Site works

Cut/fill, retaining walls, sloping site allowance

Cost to add

Driveway

Plain concrete to garage; exposed/coloured upgrades excluded

Cost to add

Fencing (3 sides + side gate)

Boundary fencing on three sides plus side gate

Cost to add

Letterbox

Standard letterbox installed

Cost to add

Landscaping (basic turf + plants)

Front turf + basic planting; not paving / pergolas

Cost to add

Floor coverings

Carpet bedrooms, tile/vinyl wet areas; not engineered timber

Cost to add

Window furnishings

Roller blinds throughout; not plantation shutters

Cost to add

Flyscreens

Standard mesh on all opening windows + sliding doors

Cost to add

Light fittings

Beyond builder-standard downlights / fittings

Cost to add

Extra power points

Beyond builder-standard count per room

Cost to add

Kitchen appliances

Cooktop, oven, rangehood, dishwasher

Cost to add

Splashback

Tiled or glass splashback above benchtop

Cost to add

Stone benchtops

Engineered stone or natural stone vs laminate

Cost to add

Ducted air-conditioning

Whole-house ducted system; not single split

Cost to add

Insulation upgrade

Wall + ceiling above minimum BCA / NCC requirements

Cost to add

Solar panels (3-6.6kW)

PV system on roof; not battery

Cost to add

Hot water system

Instantaneous gas or heat-pump electric

Cost to add

NBN / data cabling

Cat6 cabling to rooms; NBN connection separate

Cost to add

Security system

Alarm + intercom

Cost to add

Pest / termite barrier

Chemical or physical termite protection

Cost to add

Slab upgrade (H-class)

Reactive soil class upgrade from M to H

Cost to add

Painted ceilings

Coloured ceilings beyond builder white

Cost to add

Soft-close cabinetry

Drawer + door soft-close hardware

Cost to add

Porch + alfresco concrete

Concrete extension beyond entry porch

Cost to add

Builder name

Base (sticker) price

The contract price on the builder's quote or tender.

Quote 2: inclusion checklist

Site works

Cut/fill, retaining walls, sloping site allowance

Cost to add

Driveway

Plain concrete to garage; exposed/coloured upgrades excluded

Cost to add

Fencing (3 sides + side gate)

Boundary fencing on three sides plus side gate

Cost to add

Letterbox

Standard letterbox installed

Cost to add

Landscaping (basic turf + plants)

Front turf + basic planting; not paving / pergolas

Cost to add

Floor coverings

Carpet bedrooms, tile/vinyl wet areas; not engineered timber

Cost to add

Window furnishings

Roller blinds throughout; not plantation shutters

Cost to add

Flyscreens

Standard mesh on all opening windows + sliding doors

Cost to add

Light fittings

Beyond builder-standard downlights / fittings

Cost to add

Extra power points

Beyond builder-standard count per room

Cost to add

Kitchen appliances

Cooktop, oven, rangehood, dishwasher

Cost to add

Splashback

Tiled or glass splashback above benchtop

Cost to add

Stone benchtops

Engineered stone or natural stone vs laminate

Cost to add

Ducted air-conditioning

Whole-house ducted system; not single split

Cost to add

Insulation upgrade

Wall + ceiling above minimum BCA / NCC requirements

Cost to add

Solar panels (3-6.6kW)

PV system on roof; not battery

Cost to add

Hot water system

Instantaneous gas or heat-pump electric

Cost to add

NBN / data cabling

Cat6 cabling to rooms; NBN connection separate

Cost to add

Security system

Alarm + intercom

Cost to add

Pest / termite barrier

Chemical or physical termite protection

Cost to add

Slab upgrade (H-class)

Reactive soil class upgrade from M to H

Cost to add

Painted ceilings

Coloured ceilings beyond builder white

Cost to add

Soft-close cabinetry

Drawer + door soft-close hardware

Cost to add

Porch + alfresco concrete

Concrete extension beyond entry porch

Cost to add

Costs to add start from state-level medians drawn from building cost guides and published builder upgrade price lists, loaded for double storey and split level builds. Real costs depend on your block, builder and finish quality. Data as of May 2026.

Keep going

Tools people usually open after comparing builder quotes.

True Cost CalculatorHidden costs of house and land: site works, landscaping, fencing, coverings.3 min First-Year Cost SimulatorSee month-by-month what the first year of ownership actually costs - mortgage plus every other line that nobody mentions.3 min Borrowing PowerHow much you can borrow, and how government schemes extend your capacity.2 min Auction Max Bid CalculatorOpen on your phone at the auction. Cash + loan + state = absolute max you can bid, stamp duty, LMI and buffer all included.2 min Off-the-Plan Risk CalculatorModel the cash risks unique to buying a new build - valuation shortfall at settlement, stamp duty saving, deposit-at-risk and completion delay costs.5 min Grant StackerEvery federal and state grant, concession and scheme you may be eligible for.4 min Stamp Duty CalculatorPer-state estimate with FHB concessions auto-applied, foreign surcharges, total upfront.1 min LMI CalculatorYour LMI cost, upfront vs capitalised, and how FHG or Help to Buy can waive it.2 min

Frequently asked questions

What counts as Included?

Mark a category as "Included" when the builder has confirmed in writing that it is part of the contract price, with no allowance or provisional sum. If the contract uses a provisional sum (PS) or prime cost (PC) item for the category, mark it as Variable instead.

Why is Variable treated as Excluded in the calculation?

Where do the cost-to-add defaults come from?

What if my builder bundles two categories together?

Can I save my comparison to come back later?

How does build type (single storey vs double storey) affect costs?

Is this legal or financial advice?

Data verified May 2026

For illustration only. This tool does not constitute personal financial advice. Grant amounts, caps, and eligibility rules may change. Federal scheme caps shown are for capital city/regional centres and may differ for other areas. Always verify with your state revenue office and Housing Australia, and consider seeking independent financial advice before making decisions.

Builder Quote Comparison Checklist

1Your build

Lowest comparable total

Your quotes

Keep going

Frequently asked questions

Your build