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Thinking about building your dream home in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan or Ipswich in 2026? The first question is almost always the same: how much is this going to cost?
The honest answer is that it depends on your block of land, the size and design of your home, the finishes you choose, and the builder you work with. Below we break down the 2026 cost of building a house across South East Queensland — per square metre, by number of bedrooms, and by location — plus the costs people forget to budget for and how to keep your build on track.
As QBCC-licensed builders based in Slacks Creek, HEW Projects builds custom homes right across SEQ, so these figures reflect what we’re seeing on real projects in 2026.
For a full construction (the house itself), most Queensland homeowners in 2026 are budgeting between $1,800 and $7,000 per square metre, depending on whether it’s a standard project home or a high-end custom build. For the average new QLD home of around 226 m², that’s roughly $450,000 to $1.2 million for the build alone — before land, site works and council costs.
Important: these are planning estimates, not quotes. The only way to get a true figure is a fixed-price quote based on your design and block.
Construction is usually priced per square metre (m²). Here’s what to expect in 2026 across South East Queensland:
| Build type | Cost per m² (2026) | Example total — 226 m² home |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level / project home | $1,800 – $2,800/m² | $407,000 – $633,000 |
| Mid-range custom build | $2,800 – $4,000/m² | $633,000 – $904,000 |
| Premium custom / architectural | $4,000 – $5,000/m² | $904,000 – $1.13M |
| High-end luxury (premium finishes, sustainability) | $5,000 – $7,000+/m² | $1.13M – $1.58M+ |
Costs have continued to rise into 2026 on the back of labour and material pressures, so locking in your contract sooner rather than later can protect your budget.
A common way to sanity-check your budget is by bedroom count. As an indicative 2026 guide for a single-storey SEQ build (construction only):
Two-storey and architecturally complex designs sit at the higher end because of the extra engineering, materials and labour involved.
Building costs across South East Queensland are broadly similar per square metre — the biggest differences come down to land prices and site conditions, not the build itself:
Your per-m² build rate is only part of the picture. Budget for these too, as they can add 10–25% on top of the construction cost:
If you’re a first-home buyer building a new home in Queensland, you may be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant of $30,000. Key points for 2026:
Because of that 30 June 2026 deadline, if you’re planning to build it’s worth getting your contract locked in early. Always confirm current eligibility with the Queensland Revenue Office, as rules can change.
Between roughly $1,800/m² for an entry-level project home and $7,000+/m² for a high-end luxury custom build, with mid-range custom homes around $2,800–$4,000/m².
As a 2026 guide, a single-storey 4-bedroom home typically ranges from about $450,000 to $900,000 for the construction, depending on size and finish. Two-storey 4–5 bedroom homes go higher.
No — the per-m² and total figures above are for construction only. Land, site works, council fees and landscaping are additional and can add 10–25% to your overall budget.
A standard single-storey custom home generally takes around 6–10 months from site start, depending on design complexity, weather and approvals.
Building a home is a major investment, and the right builder makes all the difference. At HEW Projects, we specialise in custom homes across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Logan, with transparent fixed-price quotes and no surprises. We’re proud members of Master Builders Queensland (No. 087220) and hold QBCC Licence No. 15267396.
Ready to find out what your build will really cost? Request a free, no-obligation quote or call us on 0485 863 485.
© HEW Projects 2026
