KNS 3333 CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 
COSTING FOR CIVIL 
ENGINEERING PROJECTS 
Faculty Of Engineering 
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
COSTING FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS 
Cost 
Rate 
Quantity 
Cost Estimating 
Methods
Cost
What is Cost ? 
An estimate how much money will be needed 
or price to be charged for something. 
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
Why Cost (Control) Is Important? 
Pre-contract Stage Post contract Stage 
Inception Design 
Preliminary 
cost 
estimate 
Comparative 
cost estimate 
Alternative 
materials 
Tender Construction 
Form of 
construction 
Planned profits 
achieved ? 
Feedback for 
future cost 
estimating 
available ? 
What corrective 
action to be 
taken ? 
Within economic limit of expenditure ?
How Costing Is Done? 
= 
Quantity X Rate Amount
Quantity?
What is Quantity ? 
The measurement of something by stating 
how much of it there is. 
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
How quantity is read? 
Quantity Unit of measurement 
800 M 
Quantity is shown as a figure and 
a unit of measurement behind it.
Area (M2) 
Quantity 
Weight (Kg or Ton) 
Length (M) 
Volume 
(M3) 
Others 
Hours or 
Day 
Unit of measurement
Rate
What is Rate? 
A fixed charge, payment or value. 
(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
What is Rate? 
Price per unit of measurement.
Per unit of 
measurement 
RM 250.00/M3 
Currency 
How rate is read? 
Price of item
Rate Build Up 
Material Cost 
Wastages 
Plant Cost 
Labour Cost 
Profit & Overheads
Example Of Market Rate 
Description Unit Rate (RM) 
Excavation (pit) M3 10.00 
Concrete Grade 15 M3 240.00 
Concrete Grade 20 M3 255.00 
Concrete Grade 25 M3 270.00 
Formwork M2 28.00 
Reinforcement Kg 3.20 
Rate will differ from one project to another due to various factors such as 
size, nature of work, location, market conditions, etc.
Cost Estimating Methods
Notes On Costing For Civil Engineering 
Projects 
Involve large amount of uncertainty owing to 
nature of ground conditions, temporary 
works, etc.
Notes On Costing For Civil Engineering 
Projects 
Different method of measurement is used 
for civil engineering works (CESMM). 
Bill of quantities comprise large quantities 
of comparatively few items. 
Quantities usually approximate and 
remeasurement required when work is 
actually carried out.
Notes On Costing For Civil Engineering 
Projects 
Costing can be carried out by breaking 
down works into smaller cost items and 
price the quantities against a rate.
Notes On Costing For Civil Engineering 
Projects 
Costing similar to building works but more 
towards method of construction rather than 
material cost.
Cost Estimating Methods 
Unit Method 
Standard Unit Of 
Accommodation 
Appropriate 
X Cost Per Unit Estimated 
Cost 
= 
Low Mid High
Cost Estimating Methods 
Superficial Method 
Area Of Floors 
Cost Per 
X Square Metre Estimated 
Cost 
= 
Low Mid High
Cost Estimating Methods 
Approximate Quantities 
Items Of Major 
Cost Importance 
Measured Only 
Estimated X Unit Rate 
Cost 
= 
Low Mid High 
Build up on basis from cost 
database price book or priced BQ 
from previous project
Cost Estimating Methods 
Bill Of Quantities 
Measured 
Quantities 
Estimated X Unit Rate 
Cost 
= 
Low Mid High 
Build up on basis from cost 
database price book or priced BQ 
from previous project 
Pre-Tender Estimate to 
include other items like 
Preliminaries, Provisional 
Sums, Prime Cost Sums, 
Contingency, etc.
Cost Estimating Methods 
Quality of relevant available 
pricing information 
Type of information provided 
Skills 
Experience 
Degree Of Accuracy

Costing for-civil-engineering-project

  • 1.
    KNS 3333 CONSTRUCTIONTECHNOLOGY COSTING FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS Faculty Of Engineering UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
  • 2.
    COSTING FOR CIVILENGINEERING PROJECTS Cost Rate Quantity Cost Estimating Methods
  • 3.
  • 4.
    What is Cost? An estimate how much money will be needed or price to be charged for something. (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
  • 5.
    Why Cost (Control)Is Important? Pre-contract Stage Post contract Stage Inception Design Preliminary cost estimate Comparative cost estimate Alternative materials Tender Construction Form of construction Planned profits achieved ? Feedback for future cost estimating available ? What corrective action to be taken ? Within economic limit of expenditure ?
  • 6.
    How Costing IsDone? = Quantity X Rate Amount
  • 7.
  • 8.
    What is Quantity? The measurement of something by stating how much of it there is. (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
  • 9.
    How quantity isread? Quantity Unit of measurement 800 M Quantity is shown as a figure and a unit of measurement behind it.
  • 10.
    Area (M2) Quantity Weight (Kg or Ton) Length (M) Volume (M3) Others Hours or Day Unit of measurement
  • 11.
  • 12.
    What is Rate? A fixed charge, payment or value. (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
  • 13.
    What is Rate? Price per unit of measurement.
  • 14.
    Per unit of measurement RM 250.00/M3 Currency How rate is read? Price of item
  • 15.
    Rate Build Up Material Cost Wastages Plant Cost Labour Cost Profit & Overheads
  • 16.
    Example Of MarketRate Description Unit Rate (RM) Excavation (pit) M3 10.00 Concrete Grade 15 M3 240.00 Concrete Grade 20 M3 255.00 Concrete Grade 25 M3 270.00 Formwork M2 28.00 Reinforcement Kg 3.20 Rate will differ from one project to another due to various factors such as size, nature of work, location, market conditions, etc.
  • 17.
  • 18.
    Notes On CostingFor Civil Engineering Projects Involve large amount of uncertainty owing to nature of ground conditions, temporary works, etc.
  • 19.
    Notes On CostingFor Civil Engineering Projects Different method of measurement is used for civil engineering works (CESMM). Bill of quantities comprise large quantities of comparatively few items. Quantities usually approximate and remeasurement required when work is actually carried out.
  • 20.
    Notes On CostingFor Civil Engineering Projects Costing can be carried out by breaking down works into smaller cost items and price the quantities against a rate.
  • 21.
    Notes On CostingFor Civil Engineering Projects Costing similar to building works but more towards method of construction rather than material cost.
  • 22.
    Cost Estimating Methods Unit Method Standard Unit Of Accommodation Appropriate X Cost Per Unit Estimated Cost = Low Mid High
  • 23.
    Cost Estimating Methods Superficial Method Area Of Floors Cost Per X Square Metre Estimated Cost = Low Mid High
  • 24.
    Cost Estimating Methods Approximate Quantities Items Of Major Cost Importance Measured Only Estimated X Unit Rate Cost = Low Mid High Build up on basis from cost database price book or priced BQ from previous project
  • 25.
    Cost Estimating Methods Bill Of Quantities Measured Quantities Estimated X Unit Rate Cost = Low Mid High Build up on basis from cost database price book or priced BQ from previous project Pre-Tender Estimate to include other items like Preliminaries, Provisional Sums, Prime Cost Sums, Contingency, etc.
  • 26.
    Cost Estimating Methods Quality of relevant available pricing information Type of information provided Skills Experience Degree Of Accuracy