Build Companion

The True Project Cost Calculator

Most budgets only cover the building contract. This tool asks about 20 questions about your project and works out a personalised master budget, the costs people in your situation most often forget, a suggested contingency, and a project-specific action checklist — before you commit a dollar.

Takes about 3 minutes. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere — it all stays in your browser.

Your results

Your True Project Cost Snapshot

Based on your answers, here's a starting master budget, the costs most likely to catch you out, a suggested contingency, and what to do next. Treat every figure as a placeholder to replace with real quotes.

Suggested contingency
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Your Personalised Master Budget

Every category relevant to your project, grouped and ready to fill in. Categories that don't apply to your answers have already been left out.

Costs Most Likely to Catch You Out

Based on what you told us is excluded from your contract or specific to your situation.

Your Financial Checklist

Practical next steps, specific to your answers.
    This calculator gives general guidance based on commonly reported ranges — costs vary by state, council, lender, and builder. It's a starting point for your own budget, not a quote or financial advice. Part of the Build Companion project management system.