Commercial Construction Cost Estimator — Texas
Get a quick planning range for a restaurant, office, retail, medical, warehouse or trade project in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and across Texas. Then get real bids from verified contractors — free.
- Construction & finishes50%$120K–$220K
- MEP systems28%$64K–$120K
- Permits & design8%$18K–$34K
- GC fee & contingency14%$32K–$60K
Rough planning estimate, not a quote. Actual bids vary with site conditions, design, materials and market timing. Excludes land, FF&E and equipment purchases. Get real bids free.
What moves the price of a office renovation / ti project
New partitions trigger electrical, HVAC and sprinkler changes. Reusing the existing layout keeps you near the low end.
Phased work around active tenants adds after-hours labor and protection costs.
Glass fronts, custom millwork and AV integration push corporate fit-outs toward $150–$250+ per sq ft.
Landlord TI money can cover a large share — negotiate it before you sign the lease.
How this estimate is calculated
- Cost per square foot. Each project type has a low–high range for Basic, Standard and Premium finish levels — the same ranges used in our trade guides and cost articles.
- Size. Larger projects spread fixed costs (mobilization, design, permits) over more square feet, so the per-sq-ft price eases slightly as size grows and rises slightly for small spaces — never more than ±8%.
- Metro area. A small adjustment for local labor demand and permitting, within about ±7%. Austin runs highest; San Antonio and Fort Worth run a little lower than Dallas.
- Rounding. Totals are rounded to two significant figures — a planning range shouldn’t pretend to be precise to the dollar.
The cost split and timeline are typical allocations for planning, not figures from your project. Permit timelines vary by city and by how complete your drawings are.
Texas commercial construction cost per square foot
Typical ranges before metro and size adjustments. Select a project type to see contractors for that trade.
| Project type | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant build-out | $75–$150/sq ft | $150–$350/sq ft | $300–$500/sq ft |
| Office renovation / TI | $20–$45/sq ft | $45–$85/sq ft | $85–$150/sq ft |
| Retail build-out | $15–$40/sq ft | $40–$80/sq ft | $80–$150/sq ft |
| Medical / dental office | $100–$150/sq ft | $120–$200/sq ft | $150–$250/sq ft |
| Warehouse / industrial | $20–$35/sq ft | $35–$60/sq ft | $60–$120/sq ft |
| Commercial HVAC | $8–$18/sq ft | $15–$40/sq ft | $25–$80/sq ft |
| Commercial electrical | $15–$30/sq ft | $25–$50/sq ft | $50–$100/sq ft |
| Commercial roofing | $5–$8/sq ft | $7–$12/sq ft | $10–$20/sq ft |
| Commercial concrete | $4–$8/sq ft | $6–$12/sq ft | $10–$18/sq ft |
| Parking lot paving | $2–$4/sq ft | $3–$7/sq ft | $6–$12/sq ft |
Commercial construction costs in Texas — common questions
How accurate is this commercial construction cost estimator?
It is a rough planning range, not a quote. It multiplies your square footage by a typical cost-per-square-foot range for the project type and finish level, with a small adjustment for metro area and project size. Real bids depend on the condition of your space, design, code requirements, materials and contractor availability, and can land outside this range.
Where do the cost-per-square-foot figures come from?
The ranges match the figures published in BidBridge Texas trade guides and cost articles, so the estimator is consistent with the rest of our content. A few gaps — such as mid-tier commercial electrical and specialty concrete — use deliberately wide, conservative industry ballpark ranges. They are not drawn from a database of bids.
What does the estimate include and leave out?
It is meant to cover construction, MEP work, permits and design, and the general contractor’s fee and contingency. It does not include land, lease costs, furniture, kitchen or medical equipment purchases, signage, IT/AV equipment, or specialty items like imaging-room shielding or cold storage.
Does the estimate account for a tenant improvement (TI) allowance?
No. If your landlord offers a TI allowance, subtract it from the estimate to see your out-of-pocket cost. Allowances in DFW commonly range from about $20–$60 per sq ft for retail to $50–$100 per sq ft for Class A office on longer leases.
Why does the city change the estimate?
Labor demand, permitting timelines and local code requirements vary across Texas metros. Austin tends to run higher and San Antonio lower, but the difference is usually smaller than the difference between finish levels, so the metro adjustment is kept within about ±7%.
How do I get a real price for my project?
Post your project on BidBridge Texas for free. We match you with up to 3 verified commercial contractors who serve your area and trade, and you compare itemized bids — your contact information stays private until you choose to connect.
Turn this estimate into real numbers.
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