TL;DR R$/m² is simple, easy to communicate and accepted by the market, but it hides traps. To use it well: keep your own table by typology, apply complexity and standard adjustments, and never use R$/m² on its own. Always check it in parallel against technical hours.

The method in 3 steps

  1. Identify the typology (residential, commercial, retrofit).
  2. Multiply R$/m² from your table × area.
  3. Apply adjustments (standard, deadline, complexity).

How to build your base table

Your table is not "what the neighbor charges". It is:

  1. The market median for your region ( 2026 table).
  2. An adjustment for your positioning (above or below the median).
  3. Validation against the technical-hour calculation: does the chosen R$/m² cover technical hour × estimated hours?

Essential adjustments

  • High standard: +20–40%
  • Tight deadline: +15–25%
  • Recurring, simple client: 0–10% down
  • Retrofit: +20–40% for the survey

The 4 mistakes of the R$/m² method

Mistake 1: Using a generic table

You use an R$/m² found on Google without knowing the region, the year and the typology of the source. Result: you blindly underestimate or overestimate.

Mistake 2: Ignoring balcony/garage area

Will you charge the full R$/m² on covered area? On usable area? Set a standard: traditionally, a balcony counts as 50% and the garage as 30% of the R$/m².

Mistake 3: Not charging differently by stage

"Preliminary design costs the same R$/m² as the construction set": no, it doesn't. Preliminary design is 30–40%; the construction set is 50–60%; 3D is 10–20%.

Mistake 4: Forgetting minimums

An 80 m² house × minimum R$/m² yields a ridiculous fee. Set a minimum value for each typology. Below that, you charge the minimum, end of story.

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Automatic R$/m² with every adjustment

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When NOT to use R$/m²

In three cases:

  • One-off consulting: use technical hours.
  • Atypical project (no comparables): use technical hours.
  • Small retrofit (< 60 m²): use a fixed package.