There is no fixed cement count for every three-bedroom bungalow. In the worked table below, the stage allowances add up to 385–650 bags, including cement for moulding blocks on site. These are illustrative quantities retained from the earlier article, not a measured bill of quantities for your drawings. Buying ready-made blocks changes the cement you need to purchase separately.
Before you compare two estimates, ask what each one includes. Foundation concrete, block moulding, mortar, plaster and external works are different jobs. A lower total may simply leave out a stage you still need to pay for.
The assumptions behind this cement example
The earlier example described a bungalow of approximately 130–170 sqm. Floor area and bedroom count alone do not establish material quantities: drawings, the structural design, wall dimensions and specified finishes are needed. The allowances below have not been independently validated against a supplied design.
| Included stage | Illustrative cement allowance (bags) | At an assumed ₦10,000 per bag |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation allowance | 80–140 | ₦800,000–₦1,400,000 |
| Block moulding on site | 60–100 | ₦600,000–₦1,000,000 |
| Mortar for block laying | 40–70 | ₦400,000–₦700,000 |
| Columns, beams and lintels | 50–90 | ₦500,000–₦900,000 |
| Ground-floor screed | 35–55 | ₦350,000–₦550,000 |
| Internal and external plaster | 100–160 | ₦1,000,000–₦1,600,000 |
| Tile bedding and grouting allowance | 20–35 | ₦200,000–₦350,000 |
| Sum of the listed allowances | 385–650 | ₦3,850,000–₦6,500,000 |
Arithmetic correction: the earlier table labelled its total 400–650 bags. Its individual lower values actually sum to 385. Adding the lowest and highest stage allowances produces an arithmetic envelope, not a prediction that all those extremes will occur together. No separate wastage percentage has been added to this table.
The ₦10,000 rate is an example for multiplying quantity by price, not a verified current selling price. Ask suppliers for a dated quotation specifying the cement product, bag weight, quantity, delivery and any other charges.
Why our other bungalow guide shows a different number
The combined blocks-and-cement guide uses a different set of stage allowances and leaves block-moulding cement out of its main cement table. Its listed rows sum to 240–410 bags before any separately specified allowance. The two tables are not estimates for the same measured design and must not be mixed together.
If you buy ready-made blocks, do not also budget to mould those same blocks. If you mould on site, include the approved production specification, materials, labour, quality checks and wastage in a separate allowance. Ask your quantity surveyor to reconcile the purchase list.
What is not priced in this table?
- Land, labour, other materials and delivery charges.
- Fence, gatehouse, septic system and external paving.
- Design changes or foundations required by the actual ground conditions.
- A separately calculated wastage allowance or changes in supplier prices.
Only the project engineer can specify the foundation and structural design. A generic cement table is not a basis for choosing a foundation, concrete mix or reinforcement.
How to get a cement order you can rely on
- Provide the current drawings and site information to your qualified project team.
- Ask for stage-by-stage quantities with inclusions and exclusions.
- Separate cement bought for on-site work from cement already included in ready-made blocks or ready-mixed concrete.
- Agree a delivery schedule and storage arrangements with your contractor and supplier.
- Keep invoices and compare deliveries with the agreed quantities.
Frequently asked questions
How much will cement cost for my bungalow?
Multiply the measured bags required by your delivered price per bag. For example, 500 bags at an assumed ₦10,000 each equal ₦5,000,000. This is arithmetic, not a quotation or a recommendation to order 500 bags.
Can I use the same quantity for every three-bedroom plan?
No. The number of bedrooms does not establish the wall lengths, concrete volumes, plaster area or structural design. Use a quantity take-off from your own drawings.
Is Elephant cement a BUA product?
No. The earlier article incorrectly grouped Elephant with BUA. Elephant is listed by Lafarge Africa. Check the exact product and specification in a supplier quotation.
Evidence and review: quantity allowances are retained from the earlier article and have not been checked against a project-specific bill of quantities. The arithmetic and scope explanation were reviewed on 15 September 2026. This review does not verify current cement prices or validate a structural design.
Budgeting for the whole house? Compare cement with the other stages in our three-bedroom bungalow cost breakdown. Keep the different floor-area and scope assumptions in view.
