{"id":60723,"date":"2022-01-27T14:00:31","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T20:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/?p=60723"},"modified":"2026-04-27T08:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:43:23","slug":"hard-soft-costs-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectmanager.com\/blog\/hard-soft-costs-construction","title":{"rendered":"Hard Costs vs. Soft Costs in Construction: Definitions & Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s not easy for construction companies to make accurate budget forecasts. There are many variables to consider, from market to labor costs and always fluctuating prices. However, creating a detailed budget is key to successful construction project management.<\/p>\n

One way to control your project billing is by defining the hard costs vs soft costs on a construction project. To create a realistic budget, you need to know the difference between these two costs.<\/p>\n

What Are Hard Costs In Construction?<\/h2>\n

Hard costs are costs that are directly related to your construction project. Some refer to these as brick-and-mortar costs, because these construction costs<\/a> include the structure, construction site and landscape.<\/p>\n

When it comes to budgeting, hard costs are easier to estimate. They\u2019re tangible and revolve around labor and materials. While labor and materials are not set in stone, those prices are less likely to drastically change. If they do, there are usually red flags that indicate their volatility, and you can address that in the budget.<\/a><\/p>\n

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