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False ceiling calculator
Work out the gypsum boards, 2 x 2 ceiling tiles, PVC panels or POP for a false ceiling, with the runners, channels, wall angle, hangers and fixings in the lengths they are sold in, and the cost per sq ft at September 2026 rates.
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Plan your false ceiling
Pick the kind of ceiling, then measure room by room or give the total area. The boards or tiles, the frame, the fixings and the cost follow as you type.
Ceiling materials and cost
- Cost
- Rs 92,720Rs 190 a sq ft, supplied and fixed
- Materials
- Rs 65,880Rs 135 a sq ft
- Labour
- Rs 26,840Rs 55 a sq ft
- Ceiling
- 488 sq ft124 ft of wall
What to buy
- Gypsum boards, 4 x 8 ft576 sq ft
- 18
- Main channels, 12 ft4 ft apart, 122 ft of them
- 11
- Furring channels, 12 ft2 ft apart, 244 ft of them
- 22
- Wall angle, 10 ftRound the walls, 124 ft
- 14
- HangersRod or wire with its clip, one for each 16 sq ft
- 31
- Channel clipsWhere a furring channel crosses a main channel
- 61
- Board screwsAbout 35 a board
- 534
- Anchors and wall plugsOne a hanger, and one every 2 ft of wall
- 93
- Joint tapeAlong every board joint
- 183 ft
Cost at September 2026 rates
- Materials488 sq ft at Rs 135, with the frame, fixings and finish
- Rs 65,880
- Labour488 sq ft at Rs 55
- Rs 26,840
- Cost
- Rs 92,720
Rates as of September 2026 for a plain ceiling in Lahore. Steps, coves, curves and lights cost more. The frame is worked out from the area, so a small room may have a runner or two to spare.
Reference
False ceiling rates and quantities
What each kind of plain ceiling costs a sq ft, and what a 10 x 10 ft room takes.
| Ceiling | Materials | Labour | Supplied and fixed | 100 sq ft | Quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x 2 ft tiles | Rs 120 | Rs 40 | Rs 160 | Rs 16,000 | 150 to 205 |
| Gypsum board | Rs 135 | Rs 55 | Rs 190 | Rs 19,000 | 150 to 220 |
| PVC panels | Rs 90 | Rs 35 | Rs 125 | Rs 12,500 | 80 to 150 |
| POP | Rs 85 | Rs 75 | Rs 160 | Rs 16,000 | 120 to 180 |
| Ceiling | Covering | Main runners or channels | Cross tees or furring | Wall angle or trim | Hangers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 x 2 ft tiles | 28 tiles | 3 | 14 + 14 | 5 | 7 |
| Gypsum board | 4 boards | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| PVC panels | 14 panels | None | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| POP | 4 bags | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
Lahore rates as of September 2026 for a plain ceiling, supplied and fixed, with the frame, fixings and finish. The quantities are for a 10 x 10 ft room at the calculator's usual allowances.
How it is worked out
From the ceiling's area to boards, channels and rupees
Every false ceiling hangs from the slab on a metal frame. For 2 x 2 ft tiles the frame is a T-bar grid: main runners 4 ft apart, 4 ft cross tees between them every 2 ft, and 2 ft cross tees closing each square, all resting on a wall angle round the edge. Gypsum board and POP hang from main channels 4 ft apart with furring channels clipped under them every 2 ft, and PVC panels are screwed straight across furring channels 2 ft apart.
The frame is worked out from the area, as estimators do: 4 ft between main members is 1 ft of them for every 4 sq ft of ceiling, and 2 ft between furring channels 1 ft for every 2 sq ft. Each run gets 5% for offcuts and is rounded up to whole 12 ft lengths, and the wall angle follows the walls of each room in 10 ft lengths. A hanger with its anchor goes in every 4 ft along the main members, one for each 16 sq ft.
The covering takes the Material Planner's cutting allowance by the size of the piece: 9% for 2 x 2 ft tiles and 12% for 4 x 8 ft boards and long PVC panels, breakage included. POP on wire mesh takes about 9 kg a square metre, 0.84 kg a sq ft, with 10% for plaster that sets before it is used.
Contractors quote a false ceiling a sq ft, supplied and fixed, with the frame, fixings and finish in the rate. As of September 2026 a plain ceiling in Lahore costs about Rs 125 a sq ft in PVC panels, Rs 160 in 2 x 2 ft tiles, Rs 160 in POP and Rs 190 in gypsum board. Steps, coves with LED strip and curved POP work cost more, Rs 250 to 500 a sq ft.
On site
Terms you will hear
- T-bar grid
- The frame 2 x 2 ft ceiling tiles sit in: light steel tees in a grid of 2 ft squares, hung from the slab. A tile lifts out to reach the wiring above.
- Main runner and cross tee
- Main runners are the long tees of a grid, 12 ft long and hung 4 ft apart. Cross tees, 4 ft and 2 ft long, clip between them to make the squares.
- Wall angle
- An L-shaped strip fixed to the walls at ceiling height, which carries the edge of the grid or the boards. Also called the perimeter channel.
- Furring channel
- The light channel gypsum boards and PVC panels are screwed to, set 2 ft apart and clipped under the main channels.
- Hanger
- A rod or wire from an anchor in the slab down to the frame, with a clip to set the height. One goes every 4 ft along the main members.
- Drop
- How far the false ceiling hangs below the slab: 4 to 6 in for a plain ceiling, more where cove lights, ducts or an AC unit run above it.
Questions
False ceiling questions
Still have a question?
Ask our team during Pakistan business hours, in English or Urdu.
+92 333 2466662Chat on WhatsAppWhat does a false ceiling cost per square foot in Pakistan?
As of September 2026, a plain ceiling supplied and fixed in Lahore costs about Rs 125 a sq ft in PVC panels, Rs 160 in 2 x 2 ft gypsum tiles, Rs 160 in POP and Rs 190 in gypsum board. Contractors quote Rs 80 to 150 for PVC, Rs 150 to 205 for tiles, Rs 120 to 180 for plain POP and Rs 150 to 220 for gypsum board; steps and coves with LED strip cost more. A 14 x 12 ft room in gypsum board comes to about Rs 31,920.
How many gypsum boards do I need for a ceiling?
Divide the ceiling's area by 32 sq ft, the area of a 4 x 8 ft board, and add 12% for cutting and breakage. A 14 x 12 ft room, 168 sq ft, takes 6 boards, 4 main channels and 8 furring channels of 12 ft, 6 lengths of wall angle, 11 hangers and about 184 screws.
How many 2 x 2 ceiling tiles do I need?
One for every 4 sq ft of ceiling, and 9% more for cutting and breakage. A 14 x 12 ft room takes 46 tiles on a grid of 4 main runners of 12 ft, 23 cross tees of 4 ft and 23 of 2 ft, with 6 lengths of wall angle and 11 hangers.
What is the POP ceiling rate?
A plain POP ceiling costs about Rs 160 a sq ft in Lahore, supplied and fixed, of which about Rs 75 is labour, since plastering overhead is slow work. Contractors quote Rs 120 to 180 for a plain ceiling and Rs 250 to 500 for designs with coves, curves and cornices. On wire mesh it takes about 0.84 kg of POP a sq ft, so a 14 x 12 ft room needs 7 bags of 25 kg.
Which is better: gypsum, PVC or POP?
Gypsum board gives one smooth, painted ceiling that resists fire, and suits bedrooms and lounges. 2 x 2 ft tiles lift out to reach the wiring above, which suits offices, shops and kitchens. PVC is the cheapest and damp does not hurt it, so it suits bathrooms and verandas, though it can sag near heat. POP can be shaped into curves and cornices by hand, but it is heavy, slow to put up and cracks if the mesh and frame are not fixed well.
How much height does a false ceiling take?
A plain false ceiling usually hangs 4 to 6 in below the slab. Cove lights, AC ducts or a split unit above it take more, often 8 to 14 in, so measure the room's height before choosing a deep design: a low room feels lower still under a thick ceiling.
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