National build times remain elevated, though new figures show improvements over the past year
Queensland has emerged as the fastest state for constructing new homes, with the average build completed in just over nine months, according to recent analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).
The data, covering the period to June 2025, shows Queensland’s average build time from approval to completion is 9.15 months. Victoria follows at 9.78 months, with Tasmania at 11.85 months, New South Wales at 12.30 months, South Australia at 13.71 months, and Western Australia taking the longest at 15.45 months. Across Australia, the national average stands at 11.49 months.
The IPA’s review of ABS building activity data measured the time taken from approval to commencement and from commencement to completion. In 2025, the average time from approval to commencement was 2.28 months, while commencement to completion took 9.21 months.
The IPA noted that the time required to build a house has risen by 34% on average between 2020 and 2025, attributing the increase to higher costs for materials and labour.
“Over the pa
st decade, Australia has seen demand driven cost increases to construction material and labour, which has been caused by large, inefficient government projects, creating the perfect storm of rising prices and rents, particularly in the post-pandemic period,” said Kevin You (pictured right), senior fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs.
However, Master Builders Australia’s analysis indicates that build times are beginning to improve, with 2024-25 data showing shorter timelines compared to the previous year. Shane Garrett, chief economist at Master Builders Australia, said detached houses, townhomes and apartments all recorded reduced build times from approval to completion.
“Townhouses typically took 14.8 months to complete (down five weeks) while apartments had a 32.9-month build time during 2024-25,” Garrett said. “For detached houses, there was an 11.5-month gap between approval and completion. This is due to the continued easing of supply chain pressures and a soft easing of labour shortages.”
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