Plaster
Plaster is a layer of cement and sand mortar on a block or brick wall. It makes the wall flat and ready for paint. The standard is three coats with a 1:3 mix: ETB 913.61 per m² on an internal wall and ETB 925.13 per m² on an external wall. Two coats cost ETB 720 per m².
A wall has two faces. A hollow block partition of 10 square metres needs 20 square metres of plaster.
Screed
Screed is a layer of cement mortar on a concrete floor slab. It levels the floor before tiles or another finish. A 3 cm screed costs ETB 787.98 per m² and a 5 cm screed costs ETB 1,162.73 per m².
The price over time
Three coats of internal plaster went from ETB 501.39 in 2016 E.C. Q1 (Jul to Sep 2023) to ETB 913.61 per m², a change of +82.2%. Plaster and screed are mostly cement, sand and labour, so the rate follows the cement and sand prices.
The rates are direct cost only. The bureau tells users to add overhead (up to 10 percent of direct cost for contractors of grade 3 and above) and profit (7 to 13 percent, by project size). VAT of 15 percent comes on top.
Frequently asked questions
How much does plastering cost per square metre in Ethiopia?
The official Addis Ababa rate for three coats of cement plaster on an internal wall is ETB 913.61 per m², without VAT, for 2018 E.C. Q4 (Apr to Jun 2026).
How much does floor screed cost in Ethiopia?
The official rate is ETB 787.98 per m² for a 3 cm cement screed and ETB 1,162.73 per m² for a 5 cm screed, without VAT.
How much has the price of three coats of internal plaster changed in Addis Ababa?
The official rate moved from ETB 501.39 in 2016 E.C. Q1 (Jul to Sep 2023) to ETB 913.61 per m² in 2018 E.C. Q4 (Apr to Jun 2026). That is a change of +82.2%.
Sources
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2018 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2018 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q3
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2017 E.C. Q1
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q4
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q3
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q2
- Addis Ababa City Administration Design and Construction Works Bureau: construction works direct cost, 2016 E.C. Q1
These prices are reference figures for a budget. They are not a quote. Prices change every week, so get a written price from a supplier before you buy.