How Much Does an Architect Cost?

Most architects operate on a percentage of the total build cost. This means that on average, architectural fees will amount to around 6-8% of the total build cost for floor plans, or from 8-15% for an architect’s full service.

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Architect Fees Australia

How much does an architect cost in Australia? The build cost for an average Australian house is $313 800 AUD, so the cost of an architect for a similar average project would range from $26 000 - 36 000 AUD. However, fees will vary depending on the specifics of the project. Complexity, size, land geography, and the architect themselves are all factors which could drive the price higher or lower.

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How Much Do Architects Charge?

Often there is confusion about what architects do. They do not just produce concept plans; architects are actually responsible for a range of tasks throughout a single project, from initial planning through to the construction supervision. This is why the charge can sometimes appear expensive, as architects have many hidden duties, including:

Early consultation and initial planning (concept, basics)
Design production (rough sketch, refinement, quote estimate)
Practical consultation (advising and choosing materials)
Construction budgeting (evaluating quotes/bids from different companies)
Construction supervision (Mediation with contractors, scheduling management, building inspection)

If you do not wish to have an architect carry out all of these services, an alternative might be to hire an architect solely for house plans. The cost of architect plans alone is usually 5-6% of the total build cost. Architect plans will usually include the concept sketches, developed design, and construction documents. Anything beyond this – such as the services listed above – will carry an additional charge.

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How and Why Do Architecture Costs Vary?

The size/scale of a project is usually indicative of its complexity. The more complex the project, the longer it will take an architect to complete all of their duties. Complexity can be a result of the project type, environment, budget, mass, restrictions, site access, time frame etc. Given that these factors vary greatly from project for project, requesting an initial fee estimation during a personalized consultation with an architect is likely the best course of action.

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Architecture Fee Structures

Architectural costs are structured by the type of contract that the architect negotiates with the client. Which fee structure is the best for you will depend on the type of project, your budget, and the complexity of the job. Here are a few of the most common types an architect fee scale Australia.

Percentage Fees

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Percentage fees are the most common fee type for architects and refer to a negotiated percentage of the total build cost. This percentage can be anywhere between 5-15%, although it may be more if the project is particularly complicated (for example, a renovation is more difficult than a new build architects must work within the parameters of the existing structure). Generally, the holistic cost of architect designed house will average around 6-8% of the total construction cost. For house plans only, the fee is likely to be around 5% (though they are less commonly done as a percentage fee).

Percentage fees vary greatly, which makes them difficult to predict ahead of time. For this reason, percentage fees will be best suited to large-budget projects or projects with a clear idea of the construction costs ahead of time.

Hourly Fees

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An architect’s hourly rate will depend on their experience, but the average cost is around $50-$250/hr. Paying an hourly fee is a better idea for projects with small budgets which will require little face-time with the architect. A limit can be placed on the number of hours to ensure that the project doesn’t get out of hand if it takes more time than expected, at which point negotiations will have to begin again.

Fixed Fees

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This is the best option if you need to know exactly how much architect fees will cost you from the beginning. A fixed fee is negotiated in the initial stages and will stipulate the architect’s exact duties as well as the time frame they need to be completed in. This will be official in the contract. The fixed fee will vary depending on the project but will usually end up somewhere in the same ballpark as the percentage fee or possibly lower. If the details of the job change or the architect is required to do more work than the contract outlines, generally they will charge an hourly fee for the additional work or you may wish to renegotiate.

Square Meter Fees

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Though not the most common fee type, occasionally architects will charge by the square foot of the project area. This may seem like a potential money-saver, but often the cost per square foot will be quite high to compensate for the time and effort put into planning. Generally, it is likely to even out with the other methods such as the percentage fees. E.g. for a $600,000 construction project, an architect might charge from $1,000 – $2,000 per square meter (approx. 5-15% of the total build cost).

Combination Fees

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It is entirely likely that you or an architect may prefer to negotiate the use of multiple fee structures. Commonly, architects who charge hourly will switch to a charge per square meter once the plans have been finalized. This must be negotiated between client and architect as early as possible, and if done correctly could save you money in the long run. The prices of combination fees will vary as they do with each individual category.

Juliet Taylor

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