Architect Fee Calculator

Estimate professional fees by project type and construction cost, with a full RIBA work stage breakdown.

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Indicative estimates only. Actual fees depend on project complexity, scope of services, location, and negotiation. Always agree fees formally in writing. RIBA fee benchmarks vary by practice size and market conditions.

Project Type

Construction Cost

Estimated construction cost

Currency

Fee percentage 10%

1%15%30%

Select a project type to see the typical range.

Estimated Total Fee

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Based on — of construction cost

Min estimate

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Max estimate

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RIBA Work Stage Breakdown

Strategic Definition —

Preparation & Briefing —

Concept Design —

15%

Spatial Coordination —

20%

Technical Design —

25%

Manufacturing & Construction —

25%

Handover —

Use —

Fee Benchmarks

New Residential 8–15%

New Commercial 5–10%

Refurbishment (Residential) 12–20%

Refurbishment (Commercial) 8–15%

Listed / Heritage 15–25%

Masterplan / Urban Design 4–8%

Interior Design 10–18%

Landscape Architecture 6–12%

About RIBA Stages

RIBA Plan of Work 2020 divides projects into 8 stages (0–7). The percentage split shows how fee effort is typically distributed across the project lifecycle.

Stage 4 (Technical Design) and Stage 5 (Construction) together account for 50% of effort on most projects.

Quick Tips

•Complexity and unique design features increase fees
•Small projects (<£200k) typically attract higher % fees
•Heritage buildings require more survey and documentation
•Planning risk may warrant a separate pre-planning fee
•Always define scope exclusions clearly in the fee proposal