How much do you charge for Architectural services for a home?

Last Updated: February 1, 2021

For residential projects, we charge hourly. Our hourly rates vary depending on the skill level of the staff and their roles, and of course every project is different so it’s difficult to determine without a clear definition of our scope of work, how much our fees would be. However, we find that our fees tend to range between 10-12% of the construction cost of the project for new construction, and 12%-15% of the construction cost of the project for small renovations and additions.

For commercial projects our fees are typically determined as a percentage of the construction cost of the project, but this percentage varies with the type, size, and complexity of the project. Please give us a call to chat about your project and we can go over its specifics.

10-15% is a pretty big range. What gives?

We are a full service architecture firm, and we tailor our services to the needs of our clients. Some clients want a lot of exploration through the design process. They want to see many different design options. Some clients also may want us to be highly involved in every aspect of the design (down to selecting light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry hardware, colors, tile selections, etc.) Some clients have very complex design problems that need to be solved. Some desire a high level of precise detailing throughout the entire project. We are happy (thrilled even) to do all these things, but they take more time and therefore add cost.

If you’re saying to yourself, “We are pretty good decision makers, and we know what we want. We also don’t think we need the architect to pick out every light fixture, piece of hardware, and finish material…” chances are likely that the architecture fees would be on the lower end of that price range. If you’re saying to yourself, “I want this house to be impeccably detailed, with finely tuned systems and well-researched materials and fixtures…” you might be at the higher end.

If you’re not sure what kind of client you are or what kind of project you have, then please give us a call and we’d be happy to talk about it!