Find an Architectural Professional near you
The average rating for Bark Architectural Professionals is 4.9, based on 610 reviews
5/5
based on 610 reviews
Need to hire an architect but unsure of costs? Our handy price guide tells you how much your expert will charge based on your design ideas, the type and size of the property, and more.
| Average cost | $50 - $250 |
| Minimum cost | $50 |
| Maximum cost | $300+ |
If you’re looking to make changes to your home or create a new build, an architect will be able to set the wheels in motion.
They’ll be able to manage pretty much everything in the lifecycle of your project, starting with surveying the property to designing the renovation plan, getting materials, and supervising the project build.
An architect is on hand to make sure that the design is realistic based on your budget, requirements, and space you are working with, as well as ensuring that it meets safety regulations. It's an important job which requires years of training and experience.
There are three main ways architects charge for their services:
Lump-sum fee - A fixed amount that is set when the exact requirements of the architect’s roles are agreed upon with the client. This is common for smaller projects and private customers, like home extensions.
Cost per hour - What you see is what you get. Clients pay per hour.
Percentage fee - The architect will charge a percentage of the total construction costs. This is common for larger projects.
The total cost can vary depending on several factors, but as a general rule of thumb, hiring an architect should make up around 5-20% of your overall project cost. Here’s a rough breakdown of average costs for hiring an architect based on local architects in Australia:
You should agree to the final price at the start of the project to avoid any unexpected costs.
An architect’s rates are determined by a few key factors, including:
Project complexity
Project stage
Architect’s experience
Location
The complexity of the project is the biggest cost driver. A large factor is whether you need to change or add additional floors. For example, look at the differences in price between single and double-storey extension planning submissions:
| Extension type | Average cost (in total) |
| Single storey | $12,000 |
| Double-storey | $21,000 |
Another example of a complex project would be working on a listed building, as the project will require consent from a local planning authority.
Architects can either support you throughout the whole project or at various stages, depending on your requirements.
There are lots of different stages of the process when it comes to architectural design, and each comes with a price. The 4 main stages are listed below:
Initial design
Planning submission
Design development
On-site management
If you want a full service, expect prices to jump up considerably.
It goes without saying that an architect with over 20 years of experience in the field is going to charge more than someone fresh out of university with a very limited portfolio.
The cost of hiring an architect is generally higher in larger cities compared to more rural territories in Australia. This is because the price of living tends to be higher in these regions. Here’s a rough estimate of how much more you can expect to pay in different parts of Australia.
| Location | Average cost (in total) |
| Sydney | $12,000 |
| Brisbane | $7,500 |
| Perth | $8,400 |
As architects are highly specialised professionals, their services can be pricey. Here are our tips for minimising costs if you’re on a budget:
Decide if you need a full service - Occasionally, you won’t need an architect for every aspect of your project. If you only need someone for initial sketches and planning permissions, you could save yourself a lot of money.
Check your architect’s credentials - If you choose a high-quality architect you’ll get a high-quality result, and this means you’ll avoid hefty repair costs later down the line. The best way to check this is to ask for a reference from past clients.
Increase the value of your property or build a brand new one with a trusted Architect on Bark.
The average rating for Bark Architectural Professionals is 4.9, based on 610 reviews
5/5
based on 610 reviews
