How Much Do Blueprints Cost to Draft Up? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $820 - $2,711
New blueprint costs vary widely depending on your project size and complexity, but typically average around $1,733.
The cost of blueprints for a new construction project averages around $1,733, but prices can fall anywhere from $300 up to $5,000 or more, depending on your project. When you have a project as exciting as building a new, custom home, the last thing you want to do is spend months in the planning phase, but it’s a necessity. In this guide, we’ll discuss how much blueprints cost on average, as well as some factors that can influence your total.
- Average
- $1,733
- Low end
- $300
- high end
- $5,000
Blueprint Cost Factors
The cost of blueprints can vary widely because there are a few key cost factors that can bring your total well below or above the average.
Size
In most cases, blueprints cost between $0.50 and $10 per square foot or an average of around $4 per square foot. The size of the building or add-on you’re planning will, therefore, play a major role in how much you spend on the drafts.
Generally speaking, the price per square foot will scale based on the complexity of your project. For example, you’ll likely pay between $0.50 and $3 per square foot for plans for a home addition, between $3 and $5 per square foot for blueprints for a standard home build, and between $6 and $10 per square foot if you’re building a high-end custom home.
| Square Footage | Average Blueprint Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 500 | $250–$5,000 |
| 1500 | $750–$15,000 |
| 2000 | $1,000–$20,000 |
| 2500 | $1,250–$25,000 |
Project Complexity
The complexity of your project will play one of the most significant roles in the cost of blueprints. The price you pay for an architect to draw up plans will contribute far more to the cost to build a house than it would to plans for building an add-on or bump-out to your existing home. Basically, the simpler your project, the less you’ll pay for blueprints.
The table below includes some blueprint pricing based on the scale of your project.
| Project | Cost of Blueprints |
|---|---|
| Building a new custom home | $5,000-$20,000+ |
| Building an add-on for your existing home | $500-$2,000 |
| Making alterations to pre-drawn home plans | $400-$2,500 |
| Removing a load-bearing wall | $200-$1,000 |
Number of Rooms
The price you pay for blueprints can also vary based on the number of rooms in your home addition or new construction project. This is partially related to the overall square footage of the project, but you could pay more for blueprints for a similar footprint or a split floor plan that requires additional planning and drawings for room partitions.
The cost of blueprints per room varies quite a lot based on the size of the room and the complexity of the layout, but the table below includes some average costs based on room number.
| Number of Rooms | Typical Cost for Blueprints |
|---|---|
| 6 (3 bedrooms) | $1,500 |
| 7 (3-4 bedrooms) | $2,000 |
| 8 (3-5 bedrooms) | $2,500 |
| 9 (3-6 bedrooms) | $3,000 |
Note that bathrooms and rooms that are below grade won’t count toward your official room count, but they do play a role in your blueprint costs.
Alterations
You might need alterations to existing blueprints if you’re working on the following projects:
Adding on to your current home
Making last-minute changes to approved blueprints before construction starts
Requesting adjustments to completed blueprints or providing further instruction to the professional
In any of these cases, you can expect to spend much less for alterations than you would for an initial set of plans. The typical cost for blueprint alterations is around $800, but prices can range from $400 to $2,000 or more, depending on how significant of a change you need.
One thing to consider here is that an architect will likely charge less to alter their own blueprints because they’re familiar with the job already. You can expect to pay closer to $400 to make changes to blueprints that the architect drew up to begin with, and closer to $2,000 if you need your architect to make alterations to old blueprints drawn by another expert.
Type of Blueprints
Blueprints for a new commercial build will cost the most, with a custom residential build close behind. As-built blueprints, which document a building after it’s already been constructed rather than before construction, will be an additional cost on top of new design blueprints, as these drawings require a survey of the existing building. If you need plans that aren’t as detailed as blueprints for interior design projects, a floor plan costs significantly less than full blueprints.
CAD Software
CAD software refers to drafting programs that produce construction-ready blueprints. An annual subscription for CAD software ranges in price from $250 to $3,000, but architectural firms and draftspeople won’t typically charge separately for this cost.
Printing
Printing out blueprints averages between $0.06 and $20 per sheet. Printing on plain paper costs less, but these prints won’t hold up to the conditions on a job site. Blueprints printed on durable Tyvek sheets range between $2 and $20 per sheet and will stay clear and readable even when wet.
Labor
There are three types of professionals who can draw up blueprints: a draftsperson, an architect, and a structural engineer. A draftsperson costs between $75 and $125 per hour, an architect will charge between $100 and $200 per hour, and a structural engineer between $150 and $250 per hour.
The scope of the work for your project will determine which professional you need.
| Draftsperson | Architect | Structural Engineer |
|---|---|---|
| Uses existing plans to create 3D renderings | Ideal for standard construction projects | Ensures home can stand up to extreme weather and soil movement |
| Can sometimes create plans from scratch | Can draw for building permit approval | Can create detailed plans for safe construction |
The expert you hire will often depend on where you live and what restrictions are in place for what the different professionals can handle. In most cases, though, a structural engineer will be necessary for custom and complex home builds, an architect is appropriate for designing a standard home, and a draftsperson is often best for creating 3-dimensional drawings for approval.
Cost of Common Blueprint Add-Ons
If you’re ordering blueprints, you might want to consider add-on products to improve your plans and add value to your construction project. Below is a list of some common blueprint add-ons, along with average prices.
3D renderings and virtual walkthroughs. 3-Dimensional color drawings and virtual walkthroughs can make it easier for you to visualize and approve your plans. Expect to pay between $200 and $2,000 more for these services.
Interior design services. Having an architect provide interior design services is a great way to make your home feel cohesive and well-planned. However, these services can cost between $4,000 and $10,000 on top of your blueprint cost.
Exterior design services. Some architects also handle landscape design for your home’s exterior. These services usually cost between $2,000 and $7,500.
Project management. Some architects provide project management services and will act as a general contractor for your project. Expect to pay an additional 5% to 10% of your total construction cost for this service.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro to Draw Up Blueprints
Drawing up blueprints for a house is an exceptionally involved process that requires knowledge of typical room sizes, the functionality of doors and windows, standard furniture sizes and layouts, ideal kitchen layouts for efficiency, interior design principles, window placements, and much, much more. You could save around $2,000, on average, by drawing up your own blueprints, but it may be better to work with a professional.
Blueprints that you draw up yourself will need approval from your local building department before you begin your construction project. Getting approval on self-drawn plans can be a time-consuming and frustrating process that requires many iterations and hours of research. If you don’t know how to read blueprints, the research process for how to draw them could take weeks.
We strongly recommend hiring a professional to draw up your blueprints, even if you plan on building the structure yourself. An architect near you can get the job done quickly and ensure that your home is structurally sound and safe.
How to Save Money When Ordering Blueprints
Since avoiding blueprints altogether isn’t usually an option, many people look for ways to save money on the plans instead. There are a few things you can do to keep the cost of blueprints down for your construction project.
Work off of pre-approved drawings. Blueprints for custom homes are usually much more involved and expensive than alterations for pre-approved drawings. You could save an average of $1,400 just by working from existing drawings.
Hire a draftsperson, if possible. If your state and municipality allow, you could save around $75 per hour by having a draftsperson, rather than an architect, create your blueprints. Keep in mind that you might need an architect or a structural engineer for fully custom blueprints.
Plan ahead. If you change your mind on your design after the initial blueprints are done, you’ll pay between $400 and $1,000 for alterations. Plan ahead to avoid unnecessary charges.
Hire the right professional for your area. Always check which professionals in your area can draw blueprints. If you hire a draftsperson for new construction blueprints but then realize your state requires an architect’s work, you could end up paying for a new set of blueprints.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is technically possible to draw your own blueprints, but the process is extremely involved and really demands help from an expert. A professional architect has an understanding of design elements, interior design, the functionality of different rooms in a home, and how everything from furniture, outlets, and light switches should be laid out to serve you and your family best. Hiring an architect for blueprints can get expensive, but it’s the most responsible way to begin a new construction project. If you’re keen on DIYing, you could consider starting the process and then having a professional take over.
You have three options in terms of professionals who can draw up blueprints: a draftsperson, an architect, or a structural engineer. A draftsperson can sometimes draw up plans for new construction, but they more often work from approved plans for alterations or to provide 3D drawings. Architects are usually the best option for standard residential construction projects. Structural engineers might be necessary for custom home builds or for alterations that could affect your home’s structural integrity. Draftsmen cost the least of the three, followed by architects and then structural engineers.
Blueprints for standard home construction will usually range from $1,500 to $2,500 and average around $1,800. Your pricing will likely be higher if you’re building a custom home, as you’ll need to pay a structural engineer to weigh in on building safety. The size of your project, the number of rooms, and the type of drawings you need can also play a role in your total cost.