Hiring an architect costs $6,653 on average, and most people pay somewhere between $2,191 and $11,571, depending on the architect’s experience and the project’s complexity.
An architect costs an average of $6,653, but your total could sit as low as $550 or reach up to $50,000, depending on the professional’s experience, what kind of project you’re planning, and more. In this guide, we’ll discuss all the factors that can influence your architect costs to help you budget more appropriately.
There are a handful of factors that will affect the cost of hiring an architect, such as the complexity of the design, site condition, and hourly rate. This is why it’s important to consider which questions to ask an architect before you hire one for the job to see how the following factors break down in their prices.
Architects most commonly charge a percentage of the total project cost as their fee, but you could run into different fee structures depending on the architect and, more often, the size of the project.
| Fee Structure | Standard Cost |
|---|---|
| % of project | 5–20% |
| Drawing plans | $2,000–$20,000 |
| Hourly rate | $125–$250 |
| Per square foot | $2–$15 |
The size of the project you hire an architect for will not only affect how you’re charged for the work but also the total cost. While architects have different fee structures, some may charge per square foot, meaning the more square footage, the more it will cost.
You could pay just $550 for plans for a small home renovation that doesn’t involve any structural changes to your home, or up to $50,000 if you’re building new construction and want your architect to be hands-on during the building process.
If you need to hire an architect who has more experience consummate with the design’s complexity, their fees may be higher than a more novice architect. You could pay $65 to $90 per hour for an intern to complete your project, $125 to $150 for a junior architect, or $150 to $250 per hour for a principal architect.
The complexity of your project design will also play a role in the amount of time, effort, and experiential history required for an architect to finish the job, which means more complex projects will cost more in architect fees. Remodeling projects will usually cost a bit more since your professional will need to adapt designs to existing ones, and the fee will also range based on what you want included in your plans.
| Fee Structure | Construction Cost | Remodeling Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic new construction | 8 –10% | 10 –12% |
| Basic new construction with cabinetry | Up to 12% | Up to 14% |
| Basic new construction with cabinetry and electrical | Up to 13% | Up to 15% |
| Basic new construction with cabinetry, electrical, and bidding | Up to 14% | Up to 16% |
| Basic new construction with cabinetry, electrical, bidding, construction admin, and project management | 19% | Up to 20% |
You may also want to consider the type of architecture you’re looking for, especially if you’re building new construction, as this can affect the complexity of the design. For example, Victorian-style architecture demands a specific set of skills and experience to get right, which could drive up costs compared to a more modern design. It’s also more ornate in design than something like prairie-style architecture, so plans are likely to cost more.
Some architects may charge different prices based on the kind of project you’re completing, based on their expertise, comfort level with the work, and research and time needed to get the job done.
So, how much do architects charge to draw plans? You’ll pay the highest prices for complete plans before building new construction, but remodels will demand a larger percentage of the total project cost. Hiring an architect for landscaping design will come with the lowest prices.
| Project Type | Standard Cost |
|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | $800–$3,500 |
| Custom home build | $10,000–$60,000 |
| Full renovation | $2,400–$17,600 |
| Home addition | $2,400–$14,000 |
| Kitchen remodel | $1,800–$8,500 |
| Landscape design | $550–$1,400 |
| New construction | $25,000–$40,000 |
The cost to hire your architect also depends on what part of the design phase you’re starting with. If you’re starting at the beginning and need guidance every step of the way, you’ll need to start in the pre-design phase, which involves a consultation during which your professional will listen to what you want and make recommendations from the ground up. This often costs the most.
If you know what you want but aren’t sure how to execute it, your architect may charge a bit less to start with basic schematics and then move on. If you’ve already approved schematics, you might pay even less to have your architect start with a formal design for approval or even construction plans to guide contractors toward your goal.
There are other phases to consider and roles your architect can play, all of which will affect your costs. The table below includes average costs for starting at different phases. These are for a small renovation project, so prices can increase drastically for something like new construction or a custom home build.
| Design Phase | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Pre-design | Based on project |
| Schematic design | $6,656 |
| Formal design | $5,600 |
| Construction plans | $4,300 |
| Bid selection | $1,600 |
| Hands-on management | $1,300 |
The site’s conditions will affect the architect’s design process, as they’ll have to consider the conditions when designing. If the conditions are more challenging, this could increase the price. For example, your architect will often need to consider the slope of the land you’re building on, the soil conditions, drainage on your property, and even expected wind loads and snow loads in the area to ensure your home is built to last.
Similarly, the site's boundaries will affect its condition, so you may want to account for the cost of land surveying before hiring an architect.
Drafting plans can be a considerable part of an architect’s job, and the types of plans you need and their complexity can play an important role in the cost to hire an architect. Something like detail and specification reports, which include to-scale drawings complete with materials and fasteners for your builder to follow, will often cost more than something like a structural drawing, which focuses more on the layout of the structural components of your home.
The prices below reflect a moderate project size, and totals can increase drastically for something like new construction.
| Type of Plan | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 3D rendering | $200–$2,000 |
| As-built drawing | $700–$1,300 |
| Blueprints | $800–$2,700 |
| Detail/spec report | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Site plan | $300–$1,000 |
| Structural drawing | $500–$2,000 |
There are other contractors you can hire for some of the work in the table above, so it's worth asking yourself if you need an architect before going forward. Alternatively, you can compare the cost of hiring a draftsman versus an architect to draft plans.
An architect’s level of experience or given role within a firm will have an effect on their rates. You’ll often see the highest per-hour rates from the owner of a firm and the lowest rates from an intern. Here’s a look at the average hourly rate for architects of varying experience levels.
| Experience Level | Cost per hour |
|---|---|
| Principal (owner of the firm) | $150–$250 |
| Project manager (10 years experience) | $125 |
| Intern architect II (6–8 years experience) | $90 |
| Intern architect I (3–5 years experience) | $45 |
Whether you’re hiring an architect to design a custom build or remodel a home is another cost factor to consider.
The cost to build a house is typically more than the cost to renovate a house, and the architect’s charges will likely reflect that, especially if they charge a percentage of the total for their fee. Even if they don’t, the work involved in creating drawings and detailed plans for a custom home will be far greater than for a small add-on to your existing home, so your architect costs will be much higher.
The total project cost will depend on your area's local building or remodeling costs. Since nearly 100% of the cost to hire an architect goes toward labor, you’ll see higher prices in more expensive states and metropolitan areas where the cost of living is higher.
| State | Cost |
|---|---|
| California | $9,450 |
| Florida | $6,750 |
| Georgia | $6,000 |
| Illinois | $6,250 |
| Michigan | $6,000 |
| New York | $8,150 |
| North Carolina | $6,400 |
| Ohio | $6,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $6,300 |
| Texas | $6,050 |
Hiring an architect is almost always just the first phase of a much larger project, so it’s often a good idea to budget both for the planning and the project total to ensure you’ll be able to get everything done to your liking. Below are some average costs for projects you might hire an architect to plan out.
Cost to build a house: $140,000–$530,000
Cost to build a green home: $200,000–$600,000
Landscaping cost: $1,200–$14,900
Cost to remodel a bathroom: $6,600–$17,600
Cost to remodel a kitchen: $14,500–$41,500
Cost to build a home add-on: $22,000–$82,300
Cost to add a dormer: $6,000–$25,000
It is possible to DIY when it comes to making design plans for your home project, but it’s often only realistic to make preliminary drawings to help explain to a professional what you’re looking for. You’ll still need to hire an architect to bring your vision to life.
Architects get formal education to ensure they understand building loads and structural limitations, and their experience means they’ll do a better job than a DIYer creating plans that a contractor will be able to understand.
Feel free to draw up plans yourself to get a better idea of what you’re looking for, but always hire an architect near you to move your project into the construction phase and ensure your plans are structurally sound and up to building code.
Hiring an architect can add up to around 20% to your total building costs, which can quickly get expensive. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to save money in the process.
Opt for an intern. You can save money by hiring an architect with less experience—such as one at the intern level. This could be a good option to save, as long as you feel they can get the job you want.
Go for plain and simple. When you simplify the project, the effort, experience, and time required of an architect to design the plan will cost less than a more complex option. Consider starting with stock plans and making small adjustments to customize rather than going fully custom.
Factor in other costs. It’s easy to forget that architect fees are likely not the only ones you’ll be paying. Plan ahead by budgeting for things like a land surveyor or interior designer, and pick an architect with your total budget in mind.
Make sure you’re hiring the right professional. In some cases, you might only need a structural engineer or a draftsperson to make your plans a reality. These professionals tend to be less expensive than architects, so make sure you actually need an architect before you hire.
Get multiple quotes. Finally, get estimates from at least three architects in your area and compare them to get the best value. Make sure you look at how they charge and what’s included in their fees.
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’ve surveyed thousands of 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.
The biggest upside to hiring an architect is that they will ensure an efficient building process without errors. They will also ensure your home is free from structural issues and that everything is up to building code. Many permitting agencies require architects to draw construction plans and layouts before working, so hiring an architect will also ensure your project is legal. Additionally, architects help homeowners have a clear idea of their project details before the project starts. Hence, they help unify all parties on a shared vision for the project.
Finding an architect for your project demands looking at the professional’s past work, speaking with prior clients to see what their experience was like, and discussing your project and vision with the expert to see what kind of input they have. Look for an architect that gets excited about your project or has experience with similar projects.
In most cases, you should get an architect before you hire a builder. An architect will be the one to draw up formal plans for your project, including guidelines and even material lists for your builder to follow during construction. Many architects can even help you find builders, choose one for your project, and negotiate prices. Some are also willing to act as project managers throughout the process, working closely with a builder from start to finish.
