How Much Does a Land Survey Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $376 - $768
The average cost to survey property is about $543, which can include pulling property records and travel time for the surveyor.
Gone are the days when a stone wall or an old oak tree marked the end of your property, hence the existence of land surveys which are drawings or diagrams outlining the specific dimensions of your property. The average land surveying costs about $543. However, it can range between $376 and $768, depending on the size and makeup of your landscape, where you live, and the type of survey you have in mind. A certified land surveyor can define your legal property lines whether you're buying a new home, building a fence, or adding that new guest bedroom. Here’s a guide to the cost of land surveying.
- Average
- $543
- Low end
- $200
- high end
- $1,200
Land Surveying Cost Factors
Not every land parcel is priced the same. Surveyors base their fees on various factors covering everything from land characteristics to the availability of records.
Size
The size of your property plays a big role in survey cost. If your home is under an acre, you’ll pay between $0.50 to $0.70 per square foot. But if you own more than one acre, with hills and trees, land surveyors could charge between $50 and $500 per acre. Like most things, buying in bulk can help lower your rate. The larger the property, typically the lower the price per acre. In both cases, the wide price range comes down to the size and terrain of the property.
| Property Size | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 acre | $200 – $500 |
| 5 acres | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| 10 acres | $2,000 – $5,000 |
Terrain Type
Smooth, pasture-like terrain without trees, hills, or obstructions tends to cost less to survey than wooded, hilly, or complex terrain. Generally, flat land is less expensive to survey than mountainous land.
Time of Year
Some surveyors may charge more when the weather creates challenging conditions. Foliage can make it difficult to make survey measurements accurately. In addition, snow and ice can also conceal critical pieces of evidence needed for a survey and cause slippery conditions for the surveyor.
Survey Type
There are different types of land surveys that differ based on the reason you need one. This reasoning can impact its price. Surveyors will charge more when additional land information beyond the standard for establishing property lines needs to be collected.
| Type of Survey | Costs |
|---|---|
| Boundary Survey | $100 – $600 |
| Topographic Survey | $500 – $1,200 |
| Mortgage Survey | $500 |
| Fence Land Survey | $250 – $1,000 |
| As-Built Survey | $800 – $1,200 |
| ALTA Survey | $1,200 – $3,000 |
| Subdivision Survey | $300 – $1,000 |
| New Construction Survey | $400.– $1,800 |
Availability of Parcel Information
Surveyors rely on public information to complete land surveys. If they cannot locate deed records easily, they may need to charge extra for the investigative work required to track down documents. Most surveyors charge extra for any investigative work they can’t do online. However, customers can drive to the appropriate county offices to obtain records to avoid the additional charges.
Time
Surveyors will charge more for rush jobs with tight deadlines. Last-minute requests are not the norm in this industry. Each surveying job requires a fair amount of preparation, planning, and scheduling to deliver accurate results.
Research
A land survey requiring a deep dive into historical, topographical, or resource-based research can cost closer to $1,000. The charge is typically lower when records can be accessed online without leaving the office. Surveyors sometimes need to visit records offices in person to access land deeds. Searching through county-specific filing systems requires time and effort that surveyors will likely bill you for. In fact, some surveying companies employ research assistants to handle this role.
Travel Time
Surveyors often charge for any travel time clocked because they are paying their employees from the second they deploy to a site. Costs incurred usually cover traveling to your property, obtaining records, or meeting with other land specialists for additional support regarding a complicated property. In some cases, mileage rates may only kick in if a surveyor's office is far from the property you're surveying.
Special Services
Surveyors may charge extra for any special maps or documentation you request. If you need your surveyor to present their findings to a zoning commission, local board, seller, buyer, or legal team on your behalf, they may charge you an hourly consulting rate for their expertise.
Location
Where you live can impact the cost of a land survey. For instance, they usually cost less in rural areas and become more expensive in metropolitan areas.
| Location | Average Survey Cost |
|---|---|
| New York | $500 – $1,000 |
| Texas | $800 – $1,500 |
| California | $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Ohio | $400 – $800 |
Costs for Different Types of Surveys
Not all land surveys are the same, as there are many types available depending on what you are using the survey for and where you live. Additionally, each of the below survey types boasts a unique cost range.
Boundary Survey
When buying a home or breaking ground on new construction, a boundary survey is your most basic service, ranging from $100 to $600. Use this survey to confirm your home's value or ensure you're not building a fence across your neighbor's garden.
Topographic Survey
Do you live on a patch of countryside peppered with trickling streams, rolling hills, and old oak trees? You may need a topographic survey for between $500 and $1,200 to start building structures.
Mortgage Survey
Like a boundary survey, the mortgage appraisal ensures you know exactly what you're paying for. Most pros charge an average of $500 for this essential service as part of the mortgage financing process.
Fence Land Survey
Let's say you're dreaming of a fenced-in backyard where you can let the dog run without worry. You'll need a land survey that costs between $250 and $1,000 to make sure you're staying on your side of the property line.
As-Built Survey
If you're embarking on a large home or landscape construction project, an as-built survey represents how your property looked at one point. This 3D drawing is much more advanced than a basic plan and will cost between $800 and $1,200.
New Construction Survey
Since new construction is such a big project, surveys for new construction are compiled using different surveys, including boundary, staking, and topographical. New construction surveys cost between $400 to $1,800. They tend to fall on the more expensive end given all the work they entail
ALTA Survey
ALTA stands for American Land Title’s Association, and the ALTA survey is performed to their specific standards. ALTA surveys are some of the most comprehensive and take time. Typically, commercial property buyers or homebuyers dealing with a title dispute will have ALTA surveys done. On average, they cost from $1,200 to $3,000.
Subdivision Survey
A subdivision survey essentially prepares land developers and property owners to divide the land into plots that become their own subdivisions. Conducting a subdivision survey will ensure that zoning requirements are met. A subdivision survey costs between $300 to $1,000.
When Do You Need Land Surveying Services?
There are many reasons why modern homeowners opt for professional land surveying. Here are some of the most common grounds for hiring a surveyor.
Settling property line disputes: This is one of the main reasons, as there isn’t a way to settle a dispute without conducting a thorough survey of the land that abuts the two competing properties. These surveys also help you find the property lines for other legal reasons.
Starting construction projects: If you are starting a construction project on your property, such as building a pool house or a veranda, you should conduct a land survey. The upfront costs of a survey pale compared to the costs accrued when accidentally building onto your neighbor’s property. This is also a must-do when building a home on newly purchased land.
Understanding a home or land purchase: If you are buying a plot of land, you want to understand the exact boundaries of that purchase. The deed likely describes these boundaries, but there is nothing like verifying data yourself. A survey reveals the land's topography so you know the best spots to build later.
Locating utilities: Topographic surveys suss out the location of every natural and artificial feature on a property, including any pre-existing utility components. Conduct a survey to find the location of the water main, various plumbing fixtures, and more.
Creating subdivisions: If you purchased a property and plan on splitting it into multiple domiciles, a land survey gives you exact dimensions to help you plan accurate subdivisions.
Hiring a Pro to Survey Your Land
Because you need to be licensed to do a land survey, there’s no option to DIY rather than hire a pro. However, when hiring a pro, you can do your due diligence by checking their references, credentials, and reviews and familiarizing yourself with the most important questions to ask a land surveyor. It’s worth browsing land surveying options near you to find the best pro for the job of all those available.
How to Save Money on Land Survey Costs
While land surveys can come with a hefty price tag, there are some ways you can cut down on the total cost.
Plan ahead. By budgeting for other aspects of property ownership, like the cost to clear land or land development costs, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for regarding a land surveyor’s fees.
Know the type of survey you need. To reduce the chance of paying more for a type of survey that isn’t necessary, make sure you know the exact type you need before you start.
See if you can get a referral. Sometimes, if you’re working with a realtor or other contractors, you can get a discount when they refer you to a land surveyor.
Book when there's less demand. If your timeline is flexible, book in the off-season when there's less demand and potentially lower rates. Data from Angi customers shows that November, December, and January have less demand for land surveyors. April and May are the busiest months, as many people are starting spring construction projects.
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’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.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can search for local land surveyors online and then call and ask for estimates. You can also check their reviews online or ask for references. Before hiring one, ask them to provide their license and insurance information before working on your property.
Land survey reports have a boatload of information relevant to several scenarios. Here are the types of information contained with a survey, though it depends on your chosen type of land survey.
Exact boundaries and dimensions of a given property
General topography, including both natural and artificial landmarks
Location of utility fixtures, like water mains
Confirmation of any easements or encroachments on a piece of property
Assessment of land elevation to buy flood insurance
Updated information to add to a pre-existing property map
To prepare for a land survey, you must ensure that you’ve thoroughly checked your land surveyor’s qualifications, reviews, and fees to align with your expectations. When it is time for the survey to be conducted, ensure that you have all your documents organized and available, know and mark your property lines, and inform your neighbors that the survey is happening.
Land surveys are often the piece of a larger home-design puzzle. Ensuring your plan falls legally within your land is always the best starting point. For example, a home buyer is often responsible for completing a professional land survey to ensure the deed matches the property.
A land survey is also a great jumping-off point to start designing that new fence or stone wall you've been dreaming about. A surveyor will approve new home additions, such as a larger kitchen or guest space.
Mistakes happen, even with reputable survey companies. If they gave you an inaccurate survey, the mortgage lender might call attention to it before you finalize a property purchase, muddying up the waters for border disputes later. It may also force you or neighbors to move a fence or some other indicator of a property line without just cause.
In other words, don’t take your company’s word for it. Double-check any survey with the original company and with an inspector.