How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Architect in 2025?

Cost Factors for Hiring an Architect

How much an architect costs to draw plans depends on several factors, including their experience level, the project type, and the required building plans.

Experience Level

In general, you can expect to pay more to hire more experienced architects with specialized expertise in the type of work you need them to do. Senior architects may charge up to twice as much or more, especially if they are taking on project manager roles, compared to junior or intern architects with less experience.

When collecting project quotes from architects in your area, recognize that the most affordable option may not be the best choice for your project. 

Project Type

Most homeowners report spending between $2,191 and $11,571 to hire an architect. However, this price likely reflects only the drafting of initial plans, small projects, or partial services. Most architects report charging 8% to 15% of the total construction cost for residential services, depending on the budget and project complexity. That means the cost to hire an architect ranges from $24,000 to $45,000 for a new $300,000 home. 

An architect is an asset to any project requiring building a new structure or fundamentally altering a current one. Architects perform various functions with a wide skill set, including:

• Creating plans, blueprints, and construction documents

• Working as your agent as well as a planner, manager, and construction administrator to help you evaluate bids and select contractors

• Understanding engineering, structural and spatial relationships, planning, applicable building codes, and zoning regulations

Remodel or Home Addition

Architectural services for remodels and home additions cost 12% to 20% of the total construction cost. Home addition costs range from $22,000 to $83,000, which means you’ll pay $2,600 to $16,600 in architectural fees. Architects charge more for remodeling and addition projects than new constructions, on a percentage basis, for a variety of reasons:

• Unknown conditions: Unlike new construction, the condition of building materials and utilities behind walls and out-of-sight locations is unknown in existing homes. Unknown conditions typically require more design revisions.

• More hands-on work: Most pros won’t write up initial plans and leave it at that. Architects need to be onsite more often to assess conditions and make changes as the project progresses.

• Code compliance: Any time you update an existing home, you must bring any altered areas up to the current building code. For example, if you open up an existing wall, the electrical, plumbing, and framing might need to be updated to current standards.

Custom House Plans

Basic custom house plans that do not include any other services or construction documents run an average of $3,000 to $8,000. Detailed construction documents that include specifications for electrical, cabinetry, appliances, and plumbing cost closer to $10,000 to $60,000, with an average cost of $30,000 for a $300,000 total build price.

Fee Structure

Architects may offer different payment structures for how they charge for their work. Below, you’ll see typical cost ranges for how much hiring an architect costs per square foot, per hour, as a percentage of the total build price, and an average cost for drawing plans.

Architect Hourly Rate

If you hire an architect on an hourly basis, expect $125 to $250 per hour for a principal or project manager level architect. Intern architects typically run $65 to $90 per hour, but they need to work alongside a higher level architect, so you'll likely see a bill for both.

Hourly rates make sense for smaller projects or to solve a specific design issue. If you need limited services, such as simple building plans, you might be able to use an hourly rate—alternatively, you could hire an architectural draftsperson.

Architect Cost Per Square Foot

You’ll pay anywhere from $2 to $15 per square foot for an architect. This billing method is not often used because there is a lot of variation in the level of effort required by a project. Each phase of work can be separated into a cost per square foot as follows:

• Concept development and drafts: $2–$5 per square foot, including preliminary design consultation, site visit, and initial draft documents.

• Construction documents: $2–$5 per square foot with detailed drawings for all construction elements, from framing to electrical and plumbing.

• Project management or administration: $2–$5 per square foot, depending on the level of onsite construction oversight and document administration.

Percentage of Construction Cost

Architects charge 8% to 15% of the total construction cost for most projects. For example, a typical home build costs $115,000 to $450,000, making the total architect fee $9,200 to $67,500, with an average of $32,500.

Fees can go as high as 15% to 20% for remodeling projects and as low as 5% for new construction jobs, depending on the project's complexity. Percentage-based pricing is the most common and ethical as it clearly defines the project budget, so find a professional architect near you who uses this fee structure. 

Cost per Hour

If you hire an architect on an hourly basis, expect $150 to $250 per hour for a principal or project manager-level architect. Intern architects typically run $65 to $90 per hour, but they need to work alongside a higher-level architect, so you'll likely see a bill for both.

Hourly rates make sense for smaller projects or to solve a specific design issue. If you need limited services, such as simple building plans, you might be able to use an hourly rate. Alternatively, you could hire an architectural draftsperson.

Cost per Square Foot

Hiring an architect costs $2 to $15 per square foot. This billing method is not often used because there is a lot of variation in the level of effort required for a project. Each phase of work can be separated into a cost per square foot as follows:

• Concept development and drafts: $2–$5 per sq. ft., including preliminary design consultation, site visit, and initial draft documents

• Construction documents: $2–$5 per sq. ft. with detailed drawings for all construction elements, from framing to electrical and plumbing

• Project management and administration: $2–$5 per sq. ft., depending on the level of onsite construction oversight and document administration

Cost as a Project Percentage

Architects charge 8% to 15% of the total construction cost for most projects. For example, a typical home build costs $140,000 to $525,000, making the total architect fee $11,200 to $78,800, with an average of $45,000.

Architect fees can go as high as 15% to 20% for remodeling projects and as low as 5% for new construction jobs, depending on the project's complexity. Percentage-based pricing is the most common and ethical as it clearly defines the project budget. 

Combined Cost Structure

Although rare, some architects use a combination of percentage, hourly, and per-square-foot billing, depending on the phase of work. Typically, hourly rates are used for the schematic and design phases to incentivize the client to be available and present changes promptly. After the design is settled and the project’s scope is better known, a more accurate per-square-foot or percentage fee can be assessed.

Fixed Fees

Architects might charge a fixed fee for smaller projects where the scope of work is clearly defined. Fixed fee pricing is ideal as a client because you know exactly what the cost will be upfront. However, it’s hard for an architect to estimate as many variables exist in the design and construction processes. For this reason, architects rarely use fixed-fee pricing. Minor revisions are often included in fixed-fee pricing.

Building Plans

Blueprints cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000. The cost of a set of architectural plans for a small addition will be lower than building plans for a large, fully custom home on the higher end. Note that this price range does not include the cost of additional drawing services, like design revisions, project management, or construction oversight. Most projects require extra design revisions along the way.

Included in architectural plans—also called construction drawings or blueprints—are detailed drawings for every part of your new-build home. Plan types include exterior site plans, floor plans, roof plans, elevation views, basement or foundation plans, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) plans.

Add-On Services

In addition to the costs related to architectural plan or blueprint design, architects may offer additional services for your project.

Reimbursable Expenses

Reimbursable expenses cover any cost outside of design services. These could include the cost of printing or shipping design plans, travel expenses like mileage and airfare, and more.

3D Renderings

Some homeowners request 3D realistic design renderings to visualize their proposed project before it is built. These renderings cost $200 to $800 per image.

Design Revisions

Major changes made during the design phase or addressing any changes made during construction cost extra. The cost of minor design revisions might already be included in the base price. Still, you may want to ask the architect candidate what type of revisions constitute additional charges during the hiring process. 

Building Permits

Building permits cost $1,200 to $2,000. Your architect needs to submit design plans to obtain a building permit. Expect them to include this added cost in their total bill. 

Land Surveys

A land survey costs $200 to $1,100. You’ll likely only need one for new home construction; however, some more extensive remodels or additions may require one. 

Commercial Projects

Depending on the project scope and complexity, an architect charges anywhere from 2.5% to 12% of the total construction cost, or $8,000 to $3,000,000, for commercial projects. For example, a basic warehouse might fall on the low end of the spectrum, with fees in the 2.5% to 8% range, while a luxury high-rise building would fall on the high end, with fees in the 8% to 12% range. As total project costs increase, the fee can sometimes decrease due to the scaling of design services.

Architectural Design Fees Schedule

You typically do not have to pay the full architectural design fee upfront. Architects often outline a fee payment schedule based on the different phases of work and achieving certain project milestones.

Phases of Work

The design process consists of five or six design phases. The phases of work start with initial planning and end with complete construction.

• Pre-design: This is an initial design consultation meeting with your architect. You will start your project discussion, determine priorities and goals, and gather initial information.

• Schematic design: Also known as preliminary design, your architect creates a conceptual design during this phase. This high-level design plan is considered a rough draft that you will review with your architect before moving forward. A site visit might also be included.

• Design development: After you have accepted the schematic design plan, your architect turns it into a more detailed technical plan. At this time, you finalize the design and select material colors and finishes.

• Construction documents: During this phase, your architect produces fully detailed technical plans and specifications. The hard copy blueprints are submitted for building permits and solicited for contractor bids.

• Bidding and negotiation: If you choose, your architect can help you review contractor bids. This can be helpful because an architect knows the level of quality and cost to expect for services.

• Construction administration: Optionally, your architect can handle the administration of your construction project. This could include approving change requests, submitting progress payments, and settling disputes. Administration entails an extra cost of around $2 to $5 per square foot or 20% to 25% of the overall fee.

Budgeting for Hiring an Architect

As you examine everything that goes into the cost of hiring an architect, remember these budget-friendly tips to avoid unnecessary expenses:

• Collect detailed project quotes from multiple architects to compare pricing.

• Negotiate a fair payment schedule based on reaching project milestones.

• Opt for simpler, more templated architectural plans over totally custom designs.

• Choose an architect with specific experience handling projects similar to yours.

• Discuss billing methods, like paying per hour, per square foot, or as a percentage of the project total.

• Gain clarity over all additional fees you may incur, like the cost of building permits and land surveys.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real 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.