The short answer
Architects in the UK are usually paid one of three ways. A full service is most often charged as a percentage of build cost, typically around 7–15%, so on a £100,000 project that is roughly £7,000–£15,000. For smaller or clearly defined work many architects quote a fixed fee, and plans-only packages — concept and planning drawings without the build stages — commonly sit around £1,200–£3,000. Hourly rates are typically around £50–£150 an hour and suit advice or one-off tasks. The percentage moves with complexity and scope: extensions and one-offs sit at the higher end because they involve more design time per pound of build, while larger, simpler projects sit lower.
How you are charged matters as much as the headline number. Percentage fees scale with build cost, fixed fees suit defined scopes, and hourly suits advice. The figures below are typical UK ranges for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK architect fees
- Full service~7–15% of build cost
- £100k project~£7,000–£15,000
- Plans-only package~£1,200–£3,000
- Hourly rate~£50–£150 / hour
- Charged aspercentage, fixed or hourly
The three ways architects charge
- Percentage of build cost: the most common basis for a full service, typically around 7–15%. The fee scales with the value of the work, so a bigger build means a bigger fee.
- Fixed fee: a single agreed price for a defined scope — popular for extensions and plans-only work where the brief is clear.
- Hourly rate: commonly around £50–£150 an hour, best for advice, feasibility or one-off tasks rather than a whole project.
| Basis | Typical figure | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage (full service) | ~7–15% of build | whole projects, build oversight |
| £100k project (percentage) | ~£7,000–£15,000 | as above, illustrative |
| Fixed fee (plans only) | ~£1,200–£3,000 | extensions, defined scopes |
| Hourly rate | ~£50–£150 / hour | advice, feasibility, one-offs |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: HomeOwners Alliance and RIBA fee guidance.
Why the percentage varies so much
The same architect will quote a higher percentage on a small, design-led extension than on a large, straightforward new build, because a one-off home needs far more design hours per pound of build value. Complexity, location, the level of service you want (full service versus plans only), and how much the architect oversees the build all move the figure. That is why a single headline percentage is misleading — what matters is the scope behind it.
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We'll match you with a RIBA-chartered architect who sets out the scope, the RIBA stages included, and a clear fee basis — percentage, fixed or hourly — so you can compare on the same terms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an architect cost in the UK?
A full service is typically charged at around 7–15% of build cost, so a £100,000 project usually means roughly £7,000–£15,000 in fees. Smaller or plans-only work is often a fixed fee of around £1,200–£3,000, and hourly rates are commonly around £50–£150 an hour.
Do architects charge a percentage or a fixed fee?
Both are common. Full-service work over a whole project is often a percentage of build cost (around 7–15%), while clearly defined scopes such as plans for an extension are frequently quoted as a fixed fee. Hourly rates suit advice and one-off tasks.
Why is the fee range so wide?
Because projects differ. The size and complexity of the work, your location, the level of service you want, and how much the architect oversees the build all move the figure. A scoped fee proposal gives the accurate number for your project.
Sources & further reading
- HomeOwners Alliance — architect fees and how to cut them
- RIBA — how do architects calculate their fees?
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific project. They are guidance, not a quotation.