If you are thinking of building a house, it is normal for one of your first questions to be: how much an architect charges to build a house. At Fran Cortés Arquitectos, a practice specialising in house design, new build and the construction of traditional and prefabricated concrete homes, we are often asked this question.
The short answer is: it depends. The long answer, and the important one, is that an architect’s fees vary depending on the type of project, the complexity of the design, the execution budget and the scope of services contracted.
In this article we explain clearly how much it can cost to hire an architect to build a house from scratch. build a house from scratchWhat their fees normally include and what factors influence the final price.
What do the architect’s fees include?
When analyzing how much an architect charges to build a house, it is important to understand what services are included. It is not just a matter of “drawing plans”. Typically, a complete commission to build a house from scratch includes:
Basic project
It defines the overall design of the house, the layout, regulatory compliance and the planning aspects. It is the document required to apply for the building licence.
2. Execution project
It technically develops all the construction details: structure, installations, construction systems, measurements and itemized budget. This is where the design becomes a constructible reality.
3. Construction management
The architect construction manager supervises the execution to ensure that the construction complies with the approved project and current regulations.
4. Coordination with other technicians
In the construction of single-family dwellings, the following also intervene technical architect (execution management), health and safety coordinator, geotechnician, etc. In many cases, from the study we manage the whole team so that the client does not have to worry.
Factors influencing how much an architect charges to build a house
Not all homes are the same. The cost of fees will depend on several factors:
Size of the dwelling
Building a small house of 120 m² is not the same as building a single-family house of 400 m². The larger the surface area, the greater the volume of technical work.
2. Complexity of the design
A simple design, with regular geometry and standard construction solutions, will require fewer hours of development than a house with complex volumes, large structural overhangs or unique finishes.
3. Location and regulations
Urban planning and technical requirements vary according to the autonomous community and municipality. Terrain conditions also play a role: steep slopes, complex soils or protected areas increase the complexity.
4. Level of customization
If you want a completely customized design, with a detailed study of orientation, advanced energy efficiency or landscape integration, the process is more in-depth. In our case, the house design is always personalized, which implies an exhaustive creative and technical work.
5. Scope of the assignment
Some clients contract only the project. Others opt for a complete service, including construction management, selection of the construction company, economic control and comprehensive on-site advice.
Price breakdown: designing the house vs. managing the build
When someone searches for how much an architect charges to build a house, they are really mixing two different questions: how much does it cost to design my house? and how much does it cost to supervise the construction?
Both stages are compulsory and are costed separately, so it is worth understanding them one by one before requesting a quote.
The architect’s work on a new build is usually structured into three technical commissions, contracted one after the other, which together make up the total fees.
1. Price of the basic project (the design)
The basic project is the first technical document to be drawn up: it defines the layout, the volumes, regulatory compliance and the planning aspects of the house. It is the document submitted to the local council to apply for the building licence.
Its cost accounts for approximately 30% of the architect’s fees in total, which for a standard single-family home means an indicative range of 2,400 € to 5,000 €, although it varies with the complexity and size of the project.
In this article you can explore in detail how much a building licence costs to build a house.
2. Price of the execution project (the technical work)
Once the licence has been granted, the execution project is drawn up: the complete technical document covering structural calculations, building services, measurements and an itemised budget. It is, in essence, the “instruction sheet” that guides the building contractor throughout the works.
Like the basic project, it accounts for around 30% of the architect’s fees, likewise within a range of 2,400 € to 5,000 € for a typical single-family home, although more complex projects can easily exceed that figure.
3. Fees for construction management (the build)
The construction management is the service through which the architect supervises, visits and certifies that the construction is carried out in accordance with the approved project and current regulations. It is a legal requirement and accounts for the remaining 40% of the fees.
In practical terms, construction management for a house with a construction budget of 200,000 € may range between 6,500 € and 9,000 €, and it is usually invoiced in proportion to the progress of the works.
Architects’ prices by type of project
Not every commission is the same: designing and building a home from scratch does not carry the same technical cost as refurbishing an existing one. The regulatory complexity, the level of intervention and the volume of documentation vary considerably between the two scenarios.
Project cost for a new build
On a new build, the architect must develop the full cycle: basic project, execution project and construction management, plus the preliminary studies and health and safety coordination.
Total fees usually range between 8% and 15% of the Material Execution Budget (PEM) for the works. To put it in figures:
- House with a PEM of 200,000 €: architect’s fees of 16,000 € to 30,000 €
- House with a PEM of 300,000 €: architect’s fees of 24,000 € to 45,000 €
- Estimated total cost including preliminary studies for a typical home: between 15,000 € and 22,000 €
Remember that to these fees you must add those of the technical architect (quantity surveyor), the geotechnical study, the licence and other costs that we set out later in this article.
How much does an architect charge for a refurbishment project?
Refurbishing an existing home is technically simpler than starting from scratch, and that is reflected in the fees. The architect does not need to develop a siting scheme for the plot or resolve every construction system from scratch: they start from a built base and simply transform it.
As a general rule, the fees for a refurbishment project usually range between 4% and 8% of the refurbishment budget, compared with the usual 8–15% on a new build. In addition, on minor or interior refurbishments there may be no need for such intensive construction management, which reduces the total cost further.
In our article on fees for refurbishment projects you will find all the details and practical examples.
So, how much does an architect charge for building a house in Spain?
In general terms, an architect’s fees for a single-family home in Spain usually range between 8% and 15% of the material execution budget (PEM) for the works.
For your practical reference:
- If a house costs €200,000 to build, the fees could range from approximately €16,000 to €30,000.
- If we are talking about a single-family house with a budget of 300,000 €, the cost of the architect could be between 24,000 € and 45,000 €.
These figures are neither fixed nor official, as there have been no mandatory scales for years. Each architectural firm sets its fees according to its experience, methodology and scope of service.
What if you only need the drawings for a house?
If you are not ready to build yet but simply need the drawings for your future home, the cost and the scope of the commission change.
In this article How much does an architect charge for a drawing in Spain? we explain in detail what types of drawings there are, how much they cost and when it is enough to commission only this service without a full project.
Is a new-build architect more expensive in Madrid?
Building in the Comunidad de Madrid, or in the city itself, has particularities that can make the process more expensive than the national average. The cost of land, longer administrative timescales and greater demand for quality projects mean that Madrid practices tend to apply fees at the top of the usual range.
To this must be added the municipal charges of Madrid City Council for processing planning licences, which are calculated on the PEM and can amount to several thousand euros. In broad terms, in Madrid, architect’s fees for a new build usually range between 10% and 15% of the PEM, compared with the 8–15% range we see nationally.
If your plot is in a metropolitan-area municipality such as Pozuelo, Las Rozas or Boadilla, prices are similar to those in the city, although each council has its own licence fees, which are worth checking before budgeting.
How much does it cost to build a house plus fees?
When talking about how much an architect charges to build a house, many users also wonder about the total cost of the process.
As a guide, in Spain, building a house can range between 1,200 € and 2,000 € per square metre, depending on specification and location. To this you must add:
- Project and technical direction
- Geotechnical study
- Topography
- Building permit
- Quality control
- Health and safety coordination
- Connections and urbanization
- Notary and registration fees
In this article we explain it in detail: How much does it cost to build a house in Spain?
Is it expensive to hire an architect to build a house?
This is an interesting question when asking how much an architect charges to build a house. At first glance, 10% of the budget may seem high. However, the architect is not an accessory cost: he is the one who defines the project that will mark 100% of the subsequent expenditure.
A good project optimizes resources, improves energy efficiency, reduces unforeseen events and avoids construction errors that can be much more expensive than the fees themselves. In other words: the architect does not make the work more expensive, but helps to control it.
How much does an architect charge to build a small house?
In the case of building a small house, fees may represent a slightly higher percentage of the total budget, since there are minimum costs associated with technical development that do not depend on size.
For example, a house of 100-120 m² may have fees similar in percentage to a larger one, although in absolute terms they are lower.
This is because the level of technical responsibility is the same regardless of the surface.
Can the price be negotiated?
Yes, but always within a reasonable framework. Rather than negotiating an outright rebate, it is preferable to adjust the scope of service.
For example:
- Limit site management.
- Reduce certain ancillary services.
- Establish differentiated work phases.
What is important is that there is contractual clarity and that both parties have aligned expectations from the outset.
We build your turnkey home
If you are thinking of building a house, whether a traditional single-family home or a prefabricated concrete house, working with a specialist architecture practice will make the difference between a stressful experience and a well-managed process.
At Fran Cortés Arquitectos, architects in Madrid, Málaga, Alicante and the Balearic Islands, we design and develop new-build projects and the construction of single-family homes, supporting our clients from the first sketch to the handover of the keys.
If you would like to know how much an architect charges for a turnkey house in Spain, contact us and request a tailored quote, to suit the needs of your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it mandatory to hire an architect to build a house?
Yes, for any new u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://francortesarquitectos.com/casas-de-obra-nueva-en-madrid/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003enew construction houseu003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e it is mandatory to have an architect to draw up the project and direct the work.
2. Do the fees include the technical architect?
Normally not. The technical architect (direction of execution) is usually billed separately, although many studios coordinate the whole team. In this article we explain in detail u003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://francortesarquitectos.com/en/quantity-surveyor-in-madrid/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003ehow much it costs to hire a quantity surveyoru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e.
3. When are fees paid?
They are usually structured in stages: one part on signing the commission, another on delivery of the basic project, another with the execution project and the rest during construction management.
4. How long does it take an architect to develop the project?
For a single-family house, the project can take between 3 and 6 months, depending on the complexity and review times with the client.
5. Is it different if it is a prefabricated house?
In the case of industrialized or prefabricated concrete housing, the technical process is different, but a project adapted to the plot and local regulations is still necessary.
