How architect fees work in Australia
Australian architects typically charge one of three ways: a percentage of construction cost, a fixed fee agreed once scope is defined, or an hourly rate for advisory or partial work. There is no official fee scale in Australia today. Ranges commonly reported across independent industry sources sit between 7 and 15 percent of construction cost for full service, with 10 to 12 percent cited most often as a working middle.
Sources: SPAX Architecture fee guide, Enclave Architects, Melbourne 2026 guide, hipages architect cost guide. Published by Archive Design. This page is public. No login required.
Last updated: 16 August 2026
The three ways architects charge
Percentage of construction cost. Scales with project value, and is the most common structure for ground-up residential and full-service work. The fee is agreed as a proportion of the eventual build cost.
Fixed fee. A set amount agreed once scope and a rough budget are known. Lower risk for the client, and it requires the architect to scope tightly before agreeing a number.
Hourly rate. Used for early feasibility advice, partial services, or open scopes. Commonly reported hourly bands sit around $100 to $250 per hour depending on seniority and location, per the same independent sources cited above.
Why there is no official fee scale
Architects competing for the same work are treated as competitors under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The Act's cartel conduct provisions prevent competitors from collaborating on or publishing a shared fee scale, since a common scale can function as price coordination across a profession. This is why, in 2005, the ACCC required the RAIA to withdraw its published fee scale before granting a renewed authorisation. No professional body has published an official fee benchmark since.
See the ACCC's public record for Authorisation A90946. That history is why Archive Design publishes a commonly reported range, not a recommended scale.
Typical architect fee ranges in Australia
| Item | Commonly reported range |
|---|---|
| Full service, percentage-based | 7 to 15% of construction cost (10 to 12% most common) |
| Hourly rate (advisory, partial service) | $100 to $250 per hour |
| Renovation contingency (buyer-side budgeting) | 15 to 20% of construction budget |
- Item
- Full service, percentage-based
- Commonly reported range
- 7 to 15% of construction cost (10 to 12% most common)
- Item
- Hourly rate (advisory, partial service)
- Commonly reported range
- $100 to $250 per hour
- Item
- Renovation contingency (buyer-side budgeting)
- Commonly reported range
- 15 to 20% of construction budget
Ranges reported across independent Australian industry sources, not an official scale. Percentage and hourly figures: SPAX Architecture fee guide, Enclave Architects, Melbourne 2026 guide, hipages architect cost guide. Renovation contingency: CHOICE on engaging an architect.
GST
Fees are typically quoted excluding GST, with 10 percent GST added, per standard Australian practice. See the ATO: How GST works.
Checking registration
Before engaging, or being engaged by, an architect, confirm registration through the relevant state board. Archive Design matches across Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
Frequently asked questions
There is no official fee scale. Independent Australian industry sources commonly report full-service fees between 7 and 15 percent of construction cost, with 10 to 12 percent cited most often as a working middle. Hourly rates for advisory or partial work are commonly reported around $100 to $250, depending on seniority and location.
No. Architects competing for the same work are treated as competitors under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. In 2005 the ACCC required the RAIA to withdraw its published fee scale before granting substitute authorisation A90946. No professional body has published an official fee benchmark since.
A percentage fee is a proportion of construction cost and is most common for full-service residential work. A fixed fee is a set amount agreed once scope and a rough budget are known. An hourly rate is typically used for early feasibility, partial services, or open scopes.
Fees are typically quoted excluding GST, with 10 percent GST added, unless the proposal says otherwise. Confirm this on any written fee proposal.
Use the public register for the relevant state board. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia each maintain a searchable register of registered architects.
No. Architect fees are for professional services. Construction cost is what the builder charges to deliver the works. Percentage fees are typically calculated as a proportion of that construction cost, not instead of it.
For a simple estimate based on these ranges, use the fee estimate calculator. Before you quote, the enquiry checklist is a set of prompts for triaging a new enquiry.
Archive Design connects homeowners with architects whose work already fits their project. Apply as an architect.
These figures reflect ranges commonly reported across independent Australian industry sources, not an official fee scale (no such scale currently exists, see our fee guide for why). Every project is different. Use this as a starting point for your own scoping, not a substitute for a written proposal.