Free fee calculator
Estimate how many hours each phase will take, add what the project costs you, and see what you should quote. You can check it against the construction cost too.
1Your hourly rate
2Hours per phase
695 h at €72/h €50,040
3What this project costs you
Project costs€6,000
4Buffer and VAT
How this is calculated
For each phase, we multiply your hours by your rate. That's the work. Then we add what the project costs you beyond your rate, like travel, prints or consultants you hire yourself. The buffer goes on top of both, and that's your fee before VAT. If you enter a construction cost, we also show your fee as a percentage of it, because many clients compare fees that way.
Read more: Pricing in phases · Fixed-price projects
Common questions
How do I price a project?
Most people start from the hours. Estimate how long each phase will take, multiply by your hourly rate and add what the project costs you. Then add a buffer, because projects rarely go exactly to plan. That's what this calculator does, one phase at a time.
Where do the example phases come from?
The architecture phases follow the usual steps of a building project, from the first brief to site supervision. In Germany they match HOAI phases 1 to 8 (Leistungsphasen). The hours are only an example, so replace them with what similar projects actually took you.
What goes under project costs?
Anything this project costs you that your hourly rate doesn't already cover. Think travel to site, prints and models, or a structural engineer you hire yourself. Your office rent and software are already in your hourly rate, so don't add them again here.
Isn't the buffer the same as my margin?
No. Your margin is already in your hourly rate. The buffer is for this one project: an unclear brief, extra rounds of changes or slow approvals. If the project goes smoothly, it's extra profit. If it doesn't, it keeps you from working below your rate.
What share of the construction cost is normal?
It depends on the type of building, the size of the project and how much of the work you do, so we don't judge the number. If you're in Germany, the HOAI fee tables are a common reference point, even though they're no longer binding.