How much does a drafter cost?

A draftsman costs anywhere between $3,000 and $15,000, depending on the type of project you need done, while the average cost of a draftsman in Australia is $9,000.

Also known as a drafter or a draftsperson, a draftsman creates technical drawings and plans for building projects and houses. Whether you require help with house plans for a new home or are doing renovations that you need a building permit for, you might need the help of a drafter. While a drafter is usually more affordable than an architect, you are probably wondering “how much does a draftsman cost?”.

In this guide, we will explore draftsman costs per hour and project type, what affects the cost of a draftsman, and how to hire a drafter and compare quotes for your job.

What does a draftsman do?

When building your home or renovating, one of the expenses to budget for that you might not have considered is the cost of a draftsman.

But what does a draftsperson do? Also referred to as a building designer or architectural drafter, drafters draw detailed plans to scale. This includes new house plans, granny flats, extensions, and other buildings.

Oftentimes, drafters are employed or contracted by architects to help flesh out the architectural plans. Other drafters choose to be self-employed and work on first and final plans for clients and builders. When you opt to buy completed plans, it’s still worth having a draftsman check to ensure they meet local building codes.

Read more: What is drafting, who does it & how is it done?

How much does a draftsman charge per hour?

While a draftsman costs between $3,000 and $15,000 per project, a skilled draftsman will usually charge between $80 and $200 per hour. The rate you receive will depend on the drafter’s experience as well as the city and state that you reside in.

While usually a drafter will quote you a fixed price, you might find that some drafters offer a per square metre fee for the project. Expect to pay anywhere between $18 and $30 per square metre.

The cost of drafting services for a typical building project

Here are some general estimates for various renovation projects:

Renovating your home

For a full redesign or renovation of your home, you can expect to pay about $4,000. If your home is quite old and will need more intensive work to make sure it meets building codes, this cost can be quite a lot higher.

A small to medium room extension

The cost of a draftsman’s services to draw plans for a small to medium single room extension will average $2,800.

A medium to large home extension

The cost of house plans for adding a medium to large two-room extension is roughly $3,200.

How much does a draftsman cost for house plans?

If you’re building a new house and need a drafter to create house plans, this can cost anywhere between $2,500 and $6,000. This price usually includes the preliminary drawings, as well as two rounds of revisions and the final drawings. For a large custom home design, a drafter may charge anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000.

What affects the cost of a draftsman?

Drafters generally work for themselves and set their own prices. There are a wide range of factors that may affect the cost of a drafter. This includes:

• Your location
• The size of the house
• The experience level of the drafter
• Preliminary plans are cheaper than detailed plans
• Having your house plans altered
• If you need assistance submitting the plans to council for approval
• If you require a structural engineer

Should my drafter be licensed?

If you live in Queensland or Victoria, your drafter will need to be licensed. In all other states, there is no license required so it’s best to check their educational background, experience and whether they’re a member of an industry association before hiring. There are three different classes of registration for drafters in Victoria:

1. Drafters that make working drawings for domestic building construction
2. Drafters that design and draw plans for interior fit outs
3. Drafters producing working drawings for utilities such as water, hydraulics, sewerage, etc.

Drafters usually complete a TAFE course or diploma to become qualified, and their study will take about two years.

Is a draftsman cheaper than an architect?

A draftsman will cost less than an architect because they are not required to be licensed in most states and completing their qualifications is much quicker than for an architect that will typically study for seven years.

Architects also oversee more responsibilities and will work on the project from start to finish, while drafters are not qualified to oversee a building construction project. An architect is trained to produce more complex designs than a drafter, so if your house plans are more intricate or you need the designer to also manage the project, then it might be a better option to hire an architect.

If you only require help to submit the plans to council while your builder handles the rest, then hiring a drafter will prove more cost-effective.

Hiring a drafter and getting quotes

Do you want to know exactly how much a draftsman will cost for your project? Before you get any quotes, it’s best to understand exactly what you will need to tell them about the job.

You will need to let them know:

• The scope of the project
• The way you want it to look
• Whether you have a concept design for them to work from.

Ask the local draftsman about how they charge their fees and whether it’s per hour or per square metre and what their price includes, such as revisions. To find out what drafters are charging in your area, compare multiple quotes with Yellow Pages.

 
* All costs and prices quoted were sourced at the time this cost guide was written and should only be used as an estimate.