Thread: Architect's Cost

Just a quick question what are the average cost for an Architect here in Thailand.

Set of drawings for a 3 bedroom 3 bathroom with a pool on an 800sqm plot maybe 2 storey

The fee is usually a percentage of the total construction cost. Another way to go is design-build where the construction cost and design cost are combined. Fees for architects can vary greatly. If you hire a qualified, English speaking architect expect to pay between 5-10%. Designers with noted reputations cost more than run of the mill designers. If you have a clear concept of what you want and can back it up with rough plans, photos, material choices etc., that will help the process immensely.

just for plans and getting planning permission, should be around B6-10K from a small architect

if you want them to oversee the build, maybe pay them B500 a visit

^ I guess these price might work somewhere upcountry but as soon as you are in a farang area those prices will rise at least five fold.

Sort of related ...

Does anyone know a draugtsman who can make some mods to existing plans for a UK house using autocad.

What sort of price would I need to pay for that? Maybe hourly rate?
Guess it's 2 hours max for someone who regularly uses autocad. Probably 2 days *min* for me to install autocad and learn the basics (again) TO get it how I want.

Does anyone have a recommendation (Bangkok or via email)?

They are plans for PP in UK, previously passed in UK but now expired (5 yrs old) and will probably need second set plans for building regs. Anyone know someone who has experience or am I now better off finding a UK bod to do all this?

Originally Posted by DrAndy

just for plans and getting planning permission, should be around B6-10K from a small architect

6,000 - 10,000 baht to design a 3 bedroom, 3 bath house with a pool. Do you know such a person?

125 Baht per square metre of design plus 10,000 for engineering specifications.
This should include the architect's organising the building permits where necessary.

I am in Phuket so expect to pay more than up country, they can do the plans plus the planing app's and the building permits,

Originally Posted by Humbert

The fee is usually a percentage of the total construction cost. Another way to go is design-build where the construction cost and design cost are combined. Fees for architects can vary greatly. If you hire a qualified, English speaking architect expect to pay between 5-10%. Designers with noted reputations cost more than run of the mill designers. If you have a clear concept of what you want and can back it up with rough plans, photos, material choices etc., that will help the process immensely.

Thanks bye the way,
So what you are saying on a 6 million baht house at the max would be 600k, I can supply all the designs and materials and room sizes I am experienced enough to be able to do that I wouldn't be going in there blind, not knowing what I want I guess I would be doing all his planning work for them.

A figure we was quoted yesterday I think he is doing them in gold leaf.

Generally the costs are based on floor size or project costs. The figures I got from the Internet:

• 6% of project costs
• 450 Baht per square metre

This figure were for a common Thai house you found everywhere.

A "real" educated architects who designs a house especially to your needs, the site situation, your budget, surveys the whole building process etc. will be much more expensive:
3'000 Baht/sqm and up.

Originally Posted by escaped

I guess these price might work somewhere upcountry but as soon as you are in a farang area those prices will rise at least five fold.

no, unless you call Chiang Mai upcountry

Originally Posted by Humbert

6,000 - 10,000 baht to design a 3 bedroom, 3 bath house with a pool. Do you know such a person?

no, I designed, he did the plans; I had to pay the engineer a few thou to sign it off

as you can see, it all depends on many factors

not a simple thing

Originally Posted by FarangRed

Just a quick question what are the average cost for an Architect here in Thailand.

Set of drawings for a 3 bedroom 3 bathroom with a pool on an 800sqm plot maybe 2 storey

I just build a house (4bed + maid/7bath/small pool) at Samui - opposite Phuket - and I did a fairly detailled plan and drawings, and had an architect to make the construction set - including all technical calculations for steel, coloums etc. - and obtain the building permission. 50k baht + 10k for the Tassaban (socalled VIP-fee, to obtain a permission in 1-2 weeks).

If the architect could also be my constructor, I could have all plans for free. Constructor fees on this side are normally 4-12% of the calculated (quoted) price plus 4-8% overhead, so it comes to a total of 12-16% on top of the calculated quotation. Construction prices here are typically around 15-20k pr. sq.m. depending of materials etc. - high-end luxury more, something like 40-70k pr. sq.m.

Originally Posted by FarangRed

A figure we was quoted yesterday I think he is doing them in gold leaf.

Keep us posted on your progress.
Make sure he lists everything he is including so you don't get surprised with additional fees. Engineering fees, site visits, copies, permit applications and reimbursable expenses should all be included in the fee and clearly stated as so in your agreement.

I just paid 3500 baht for a full set of drawings of a bungalow I designed. I gave the woman the floor plan and a list of materials and their latest prices. The drawings came back a week later.

The builders have started so the plans must have been ok.

Originally Posted by Spin

I just paid 3500 baht for a full set of drawings of a bungalow I designed. I gave the woman the floor plan and a list of materials and their latest prices. The drawings came back a week later.

The builders have started so the plans must have been ok.

Bear in mind that there is a big difference between a licensed architect and a draftsman. Many contractors in Thailand will commence construction with drawings done on the back of a napkin.

Originally Posted by Humbert

Originally Posted by Spin

I just paid 3500 baht for a full set of drawings of a bungalow I designed. I gave the woman the floor plan and a list of materials and their latest prices. The drawings came back a week later.

The builders have started so the plans must have been ok.

Bear in mind that there is a big difference between a licensed architect and a draftsman. Many contractors in Thailand will commence construction with drawings done on the back of a napkin.

And at places like Samui and (probably) Phuket you will need a building permission. The Tassaban here is quite strict with the plans and permissions. Don't start without one, facing legal charges from the authorities are not fun.

Different up at an Isan village - up there you can draw a rough skecth on the back of a piece of whatever, and the workers will build a bungalow or house. Nobody seems to care about asking for a permission.

^your right about that and it usually cost more for a farang from what I've heard.

Also ask upfront how much the architect will charge in the event you want any changes made (and you probably will once the structure starts going up- seeing it on paper and seeing it in reality can be two very different things)- if your architect is also your builder, make sure he'll make any changes for free (provided they're not major to the point where he has to start a section from scratch).

Some architects will ask a couple thousand to move a light-switch on their original plan...

we payed 3000bht too, to a friend of the Brothers who said He would do it for nicks! Brother being a Building Engineer [at] Phuket and House built Up Country,, 300sqmt. under roof 3 Bd x 2 Bthoom x 1 Office, Oz style single story.
No builder, wife did the contracting and buying of materials, so we saved 30%

sorry I cant post,