The three common fee structures
- 01
Fixed fee
A single price for a clearly defined scope — for example, concept through detailed design for a defined number of rooms. Best when the scope is genuinely clear, and the most predictable for the client.
- 02
Rate per square metre
Common on villas and larger projects, where area is the fairest measure of work. Ask what level of detail the rate assumes, because a shell layout and a fully detailed joinery package are very different amounts of drawing.
- 03
Percentage of construction value
Traditional on architectural projects. It scales with the build, which aligns the designer with quality rather than cost-cutting, but it needs a realistic construction budget from the start to be meaningful.
What actually moves the number
- Area, and how many distinct rooms need designing
- How many stages you need — concept only, or through to site coordination
- Level of detail: standard joinery versus fully bespoke millwork
- Whether FF&E procurement and styling are included
- Renovation versus new build, and how much surveying the existing structure needs
- Approvals: developer, community or authority submissions add coordination
- Visualisation: how many renders and design options you want to see
Design fee is not project cost
The design fee is usually a small fraction of what you will spend. The larger numbers are construction, joinery, stone, lighting and furniture — which is precisely why design is worth resolving properly before anyone starts buying.
A realistic budget conversation at the first meeting protects you. A designer who knows your range can steer material choices that hold the design together instead of specifying a scheme you will later have to strip back.
Questions worth asking before you sign
- What exactly is included at each stage, and what is extra?
- How many rounds of revision are covered?
- Who specifies and who procures the furniture?
- Is site coordination included, and how often?
- What happens to the fee if the scope grows?
