A drafter, draftsman or architectural drafter is a specialist who draws plans and specifications for building projects. Drafters create scale drawings of everything from house plans to extensions and granny flats. They can design anything from a home to a commercial building.  

Drafters can work for themselves as well as companies and larger corporations, often doing the preliminary and final drawings for private clients and builders.

How Much Will A Draftsman Charge?

Generally, drafters will be hired to make the plans for a building project, whether that’s a new house, renovation or commercial project. When they approach a new job, they consider several things. Including:

• The location of your property 
• Size of the house
• Their expertise and experience 
• Preliminary plans will cost less than detailed plans
• There will be additional charges if the plans need to be altered
• If you need help with submitting your plans to the council, completing a development application and/or other services outside the scope of drafting alone, these will cost extra.
• In some cases, you will need to hire a structural engineer for some aspects of the plans
• So how much can you expect to pay? Drafters are usually private contractors and set their own fees.
• Depending on their location, level of experience, workload and other factors, draftsmen base their fees on hourly rates ranging from $80 to $200 per hour or more. Typically, homeowners report paying anywhere between $800 to $2,700 for a draft. 
• However, while some professionals may charge by the hour, others may charge by the square metre or even on a percentage basis. 
• For example:
• Hourly rates can vary from $80–$200 per hour
• Square metre rates can range from $18–$30 per m2
• House plans can cost between $2,500 and $6,000
• Typical fees start from either 1% of project costs or $10 per square metre plus GST.

Licensing, Quotes and Qualifications

Hiring the right drafter can make the whole process go smoothly and it’s a good idea to ask them a couple of questions to make sure you get the right person for the job. Some of these questions include:

• How much experience do you have?
• Are you licensed?
• What are your qualifications?
• Are you insured to work in my home?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• Do you have references I can follow up on?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you’re unsure about. You can always ask about the quotes and get an itemised list of what you are paying for. 

Getting quotes from a draftsman

The cheapest option may not always be the best one and you may find that there are additional costs down the line that can add up. 

Your drafter will likely have some questions for you about the project. These can include: 

• What is the scope of your project?
• Do you have an idea of how you want your project to look?
• Do you have a concept design to work from?
• Can you provide a written quote detailing what’s included?
• What kind of time frame are you looking to complete the job in?

A good Draftsman will take the time to carefully work with you in planning out every detail of your project, and discuss the project in full with costs for planning, drawings, applications, changes and project management. Be prepared to cover their time and expertise when considering all expenses.