Costs for as built drawings vary with project size, site access, and the level of detail required. Typical price ranges reflect survey effort, CAD drafting, and potential revisions after field verification. This guide presents cost, price, and budgeting details to help buyers estimate a project scope and anticipate expenses.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As-Built Drawings (basic project) | $1,200 | $2,800 | $5,000 | Single building, standard plan set, no BIM |
| Field Survey & Verification | $600 | $1,500 | $3,000 | Includes measurements and photo records |
| CAD Drafting (per sheet) | $40 | $120 | $250 | Standard 2D drawings |
| BIM Modeling (basic to mid-level) | $2,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 | 3D model with coordination |
| Revisions & Addenda | $300 | $1,000 | $2,000 | Changes after review |
| Delivery & File Prep | $150 | $500 | $1,000 | Prints, PDFs, and CAD files |
Overview Of Costs
Cost for as built drawings typically ranges from around $1,200 to $12,000 depending on building scale, data quality, and deliverable format. Smaller commercial or residential projects often fall near the low-to-average end, while large facilities with complex systems and BIM deliverables push toward the high end. Assumptions: region, specs, labor hours.
Cost Breakdown
The following table summarizes major cost components common to as built drawing projects.
| Component | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $0 | $400 | $2,000 | Copies, PDFs, base references |
| Labor | $1,000 | $2,000 | $6,000 | Field survey, drafting, revisions |
| Equipment | $0 | $300 | $1,200 | Survey gear, scanning, software |
| Permits | $0 | $0 | $500 | If required for compliance |
| Delivery/Disposal | $100 | $350 | $700 | Printing, file transfer |
| Warranty | $0 | $100 | $300 | Short-term protection |
| Overhead | $150 | $400 | $1,000 | Administrative costs |
| Contingency | $0 | $200 | $1,000 | Unforeseen field issues |
| Taxes | $0 | $150 | $500 | Sales/use tax |
Assumptions: region, specs, labor hours. Prices shown reflect typical market conditions in the U.S. and assume standard architectural or engineering deliverables without complex coordination across multiple disciplines.
What Drives Price
Several factors affect the cost of as built drawings. Project size and complexity are primary, with multi-building campuses and facilities containing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems requiring more field verification and BIM coordination. Data quality and access—if existing drawings are missing or incomplete, crews perform additional survey work, raising both time and cost.
Labor, Hours & Rates
Labor costs reflect field measurements, cataloging equipment, CAD drafting, and potential coordination meetings. Typical rates range from $60 to $140 per hour for field staff and from $60 to $120 per hour for drafting specialists, depending on region and credentialing. Estimators should factor hours for fieldwork, drafting, and client revisions.
Regional Price Differences
Prices vary by geography. In the Midwest and South, rates tend to be lower than in the Northeast and West Coast due to labor and overhead differences. For a mid-size project, regional deltas may approach ±20–35% from national averages. Urban cores generally incur higher coordination and delivery costs than rural sites.
Labor & Installation Time
Time allocations include site survey duration, drafting cycles, and client review periods. A small project may require 1–2 days of fieldwork and 2–4 days of drafting, while larger sites can span several weeks. Longer review cycles and multi-discipline coordination add to the schedule and expense.
Real-World Pricing Examples
Three scenario cards illustrate typical outcomes with differing scope and formats.
Basic
Specs: single building, 2D as built drawings, PDF delivery only. Labor: 18 hours; Field survey: 4 hours; Drafting: 12 hours. Totals: $2,000 base, plus minor revisions.
Mid-Range
Specs: small commercial retrofit, 2D and 3D outlines, PDF + CAD files. Labor: 40 hours; Field survey: 8 hours; Drafting: 28 hours; BIM coordination: 8 hours. Totals: $5,500–$7,000.
Premium
Specs: campus-wide with extensive MEP coordination and BIM, 3D laser scan for point cloud, multi-format deliverables. Labor: 120 hours; Field survey: 20 hours; Drafting: 60 hours; BIM: 40 hours. Totals: $15,000–$25,000.
Assumptions: region, specs, labor hours.
Additional & Hidden Costs
Some expenses may be incidental but impactful. Extra field days, access restrictions, or hazardous material assessments can generate unexpected charges. Permitting or code compliance checks may apply if as built drawings are used for regulatory filings. Ensure deliverables include final file formats and revision control to avoid post-project fees.
Cost Compared To Alternatives
Compared with issuing new as-built documentation from scratch, updating existing drawings is often cheaper, though not always straightforward. If substantial changes exist, a combined survey-and-drafting approach may still deliver savings versus a full re-design. Pricing depends on data fidelity and required deliverables.
Regional Price Snapshot
Three U.S. market snapshots illustrate typical ranges.
- Urban (coastal, dense development): Low $1,800; Average $4,200; High $9,500
- Suburban: Low $1,300; Average $2,900; High $6,000
- Rural: Low $1,100; Average $2,200; High $4,000
These ranges rely on standard build-out conditions and presuppose no major hazards or exceptional access issues. Assumptions: region, specs, labor hours.