
While many people see it as an extra expense that could be waived by simply hiring a contractor to do the build, designs ensure that the addition is done correctly the first time. The design is arguably the most important part of the addition. If you choose this route, be advised that the percentage you pay for the design will be closer to 30% of the total project fee.

The design also matches the details in your existing home architecture, and if you hire an interior designer, they finish and furnish the addition when you are done. In general, expect the design to include a consultation where you and the architect or designer make the plan and discuss ideas, scale, and scope of the project, the plans for the addition, zoning and permits needed, and the inspection. The content of your design varies depending on who you hire for the job, with some firms providing more or fewer services than others. What Does a Home Addition Design Include? Expect to pay from $150 to $1,500 for the addition plans. A small bump out may be drawn in a few hours, while a two-story addition with a kitchen on the bottom floor and a bedroom and bathroom above could take two days to fully draft. They charge between $50 and $75 an hour for most designs, with the size and scale of the addition determining the exact plan costs. These are usually drawn up by a draftsperson working with the design from your architect or designer. House plans are detailed drawings of the design for the addition. Below are some of the most common addition design costs: You can create additions for any reason and of any shape, size, or style. Because you pay one firm, as opposed to an architect, interior designer, and contractor, you end up paying less overall. They combine a builder and designer to tackle the project at once, rolling the design fees into the total build cost. Draftspeople who actually draw up the designs charge roughly $50 an hour, which is usually rolled into the total charged by the firm.ĭesign/Build firms are typically the most economical method of designing. Interior designers usually charge about the same but are more likely to work alongside an architect or builder, rather than be hired separately. The larger the project, the lower the percentage tends to be, meaning very large additions have a lower percentage than a small bathroom addition.

Both generally charge a base percentage, which slides depending on how big the project is. Architects tend to cost the most, charging about $100 - $200 an hour, while architectural designers cost slightly less at $50 - $150 an hour. The average price of a home addition in the U.S. The general rule of thumb is that you pay between 10% and 17% of the total project cost for the design.

While the range for each of these services is similar, you may end up paying more or less depending on who you approach for the job. You may also wish to use a builder to draw up the addition structure and an interior designer to tackle the flow-through, layout, and how the addition will attach and mesh with the rest of your home. Home additions can be designed by an architect, architectural designer, or design/build firm who employ interior designers, architectural designers, or builders with experience in design. The size and scope of the project is one, the type of project is another, but who designs your project has the biggest impact of all.

There are several driving factors behind home addition costs.
