Engineering quotation builders can work from
On a two story timber frame, the builder needs to know exactly what you certify. Price site review, calculations, drawings and certification apart, with site inspections as optional extras.
- Site review, calculations, drawings and certification lines
- Inspections priced per visit, outside the total until chosen
- Issue it as a PDF under your firm’s name, free
What to include in an engineering services quote template
This engineering quotation prices structural work the way a builder and a building department will read it: site review, calculations, drawings and certification on separate lines, with site inspections offered as an option. The sample is a two story timber frame house for a developer. Load it in the free quote maker, change the scope and rates, and issue it as a PDF under your firm’s name.
An engineering quote must define the structure, the design standard you will work to, the deliverables, and the information the client supplies. Most overruns on engineering jobs come from missing inputs, such as no soil report or late architectural changes, rather than from the design work itself.
- Project and structureAddress, building type, number of stories and the structural system, such as timber frame on a concrete slab, so the scope cannot be misread.
- Inputs the client providesArchitectural drawings, a site survey and a geotechnical report. If any are missing, state your assumption, such as an assumed soil bearing capacity.
- Design deliverablesCalculations, framing plans, foundation details and connection details, with the drawing format and the number of sheets you expect.
- Certification and sealingWho signs and seals the documents and what the certificate covers, so the client knows what the building department will receive.
- Revisions allowanceOne round of revisions for coordination with the architect, with later changes charged at hourly rates.
- Plan check responsesAnswering building department comments, either included for one round or charged by the hour.
- Construction phase servicesSite inspections, shop drawing review and answers to contractor questions, priced per visit or hourly and often left optional.
- ScheduleWhen you can start, how long the design takes, and what pauses the clock, such as waiting on the soil report.
Sample engineering quotation with example fees
Keel Engineering quotes Rahim Developments for the structural design of a two story timber frame house. Four Design lines cover the site review and brief, structural calculations, drawings and certification, adding up to $5,300 before tax. Three site inspections are offered as an optional extra at a price per visit and stay outside the total until chosen. A 30% deposit is requested on acceptance. The rates are examples that show the format.
| Item | Group | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site review and brief | Design | 1 job | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Structural calculations | Design | 1 job | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 |
| Structural drawings | Design | 1 job | $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 |
| Certification | Design | 1 job | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Site inspections | Optional extras (optional) | 3 visit | $280.00 | ($840.00) |
| Subtotal before tax | $5,300.00 | |||
| Optional extras, not in the total | $840.00 | |||
5 lines are filled in, from site review and brief to site inspections. Put in your own engineering rates, then download the PDF.
How engineers price structural design work
Engineering fees are usually a lump sum per deliverable, hourly rates with an estimate, a percentage of construction cost on larger projects, or a fixed price per visit for inspections. Lump sums suit repeat building types, and hourly suits investigations and anything that depends on what you find on site.
- Lump sum by deliverableEstimate hours for calculations, drawings and certification, apply staff rates and quote each item as a fixed fee. Clients can compare these easily.
- Hourly with an estimatePrincipal, engineer and drafter rates times estimated hours, shown as a range. Best for assessments of existing buildings, defects and forensic work.
- Percentage of construction costUsed on larger commercial projects where engineering effort scales with the build. Less common on single houses.
- Per visitA set price per site inspection covering travel and a short written report. Keeps construction phase costs clear and lets the client choose how many.
Put your hourly rates for each staff level in the terms, because revisions and permit queries are usually charged that way. The labor cost guide helps you set rates that cover unbilled time.
Worked example: removing a load bearing wall
A homeowner wants to open a kitchen into the dining room by taking out a load bearing wall, and needs a beam design and a sealed letter for the permit. Rates are examples.
- Site visitTwo hours on site measuring spans and checking the load path: 2 x $165 = $330.
- CalculationsBeam, post and footing design: 4 hrs x $165 = $660.
- DraftingA one sheet detail drawing by a drafter: 3 hrs x $95 = $285.
- Review and sealingPrincipal review and the sealed letter for the permit: 1 hr x $165 = $165.
- MileageA 36 mile round trip at $0.70 a mile: 36 x 0.70 = $25.20.
- Total$330 + $660 + $285 + $165 + $25.20 = $1,465.20 before any tax that applies.
Opening the wall can reveal a point load nobody could see, so state that the fee assumes the load path found on the first visit and that redesign after demolition is billed hourly.
Inclusions and exclusions for a structural engineer fee quote
Usually included
- One site visit to review existing conditions
- Structural calculations to the applicable code
- Framing, foundation and connection drawings
- Sealed certification for permit submission
- One round of coordination revisions
Excluded unless priced
- Geotechnical investigation or soil testing
- Architectural, civil or mechanical design
- Redesign after changes to approved architectural plans
- Site inspections unless selected
- Permit and plan check fees
Engineering quote mistakes that cost you hours
- Starting calculations without a soil report and not stating the bearing capacity you assumed.
- Quoting drawings with no revision limit while the architect is still moving walls.
- Leaving certification vague, so the client expects you to sign off construction you never inspected.
- Bundling site inspections into the design fee without saying how many visits are included.
- Forgetting travel time and mileage on rural jobs.
- Not stating when the design clock starts, so delays waiting on inputs count against you.
Engineering quotation questions
How much does a structural engineer charge for a house?
It depends on size, structural system, location and whether inspections are needed. The sample shows one way to lay it out: site review, calculations, drawings and certification as separate fees, with site visits optional. Use it as a structure, then apply your own rates. Every figure on this page is for illustration only.
How do I write an engineering quotation?
Describe the structure and site, list the inputs you need from the client, then price each deliverable: calculations, drawings, certification and any construction phase services. State the design standard, the revision allowance, exclusions and your hourly rates for extra work. Finish with a deposit, start date and valid until date. The quote writing guide covers the general order.
Should engineers charge hourly or a lump sum?
Lump sums suit defined design work you have done many times, such as a standard house frame. Hourly suits investigations, existing building assessments and work where the scope depends on what you find. Many firms quote design as a lump sum and inspections or revisions hourly or per visit. See fixed price vs time and materials.
What do engineering bodies expect in a fee agreement?
Expectations differ by country and licensing board, but engineering bodies generally encourage a written agreement that sets out scope, deliverables, fees, responsibilities and the limits of the engagement before work starts. Check the guidance from your own board or institution, and keep the quote consistent with the agreement you sign.
Are site inspections part of a structural engineer fee quote?
Not unless the quote says so. Inspections depend on the builder’s schedule, so many engineers price them per visit as an optional line. The sample offers three visits the client can add. If the building department requires particular inspections by the engineer, list those as included and price them in the base fee.
What other quotes will the client need?
Usually an architect for the design, a land surveyor for boundaries and levels, and a builder or concrete contractor for construction. The architecture fee proposal, the surveying quote and the rest of our templates follow the same layout, which makes scopes easy to compare.
