How Much Do CAD Drawings Cost in Australia?

If you need CAD drawings of an existing building, one of the first questions is usually: how much will it cost?

At R24, CAD drawings for existing buildings start from $990 + GST for our Essentials package, which includes a measured floor plan supplied in DWG and PDF format, 3D site capture and an Interactive 3D Virtual Tour.

For architects, designers and property owners who need more detailed existing-condition documentation, our CAD package starts from $1,450 + GST and includes a floor plan, reflected ceiling plan and up to eight internal elevations, external elevations and/or sections.

For standard projects up to 900 sqm, we publish our prices based on building size, so you can see what your project is likely to cost before booking the site capture.

CAD Drawing Prices by Building Size

Building Size Essentials CAD Package

Up to 100 sqm $990 + GST $1,450 + GST

101–200 sqm $1,090 + GST $1,650 + GST

201–300 sqm $1,190 + GST $1,950 + GST

301–400 sqm $1,390 + GST $2,250 + GST

401–500 sqm $1,590 + GST $2,550 + GST

501–600 sqm $1,790 + GST $2,850 + GST

601–700 sqm $1,990 + GST $3,150 + GST

701–800 sqm $2,190 + GST $3,450 + GST

801–900 sqm $2,390 + GST $3,750 + GST

For buildings over 900 sqm, or projects with unusual access or documentation requirements, contact us and we'll confirm the scope and price.

What's Included in the Price?

The cost depends not only on the size of the building, but also on how much of the existing building you need documented.

Essentials — from $990 + GST

Our Essentials package is designed for projects where you primarily need an accurate existing floor plan.

It includes:

• 3D site capture

• Existing floor plan

• DWG and PDF files

• Interactive 3D Virtual Tour

The Virtual Tour also gives your architect or designer the ability to revisit the property remotely after the site capture, reducing the need to return to site simply to check something visually.

CAD Package — from $1,450 + GST

For projects requiring a more comprehensive set of existing-condition drawings, our CAD package includes:

• 3D site capture

• Existing floor plan

• Reflected ceiling plan

• Up to eight internal elevations, external elevations and/or sections in total

• Editable DWG files

• Interactive 3D Virtual Tour

This is generally the better option where an architect or designer needs more information about the existing building before starting a renovation, refurbishment or fit-out.

What Affects the Cost of CAD Drawings?

For a standard R24 project, building size is the main factor determining the price. A larger building requires more site capture and more drafting time.

However, size isn't the only consideration.

A relatively small building can still be complex if it has irregular geometry, multiple levels or a large amount of detail that needs to be documented. Access can also affect the scope, particularly where parts of the building can't be safely or practically captured.

The drawings required matter too. A client who only needs an existing floor plan doesn't need to pay for the same level of documentation as a design team requiring a reflected ceiling plan, elevations and sections.

That's why it's important when comparing CAD drawing prices to understand exactly what is included.

How Much Do As-Built Drawings Cost?

People searching for drawings of an existing building often use the term “as-built drawings.” In many cases, what they actually need is a measured drawing of the building as it exists today.

The cost can therefore be similar to the CAD drawing prices above, depending on the documentation required.

There is, however, an important distinction.

R24's drawings document the visible and accessible existing conditions at the time of capture. We aren't certifying that the building was constructed in accordance with its original approved drawings or construction documentation.

If you simply need an accurate digital starting point for an architect or designer to work from, existing-condition CAD drawings are often what you're actually looking for.

How Long Do CAD Drawings Take?

The process starts with a site capture. Once access has been arranged, our team captures the existing building in 3D and sends the captured data to our drafting team.

The CAD drawings are then produced, checked against the captured information and put through our quality-control process before delivery.

Our standard turnaround is generally 3–5 business days from site capture, depending on the size and complexity of the project.

For larger or particularly complex buildings, we'll confirm the expected turnaround before proceeding.

How Accurate Are CAD Drawings of an Existing Building?

R24 uses 3D site capture rather than relying solely on someone manually measuring the building with a tape measure or handheld laser.

Our standard existing-condition drawings are produced to a ±12 mm modelling tolerance for clearly visible and accessible building elements.

The Interactive 3D Virtual Tour supplied with the project also gives both our drafting team and your design team a visual reference to the captured building.

There are limits. Concealed construction can't be measured simply because we've captured the property in 3D, and inaccessible or obstructed areas may require additional information.

These are existing-condition drawings for architectural, design and refurbishment workflows. They should not be confused with cadastral surveying or other survey-grade services where a different level of measurement or certification is required.

Do I Need CAD Drawings or a BIM Model?

That largely depends on how your design team intends to work.

If you need 2D drawings and editable DWG files, CAD will often be sufficient. This can include the existing floor plan, reflected ceiling plan, elevations and sections required to start designing.

If your architect or designer works in a 3D BIM environment and wants an existing-building model supplied in Revit or ArchiCAD, a BIM model may be the better starting point.

R24 can produce either CAD drawings or an LOD 300 BIM model from the same type of 3D site capture, so it's worth confirming the required file format with your design team before booking.

What Should You Compare When Getting a CAD Drawing Quote?

Two CAD drawing quotes aren't necessarily quoting the same thing.

Before comparing prices, check whether the quote includes:

• Site measurement or 3D capture

• Existing Conditions floor plan

• Reflected ceiling plan

• Internal elevations

• External elevations

• Sections

• The number of elevations or sections included

• Editable DWG files

• PDF drawings

• Photographic or 3D visual reference

• Expected measurement or modelling tolerance

• Quality control

• Expected turnaround time

• Any additional charges for revisions or additional drawings

A cheaper price may be perfectly suitable if you only need a floor plan. But if your architect subsequently needs ceiling information, elevations or sections, commissioning those separately can change the overall project cost.

The best comparison is therefore not simply the price… it's the price for the documentation your design team actually needs.

Get a Fixed Price for Your CAD Drawings

For standard existing-building projects, you don't need to wait for a quote just to find out what CAD drawings are likely to cost.

Choose the level of documentation you need, check the price for your building size and arrange the site capture.

Know the price. Book the capture. Get the drawings. Start designing.