Architect & Structural Engineer Fees in Singapore: What They Cost

Whenever a new build, major renovation or A&A project starts, two professional fees come up early: the architect and the structural engineer. Understanding architect fees Singapore owners typically face — and how engineering fees sit alongside them — helps you budget honestly and avoid the trap of choosing on price alone. This article explains how each fee is structured, what a typical range looks like, and what genuinely moves the number up or down.

We write this as practising structural engineers, so the engineering side reflects how consulting work is actually scoped and priced here. The aim is not to quote you a single magic figure — that would be misleading — but to give you the framework to read a quotation and know what you are paying for.

The two professionals, and why both exist

An architect designs the building: the spatial layout, the form, the materials, the way light and circulation work, and the documentation that gets it approved and built. A structural engineer makes that design stand up safely — sizing beams, columns, slabs and foundations, and taking professional responsibility for the structure. On most building projects in Singapore the two roles are distinct, and on anything involving structural change they are both legally relevant.

For smaller residential work you may not need a full architect at all, but you often still need a Professional Engineer (PE) to endorse structural alterations. If you are unsure which applies to you, our guide on whether you need a structural engineer is the right starting point, and the broader role is covered in what a structural engineer does.

How architect fees are structured

Architect fees in Singapore are most commonly charged as a percentage of construction cost, as a lump sum, or — for limited scopes — on an hourly or stage basis. The percentage model is the traditional one: the fee is a proportion of the total cost of the works the architect is administering. The Singapore Institute of Architects has historically published a recommended scale of professional charges, which is a useful reference even though fees are now competitively negotiated rather than fixed.

As a broad orientation, full architectural services on a residential project commonly fall somewhere in the order of single-digit percentages of construction cost, with smaller and more complex projects attracting a higher percentage because the design effort does not scale down linearly. A simple landed extension is proportionally more expensive to design than a large, repetitive development. Always confirm whether the percentage is applied to the tendered cost, the final account, or an estimate.

How structural engineer fees are structured

Structural engineering fees follow the same three patterns — percentage, lump sum, or hourly — and the choice usually depends on scope. For a full new build, a percentage of construction cost or a negotiated lump sum is common. For a discrete piece of work, such as endorsing the removal of a wall, assessing a crack, or producing a structural report, a fixed lump sum is the norm because the deliverable is well defined.

The engineering fee is almost always a fraction of the architectural fee on the same project, because the engineer’s documentation set is smaller, but it carries concentrated professional liability: the PE’s endorsement is what allows certain works to proceed and what stands behind the building’s safety. That accountability, not the page count of drawings, is what you are really paying for. For a sense of the standalone numbers, see our detailed look at when an engineer is required and the related cost of a structural engineer’s report.

What actually drives the cost

Two projects of the same floor area can carry very different fees. The honest answer to “how much” is “it depends,” and these are the variables it depends on:

Scope. Full design and supervision costs far more than a one-off endorsement or assessment.
Complexity. Cantilevers, deep basements, transfer structures, poor soil and irregular geometry all increase engineering effort.
Project value. Under percentage-based fees, a larger construction budget mechanically raises the fee.
Regulatory load. Works needing BCA submission, temporary works design, or PE supervision add documentation and time.
Existing-building risk. Renovations and A&A works require investigation of what is already there, which is harder to price than a clean new build.

This is why a quotation should describe the scope precisely. A low headline fee that excludes site supervision, BCA submission, or revisions is not actually cheaper — it has simply moved cost into variations later.

Reading a quotation properly

When you compare quotations, normalise them before you compare prices. Check what stage of work each one covers (concept, detailed design, submission, construction supervision), whether statutory fees and submissions are included, how many design revisions are allowed, and what triggers an additional charge. A clear scope from a senior engineer is usually better value than an ambiguous low number, because ambiguity is where disputes and cost overruns live.

For renovation budgeting specifically, our overview of renovation cost in Singapore places professional fees in the context of the whole job, and A&A works in Singapore explains when engineering endorsement becomes mandatory. If you want a fee figure you can rely on for your specific project, the most accurate route is to send the scope to our structural engineering consultancy.

Frequently asked questions

How much are architect fees in Singapore?

Architect fees are usually charged as a percentage of construction cost, a lump sum, or an hourly rate, and for full residential services they commonly sit in the single-digit-percentage range of the construction value, with smaller or more complex projects attracting a higher percentage. The exact figure depends on scope, project size and complexity, so the only reliable number comes from a quotation against your specific brief.

Do I need both an architect and a structural engineer?

Not always. A full building project typically involves both, but smaller residential alterations may need only a Professional Engineer to endorse the structural work while the rest is handled by a renovation contractor or interior designer. Whether an architect is required depends on the nature and scale of the works and on whether building plan approval is needed.

Is the structural engineer’s fee included in the architect’s fee?

Usually no. The architect and the structural engineer are separate appointments with separate fees, even when the architect coordinates the team. Some design-and-build packages bundle them, but you should still ask for the engineering scope and the PE’s responsibilities to be set out clearly so accountability is not lost in the bundle.

Why is the engineering fee lower than the architect’s?

The structural engineer produces a smaller documentation set than the architect, so on a percentage basis the engineering fee is typically a fraction of the architectural fee. What you are paying for, though, is concentrated professional liability — the PE’s endorsement is the safety guarantee behind the structure, which is why senior engineering input is worth specifying clearly rather than minimising on price.

Can fees be charged as a fixed lump sum?

Yes. For well-defined work — a structural assessment, a wall removal endorsement, or a report — a fixed lump sum is common because the deliverable is clear. For open-ended full design and supervision, a percentage of construction cost or a stage-based fee is more usual so that the fee tracks the actual scope as it develops.

Need a clear, accountable fee for your specific project? Send the scope to our structural engineering consultancy or get in touch and we will tell you exactly what it involves.