In 40 seconds
A chartered structural engineer's inspection or written report in the UK usually costs roughly £200–£1,200, depending on what's being checked — a simple crack assessment sits at the lower end and a full subsidence or whole-house report at the higher end. Structural calculations for a single beam or load-bearing wall removal typically run £300–£700 for the design pack alone (separate from the builder and the steel), and many engineers charge around £75–£150 per hour or roughly £400–£600 per day for work priced by time. You usually do need an engineer whenever the structure is altered or assessed — removing a load-bearing wall, fitting an RSJ, or investigating cracks and movement — because Building Control normally requires signed calculations. The honest answer is always a range, because it depends on the property, the complexity and where you are in the country.
Most structural-engineering cost guidance is published by firms quoting for the work, so the figures tend to be presented as headline 'from' prices. The pages below give honest cost ranges, explain when you genuinely need a chartered engineer, set out what's involved in removing a load-bearing wall, and explain what a calculation pack actually covers — before you take a single quote.