The short answer
What you pay depends on the service. A site visit or inspection is commonly around £175–£350, a written structural report usually runs £200–£1,200 depending on scope, and calculations for a single beam or load-bearing wall removal typically cost £300–£700 for the design pack alone. Where work is priced by time, hourly rates are commonly around £75–£150 per hour and day rates roughly £400–£600 per day, with London and the South East usually toward the higher end. Across all of these the main drivers are the complexity of the structure, the size and age of the property, and your location.
Structural engineering is usually priced per service rather than as one flat fee, so it helps to know which job you're pricing. The figures below are typical UK ranges for guidance, not quotations.
Typical UK costs
- Site visit / inspection~£175–£350
- Written report£200–£1,200
- Beam / wall-removal calcs£300–£700
- Hourly rate~£75–£150 / hour
- Day rate~£400–£600 / day
What drives the price
- The service: a quick inspection costs less than a written report, which costs less than a full set of calculations and drawings.
- Complexity: a single beam over a kitchen wall is simpler — and cheaper — than a multi-span opening, a roof alteration or a movement investigation.
- Property size & age: larger or older buildings take longer to assess and often need more checking.
- Location: London and the South East typically sit toward the upper end of these ranges.
| Service | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Site visit / inspection | ~£175–£350 | to look and advise |
| Written structural report | £200–£1,200 | scope-dependent |
| Single beam / wall-removal calcs | £300–£700 | design pack only |
| Hourly rate | ~£75–£150 / hr | higher in London / SE |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and HomeOwners Alliance cost guides.
Fixed fee or by the hour?
Smaller, well-defined jobs — a load-bearing wall assessment or a single RSJ calculation — are usually quoted as a fixed fee so you know the number before you start. Open-ended work, such as an unusual movement investigation or a phased project, is more often charged at an hourly or day rate of roughly £75–£150 per hour or £400–£600 per day. When you ask for a quote it's worth confirming which model applies and exactly what's included.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a structural engineer cost in the UK?
It depends on the service. A site visit or inspection is commonly around £175–£350, a written report £200–£1,200, and calculations for a single beam or wall removal £300–£700 for the design pack. Hourly rates are commonly £75–£150 and day rates roughly £400–£600.
Do structural engineers charge a fixed fee or by the hour?
Smaller, well-defined jobs like a wall-removal calculation are usually quoted as a fixed fee, while open-ended work such as a movement investigation is more often charged at an hourly rate of around £75–£150 or a day rate of roughly £400–£600.
Why is the price range so wide?
Because projects differ. The service, the complexity of the structure, the size and age of the property, and your location all move the figure. A clear scope gives the accurate number for your job.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific project. They are guidance, not a quotation.