What planning costs. And why.
Fees under HOAI 2021. Transparently calculated, explained in advance, agreed in writing. No hidden items, no late additions.
HOAI 2021. Freely negotiable. Agreed in writing.
We work under the German Fee Regulation for Architects and Engineers (HOAI 2021). Fees can be freely agreed above or below the tabular values — provided that agreement is made in text form before contract conclusion. Without such notice, minimum rates apply automatically (§ 7 (2) HOAI). We give you this notice before any contract.
For you that means: you see the tabular values, you see the hourly rate, you see the range. Then we decide together.
€168 net per hour. Three-pillar calculation.
- €168 Selling rate · net
- €130 Internal full-cost rate
- Zone III HOAI fee zone · upper middle
Our selling hourly rate is €168 net, in the upper middle range for civil engineers in NRW. Behind it: an open calculation — selling rate €168/h · internal full-cost rate €130/h · margin covers training, software licences and professional liability.
We communicate this because trust is built through numbers. Whoever understands the calculation also understands why a fee cannot simply be compressed.
What full planning typically costs.
The table below shows the HOAI tabular ranges for our typical building values. Without special services, without LP 4 partner share, without BAFA/KfW administration flat rates. The actual agreement depends on complexity, existing structure and scope of your project.
| Service | €250,000 | €350,000 | €600,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Object planning · § 34 · phases 1–9 (LP 4 in cooperation) | €28,000 – 35,000 | €38,000 – 48,000 | €58,000 – 72,000 |
| Structural planning · § 51 · phases 1–6 | €8,000 – 10,500 | €10,500 – 13,500 | €16,000 – 21,000 |
| Building physics (thermal + acoustic) | €2,500 – 4,000 | €3,500 – 5,500 | €5,000 – 7,500 |
| Full planning bundled | €38,000 – 49,000 | €52,000 – 67,000 | €79,000 – 100,000 |
| Share of building value | 16 – 20 % | 15 – 19 % | 13 – 17 % |
HOAI tabular values 2021, fee zone III upper middle range. A 2025 expert report recommended +16 % to +67 % upward adjustment vs. 2013 values — we negotiate at the projected 2026 level, not the old tabular value.
For clearly bounded services: firm ranges.
Where the scope can be precisely defined in advance, we work with fixed prices or tight fixed-price corridors. That gives you planning certainty and us a calculable initial survey as a gateway to follow-on work.
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Complete wall opening
Fixed priceSurvey · structural certificate · construction detail lintel / steel beam · execution recommendation
€590 – 890 net
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Permit set extension
Fixed-price corridorPhase 1+2 concept · phase 3 design · phase 5 construction docs · phase 4 permit in cooperation · pre-structural certificate
€4,500 – 9,500 net
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iSFP — individual renovation roadmap
after 80 % BAFA grantBAFA-subsidised energy consulting with 80 % grant · KfW / BAFA application · measure roadmap
from €1,300 SFH · from €2,000 MFH own share
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SFH general planning · phases 1–9
transparently calculatedConcept · moodboard · variant study · design · construction docs · tender · supervision · after-care. Phase 4 in cooperation with AKNW partner
HOAI tabular value upper range
One offer. Three pillars.
Every offer shows three pillars: HOAI tabular value for basic services · hourly-rate window for special services · third-party costs (surveying, soil report, fire protection, expert opinions). You see what is calculated under HOAI, what we bill by effort, and what flows externally.
No flat rates that are not explained. No "administration surcharge" that you only see on the final invoice. Every line item is justifiable.
Frequently asked questions on fees.
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01 Why is a § 7 HOAI text-form fee agreement worth it?
Without a text-form notice before contract conclusion, the HOAI 2021 minimum rates apply automatically. Depending on the fee zone, that can mean a 20–40 % loss of fee — or conversely a minimum rate that does not fit your project. We provide the § 7 (2) notice in text form before any consumer contract, so the fee remains freely negotiable and project-appropriate. -
02 What does full planning cost for a single-family house?
At €250,000 building value, the HOAI tabular range for bundled full planning (object + structural + physics) is €38,000 – 49,000 net. At €600,000 building value, €79,000 – 100,000. Share of building value drops with project size from ~18 % to ~15 %. Exact figures agreed in the first conversation. -
03 What does the LP 4 cooperation mean for cost?
LP 4 — the permit submission — runs in cooperation with an AKNW-registered partner architect. The partner share is shown as a separate item in the offer, typically 12–18 % of the LP 4 share under HOAI. You still have one contract with Keystone, one point of contact, one invoice. -
04 When is the €168/h hourly rate applied?
The €168 net rate applies to special services outside HOAI basic services — additional survey work, extra variant studies, subsidy-logic optimisation, authority liaison outside LP 4. HOAI basic services are billed by tabular value, not hours. -
05 Are fixed prices including VAT?
No. All prices given are net amounts without 19 % VAT. On request we provide the offer in gross figures — but we recommend net because clients with input-tax deduction (letting) and clients without (owner-occupied SFH) need different calculations. -
06 Difference between tabular value and real 2026 fee?
The HOAI 2025 expert report recommended a +16 % to +67 % adjustment vs. 2013 tabular values. The HOAI revision 2026 is pending. We negotiate at the projected 2026 level, not the old 2013 tabular value — fair to our clients and to ourselves. Concrete ranges are in the table above.