Fees
Structural engineer report and inspection fees
Our on-site structural inspections with a written engineer's report start from $450 + GST, and an underpinning quote review starts from $390 + GST. Every fee is fixed before we start, with a quote within 1–2 business hours. We never sell repairs, so the fee is the only thing you pay us.
Fee table
How much does a structural engineer cost?
Our structural engineer fees for a typical house start at these amounts, plus GST. Your fixed quote confirms the exact fee for your property before anything is booked.
| Service | What you get | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| House structural inspection | An engineer's on-site inspection of the house, with a written report on its structural condition | From $450 + GST |
| Foundation and crack report | Cracks measured and rated against AS 2870, the likely cause and your options, before anyone quotes a repair | From $450 + GST |
| Pre-purchase structural inspection | An engineer's view on cracks, movement or stumps before you commit to buy | From $450 + GST |
| Underpinning quote review | A written second opinion on a contractor's quote, from your documents and photos | From $390 + GST |
| Underpinning design and certification | Design, permit documents, stage inspections and certification | Fixed quote per job |
| Building defect report | Defects, causes and repair scope for owners, buyers and disputes | Fixed quote per job |
| Crack monitoring | Scheduled readings to show whether movement is active or historic | Fixed quote per program |
- Fixed fees
- Agreed before we start, no hourly rates on inspections
- GST
- Fees are quoted plus GST
- Quote time
- Within 1–2 business hours, Mon–Fri: 8:00am – 5:00pm
- Time on site
- One to three hours for a typical house
- Report date
- Confirmed in your quote
- Independence
- No repairs to sell, no contractor commissions
How our fees compare
What do other structural engineers charge?
Engineering firms that publish their fees start between about $500 and $1,450 for an on-site inspection or assessment, and cost guides put a typical engineer's inspection and report at roughly $400–$1,000. Our on-site inspections start from $450 + GST, below every engineering firm's published starting price we found.
| Source | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Engineering firm, Melbourne | On-site assessments from $500 |
| Engineering firm, Brisbane | Focused inspection $885, full inspection and report $1,450 |
| Engineering firm, Queensland | Assessments from $1,450 + GST |
| QuickQuote cost guide | Inspection and report $400–$1,000 |
| The Quote Yard cost guides | Inspection and report: NSW $400–$900, VIC $700–$1,800, QLD $750–$1,900 |
Starting prices and typical ranges published online, checked October 2026. Every provider's final fee depends on the job, including ours.
Published starting fees for an engineer's on-site inspection
- Our on-site inspection$450
- Engineering firms' starting fees$500–$1,450
- Cost guides: inspection and report$400–$1,900
Cheapest isn't the point
A free inspection from a repair company costs nothing upfront, but the advice comes with a sales target. An independent engineer's fixed fee buys you a diagnosis with nothing else to sell.
What changes the price
What affects the cost of a structural engineer's report?
The starting fee covers a typical house. These are the things that move a quote up or down.
Size and type of building
More rooms, storeys and wall area take longer to inspect. Units, strata and commercial buildings are quoted separately.
How much needs checking
One crack and its cause is quicker than a whole-house structural assessment.
Access
Subfloors, roof spaces and steep or tight sites add time on site.
Purpose of the report
A report for a dispute or tribunal needs more detail and a specific format, so tell us upfront.
Further testing
Some jobs need a soil test or plumbing test before the cause is clear. We'll tell you if they do, and why.
Design and certification
Repairs that need a design, permit documents and stage inspections are quoted once the scope is known.
Quote builder
Build your quote request in 30 seconds
Answer three questions and we'll carry them into the quote form, so you only add your contact details and photos.
Every quote is a fixed fee for your property, confirmed within 1–2 business hours during business hours (Mon–Fri: 8:00am – 5:00pm).
- Photos help. A wide shot and a close-up of each crack is plenty.
- Got a contractor's quote? Attach it for a quote review.
- On a deadline? Tell us, for example the end of a cooling-off period.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Still unsure? Call 07 2150 0579 and an engineer will talk it through.