R

HOAI Fee Calculator: Architect Fees in Germany

Estimate the fee for building and interior design under the fee table of Germany's HOAI 2021 — with fee zone, work stages, refurbishment surcharge, expenses and VAT.

100% freeNo data storedFee table § 35 HOAI 2021

Guide values — the fee is freely negotiable

Since the European Court of Justice ruling of 4 July 2019 (C-377/17), the HOAI table values are no longer binding minimum or maximum rates. HOAI 2021 (in force since 1 January 2021) calls them "guide values" only. Without a written agreement, the base rate applies (§ 7(1) HOAI). A reform of the HOAI has been announced but, as of 24 September 2026, has not been adopted. This calculator is not legal advice.

Project & fee zone

€

25,000 € – 25,000,000 € · The fee table covers €25,000 to €25 million. Outside this range the HOAI gives no guide values.

III: average requirements · e.g. single-family houses (III–IV), nurseries, primary schools, rooms with standard fitted kitchens

%

Commissioned work stages

percentages under § 34(3) HOAI

Total commissioned: 100 %

Refurbishment, expenses & VAT

%
%

19% VAT is added to fee and expenses (§ 16 HOAI).

Total fee incl. 19% VAT

€78,593.55

€66,045.00 net · Fee zone III · Buildings

Fee at 100% of services

€62,900

Commissioned share

100 %

Fee as % of construction cost

12.6 %

Your fee range (guide values)

This is the span of the table for the selected work stages in fee zone III, including refurbishment surcharge, excluding expenses and VAT.

Base rate

€62,900

Your rate (0 %)

€62,900

Upper rate

€78,449

Fee per work stage (net)

Fee breakdown

Basic fee (100% of work stages)€62,900.00
Fee€62,900.00
+ Expenses (5.0%)€3,145.00
Total net€66,045.00
+ VAT 19%€12,548.55
Total gross€78,593.55

Fee per work stage

Work stageShareNet fee
1. Basic evaluation2 %€1,258.00
2. Preliminary design7 %€4,403.00
3. Final design15 %€9,435.00
4. Planning permission3 %€1,887.00
5. Construction documents25 %€15,725.00
6. Preparing the tender10 %€6,290.00
7. Assisting with the award4 %€2,516.00
8. Site supervision32 %€20,128.00
9. Post-completion support2 %€1,258.00

Fee ranges of all zones at your costs

€500,000 · Fee at 100% of services (all work stages), excluding surcharge, expenses and VAT.

ZoneBase rateUpper rate
I€45,232€53,006
II€53,006€62,900
III€62,900€78,449
IV€78,449€88,343
V€88,343€96,118

Notes on the calculation

  • The basis is the fee table in § 35(1) HOAI 2021 (building and interior design). Intermediate values are interpolated linearly under § 13 HOAI. The rate within the zone is likewise set linearly between the base rate and the upper rate.
  • Eligible costs are net costs excluding VAT (§ 4(1) HOAI) from the cost estimate or cost calculation under DIN 276. Existing building fabric that is incorporated (§ 4(3)) must be agreed separately and added to the costs.
  • Not included: special services, repetition discounts for identical buildings (§ 11(3)), the increase for site supervision on repairs (§ 12(2)) and partial commissioning within a work stage (§ 8(2)).
  • The table values are guide values. The actual fee is freely negotiable and must be recorded in text form. This calculation is non-binding and not legal advice.

Email results

Was the HOAI calculator helpful?

Kaffee ausgeben ☕

Now plan the financing of your building project

Mortgage Calculator →

Guide: HOAI & Architect Fees

Fee zones, work stages and what HOAI 2021 still means today

Calculating Architect Fees in Germany: How HOAI 2021 Works Step by StepFeatured

Calculating Architect Fees in Germany: How HOAI 2021 Works Step by Step

Eligible costs, fee zone, rate, work stages, refurbishment surcharge and expenses: the complete guide to calculating fees under Germany's HOAI 2021, with a worked example.

2026-09-247 min read
HOAI Work Stages 1 to 9: What the Architect Delivers in Each Stage

HOAI Work Stages 1 to 9: What the Architect Delivers in Each Stage

From basic evaluation to post-completion support: what the nine work stages include, what share of the fee each one carries and when partial commissioning makes sense.

2026-09-244 min read
Determining the HOAI Fee Zone: Object List, Points and Examples

Determining the HOAI Fee Zone: Object List, Points and Examples

Zone I to V: how to assign the fee zone for buildings and interiors under § 35 HOAI, what the object list says and how points are scored in borderline cases.

2026-09-244 min read
Eligible Costs under the HOAI: What Counts, What Doesn't and How to Calculate

Eligible Costs under the HOAI: What Counts, What Doesn't and How to Calculate

Cost group 300 in full, services pro rata, VAT never: how to determine eligible costs under §§ 4 and 33 HOAI, the basis of every architect fee.

2026-09-244 min read
HOAI Refurbishment Surcharge: 20, 33 or 50 Per Cent and Existing Building Fabric

HOAI Refurbishment Surcharge: 20, 33 or 50 Per Cent and Existing Building Fabric

Designing in existing buildings costs more. When the refurbishment surcharge applies, which caps apply, what happens without an agreement and how existing fabric raises the eligible costs.

2026-09-244 min read

You might also find useful

Renovation Cost Calculator

Calculate renovation costs with KfW subsidies

Calculate now →

Material Needs Calculator

Calculate tiles, paint, flooring & bulk materials

Calculate now →

Mortgage Calculator

Calculate your mortgage with amortization schedule

Calculate now →

Frequently Asked Questions about the HOAI

Only partly. On 4 July 2019 (C-377/17), the European Court of Justice ruled that the binding minimum and maximum rates of HOAI 2013 breached the EU Services Directive. Since HOAI 2021 (in force from 1 January 2021) the fee tables are guide values only (§ 2a HOAI). The fee is freely negotiable but must be agreed in text form. Without such an agreement, the base rate is deemed agreed (§ 7(1) HOAI). The service descriptions and definitions remain in force.

In four steps: 1. Determine the eligible costs (net construction costs from the cost calculation or estimate). 2. Assign fee zone I to V. 3. Read the table value from § 35 HOAI and interpolate linearly between table steps (§ 13); within the zone the fee lies between the base rate and the upper rate. 4. Multiply the result by the percentages of the commissioned work stages (§ 34). Add any refurbishment surcharge, expenses and 19% VAT.

According to the object list (Annex 10.2 HOAI), single-family houses fall into fee zone III or IV. At €500,000 eligible costs in zone III, the table for all nine work stages ranges from €62,900 (base rate) to €78,449 (upper rate) net, roughly 12.6 to 15.7% of construction costs. With 5% expenses and 19% VAT, the base rate comes to about €78,600 gross. Actual quotes may differ.

Eligible costs are the part of the construction costs on which the fee is based (§ 4 HOAI). For buildings this is mainly the full cost of the building structure (cost group 300 under DIN 276) plus the technical systems (cost group 400) on a pro-rata basis under § 33 HOAI. VAT is excluded. Land, site development and ancillary construction costs usually do not count either. The cost calculation is decisive, or the cost estimate if there is none.

The fee zone depends on how difficult the design is. For buildings six criteria count: integration into the surroundings, number of functional areas, design and structural requirements, technical systems and fit-out (§ 35(2) HOAI). Annex 10.2 lists typical cases: carports zone I, simple garages zone II, single-family houses zone III to IV, universities zone IV, university hospitals zone V. In case of doubt, points are awarded: up to 10 points zone I, 11–18 zone II, 19–26 zone III, 27–34 zone IV, 35–42 zone V.

For conversions and modernisations of buildings of average difficulty, a surcharge of up to 33% on the fee can be agreed, for interiors up to 50% (§ 36 HOAI). If nothing is agreed in text form, a surcharge of 20% is deemed agreed from average difficulty (§ 6(2) HOAI). Separately, existing building fabric that is incorporated can increase the eligible costs (§ 4(3)).

Under § 14 HOAI, for example postage and data transmission, copies, a site office, travel beyond 15 km from the office and fees for services passed to third parties. Expenses are charged individually unless a flat rate has been agreed in text form. In practice, flat rates of around 3 to 6% of the fee are common. Reimbursement can also be excluded entirely by contract.

A reform has been announced politically. Reports commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs recommend considerably higher table values. As of 24 September 2026, however, there is neither a draft bill nor a cabinet decision, and the ordinance also needs the consent of the Bundesrat. HOAI 2021, last amended on 22 March 2023, therefore still applies. We will update the calculator as soon as a new version is adopted.