Architects in Uttar Pradesh usually charge per square foot of built area, as a percentage of construction cost, or as a fixed lump sum. Space Designers' indicative design fees run from ₹100 per sq ft for 3D design to ₹150 for homes and offices and ₹280 for corporate buildings.
Three ways architects charge
| Method | How it works | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Per square foot | A rate multiplied by the built-up area | Houses and interiors, where area is known early |
| Percentage of cost | A share of the final construction cost | Large or complex buildings |
| Lump sum | One fixed fee for an agreed scope | Small, well-defined jobs |
None is better in itself. What matters is that the method, the scope and the payment stages are written down before work starts.
Indicative rates by project type
These are the studio's indicative design fees per square foot of built area, as listed on its Justdial page. The final fee is confirmed in a written proposal after the site visit.
| Project type | Design fee (per sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Homes and row houses | ₹150 |
| Offices | ₹150 |
| Showrooms | ₹140 |
| Landscape and gardens | ₹120 |
| 3D architectural design | ₹100 |
| Corporate buildings | ₹280 |
A worked example
A house with 2,000 sq ft of built area at ₹150 per sq ft comes to a design fee of ₹3,00,000. At a standard construction rate of about ₹2,073 per sq ft in Kanpur (Infralens, October 2026), the house itself costs roughly ₹41.5 lakh to build, so the design fee is about 7% of construction.
JK Cement's 2026 guide puts architect and engineer fees at 4 to 8% of the total for a house of this size, so the example sits within the usual range.
What the fee should cover
- Site visit and measured survey
- Concept plans and 3D views
- Working drawings for the builder
- Drawings for the development authority approval
- Coordination with the structural engineer
- Site visits during construction
Ask which of these are included, how many design revisions are allowed, and what counts as extra work. Authority fees, the structural engineer and soil testing are often billed separately.
Why the cheapest fee is rarely the cheapest house
The design fee is a small share of what you will spend. A plan that wastes 100 sq ft, or a drawing set so thin that the contractor guesses on site, costs far more than the difference between two architects' fees.
Common questions
- How much does an architect charge per square foot in Kanpur?
- Space Designers' indicative design fee is ₹150 per sq ft of built area for homes and offices, ₹140 for showrooms and ₹280 for corporate buildings.
- Are approval fees included in the architect's fee?
- Usually not. Development authority fees are paid to the authority. The architect prepares and submits the drawings.
Planning a home?
Space Designers has designed homes and interiors across Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi and Uttar Pradesh since 1996. Tell us about your plot and brief.
