Source: https://www.quantsurv.com/library/quantity-surveyor-fees Content format: Markdown version of the public page. Content reviewed: 2026-10-14 # How are quantity surveyor fees agreed? A useful fee comparison starts with the work included, the information available and the responsibility being accepted. by [Jack Butler-Kettle]() · About 4 min readShare ## The answer QS fees depend on the work, complexity, information quality, programme and appointment responsibilities. There is no single fee that describes every project. A defined deliverable can suit a fixed fee. Variable work can use hourly or daily billing, while recurring support can use an agreed monthly allowance. ## Match the fee basis to the work A fixed fee covers a defined scope and output. It works best when the document set, revision rounds and completion requirements are clear. Hourly or daily billing can suit work whose extent is uncertain. Agree the rate, estimate or budget, reporting and approval of additional time. A monthly arrangement suits recurring tasks. State the covered projects, capacity, outputs and treatment of changes or unused allowance. Scroll across to read all columns. Common QS fee arrangements | Basis | Define before starting | | --- | --- | | Fixed fee | Inputs, deliverable, revisions, exclusions and programme | | Hourly or daily | Rate, expected workload, budget and time reporting | | Monthly | Covered projects, capacity, recurring outputs and scope changes | ## What affects the quote? The same project value can involve very different workloads. Incomplete drawings, several tender packages or extensive historic records can increase the work required. Site attendance, urgent deadlines and formal appointment duties also affect the proposed scope. State these requirements when requesting a quote. A short brief and current document list help establish a realistic fee. Avoid comparing a simple desktop review with a full measurement or administration commission. For a bill of quantities, fees depend on drawing quality, scale, detail, measurement rules and included revisions. Measurement-only and measured-and-priced documents are different scopes. A small incomplete drawing set may require more clarification than a larger coordinated one. State assumptions rather than treating floor area as the only fee driver. ## What should a fixed-fee quote include? Record the documents and their revision dates, the questions being answered and the output format. State the included clarification or revision rounds. The proposal should explain what happens if the design changes or further issues emerge. Additional work should be agreed before it starts. Our [fixed-fee QS services]() include bounded reviews, measurement and reporting tasks. The actual fee follows a scope review. ## How does a retainer work? A retainer provides an agreed amount of continuing support. It should describe the work available within the monthly fee and how delivery is scheduled. For example, one valuation cycle and one cost report may be included for a named project. Extra tender exercises need an express allowance. [Project Partner Retainer]() uses this approach. The same allowance can cover agreed claims and disputes support. Substantial investigations need an express scope and sufficient allowance, or a separate commission. ## Compare the full commercial terms Check expenses, travel, VAT treatment where applicable, payment dates and any mobilisation fee. Read the provisions for changed scope, suspension and ending the appointment. A fixed fee fixes the price for the agreed work. It does not guarantee a construction budget, a tender award or recovery of a disputed amount. There is no single project fee without an agreed scope. Request a written quotation showing included work, revisions, attendance, information requirements, tax and additional-work approval. For illustration, two proposals might charge £900 and £1,300. If the first excludes a required £500 assessment, its comparable total becomes £1,400. Those fictional amounts illustrate comparison, not Quantsurv prices. Actual rates and project quotations are provided privately. ## Example ### The facts A customer requests a fixed-fee tender comparison. The original brief includes three returns and one clarification round. ### What happens 1. The quote defines the three returns, document issue, comparison schedule and review meeting. 2. Two additional returns arrive after the first comparison. The customer asks for a second clarification round. 3. The QS explains the extra work and agrees a revised scope before analysing the additional returns. ### What this shows The original fee remains tied to its defined work. The additional comparison is an agreed change rather than a surprise charge. [Browse the Library]()