Budget & financing
Architect fees in Belgium in 2026: rates and assignments
From 6 to 16% of the build cost depending on the project, €80 to €130 an hour for advice: what an architect costs in Belgium, stage by stage, with examples.
By the Batizzy teamPublished Updated 6 min read
For a full assignment, an architect in Belgium usually charges between 6 and 16% of the cost of the work, depending on the type of project. For a one-off consultation, expect €80 to €130 an hour. As soon as a planning permit affects the stability, appearance or volume of a building, their involvement is often compulsory, and that is when many homeowners discover a cost they had not budgeted for.
The stages of an assignment
A full assignment usually breaks down into several stages, each accounting for a share of the fee. The percentages below are orders of magnitude, open to negotiation:
| Stage | Content | Typical share |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary design | Sketch, discussion with the client | 10 to 15% |
| Design | Detailed drawings, structure, bill of quantities | 15 to 20% |
| Planning permit | Full application, contact with the planning department | 10 to 15% |
| Specifications | Technical documents and clauses | 8 to 10% |
| Choosing contractors | Comparing offers | 5 to 10% |
| Site supervision | Visits, quality control | 25 to 35% |
| Handover | Clearing snags | 5 to 10% |
Architects often offer a full assignment, or a partial one if you want to manage certain stages yourself.
Fees as a percentage of the build cost
Fees are often calculated as a percentage of the total cost of the work excluding VAT. The brackets observed in 2026:
| Type of project | % of build cost (full assignment) |
|---|---|
| Simple new house (€250k to €400k) | 8 to 12% |
| High-end new house (over €500k) | 6 to 9% |
| Heavy renovation (€150k to €300k) | 10 to 14% |
| Heavy renovation with extension | 12 to 16% |
| Small project without a permit (under €50k) | 15 to 20% or lump sum |
The Order of Architects does not impose a fee scale: fees are freely negotiated.
Lump sum, percentage or hourly rate?
The percentage
Advantage: the architect follows the real size of the project. Drawback: the more the job costs, the higher the fee.
Best for: standard projects with a predictable final cost.
The lump sum
Advantage: the architect's budget is fixed from the start. Drawback: if the job gets complicated, the architect may be tempted to limit their time.
Best for: simple projects, or very involved clients.
The hourly rate
Expect €80 to €130 an hour in 2026, depending on experience and region. Advantage: you pay for the actual time. Drawback: without a clear framework, the total can run away.
Best for: a partial or one-off assignment (consultation, feasibility study).
Worked examples for 2026
An architect's services are subject to 21% VAT, even when renovating a home more than 10 years old. The four cases below are illustrative examples, calculated with the ranges in this article.
Example 1: a new house at €280k excl. VAT
Full assignment in Brussels, percentage negotiated at 9%.
- Fee: €25,200 excl. VAT
- VAT at 21%: €5,292
- Total incl. VAT: €30,492
A common payment schedule: 30% when the preliminary design is approved, 30% when the permit is filed, 25% during the works, 15% at handover.
Example 2: a heavy renovation at €180k excl. VAT in Wallonia
Full assignment, percentage negotiated at 12%.
- Fee: €21,600 excl. VAT
- VAT at 21%: €4,536
- Total incl. VAT: €26,136
Example 3: an extension at €60k excl. VAT in Flanders
Lump sum negotiated for a full assignment: €7,200 excl. VAT (12%).
- Fee: €7,200 excl. VAT
- VAT at 21%: €1,512
- Total incl. VAT: €8,712
Example 4: a 4-hour consultation
- Fee: 4 × €100 = €400 excl. VAT
- VAT at 21%: €84
- Total incl. VAT: €484
Useful to test an idea without ordering a full design.
When is an architect compulsory?
The principle: an architect is required for work subject to a planning permit that affects the stability, appearance or volume of the building, such as a new build, an extension, opening up a load-bearing wall or a visible change to the facade. The precise rules, and the exemptions, vary from one region to another.
In practice, an architect is usually not needed for interior work with no effect on stability, a like-for-like replacement or fitting out a kitchen or bathroom in the same room. Always check with your municipality's planning department before starting work without an architect: work carried out without the required permit exposes you to penalties, up to restoring the original state.
How to choose an architect
1. Check registration with the Order
To practise as an architect in Belgium, you must be registered with the Order of Architects. You can check this on ordredesarchitectes.be or architect.be.
2. See sites, not just images
Ask to visit one or two recent sites, with the clients' agreement. You will see the real quality of the supervision, not just 3D renderings.
3. Compare several proposals
As with any project, compare several proposals. The differences concern the approach (style, method, frequency of visits) as much as the price.
4. Check you get on
You will be working together for months. If you don't click at the first meeting, the project will suffer.
The 5 mistakes to avoid
1. Choosing on price alone
An architect who is clearly cheaper than the others is saving somewhere: fewer visits, less attention to detail, less checking of contractors.
2. Dropping site supervision
Tempting to save money, and often a false economy. Without supervision, defects surface at handover, when it is late.
3. Starting without a written contract
Don't let an assignment begin without a signed contract setting out the stages, the fee and the schedule.
4. Confusing an architect with an interior designer
For a project where the law requires an architect, only an architect registered with the Order can sign the permit application. Check the title before you sign.
5. Waiting until after signing to discuss the schedule
How many site visits? What response time? Who can be reached in an emergency? If these points are unclear before signing, they will be even less clear during the works.
Finding an architect on Batizzy
On Batizzy, you describe your project once, architects in your area reply, and you compare their proposals side by side. Pros who have had their CBE number checked carry a badge; registration with the Order is checked on the Order's website.
Find an architect or read our guide to renovation costs per m².