1. Why There Is No Fixed Detailing Fee
Detailing turns the design intent into a manufacturable, transportable and erectable model, shop drawings and material lists. The workload varies greatly with drawing complexity, member count, connection details, standard requirements and revision rounds, so there is no fixed per-square-metre or per-tonne price.
2. Common Pricing Models
- Per drawing set: priced by shop drawing or erection drawing sheets, suitable for regular scopes;
- Per member or tonnage: based on member count or steel tonnage, common for repetitive industrial buildings;
- Per model depth and man-hours: priced by time spent on modelling, shop drawings, clash detection and bills of materials;
- Per schedule lump sum: a package price by project milestones, best when scope is clear and changes are controlled.
3. Main Cost Drivers
- Member types and quantity: standard H-beam members cost less than complex irregular connections;
- Connection complexity: beam-to-column joints, diaphragms and stiffeners add significant work;
- Model depth and deliverables: whether 3D models, clash detection, BOM and model review are included;
- Standard and language: issuing drawings to GB/T, ASTM or EN, and English drawing requirements;
- Drawing completeness and revisions: complete input drawings and controlled changes keep the fee predictable.
4. How to Get a Clear Quote
Provide the structural design drawings or model, a member list, connection notes, the drawing standard and language, the deliverable list and schedule, and ask the supplier to state in the quote what is included, what is excluded, and how revisions are charged. Only then are quotes comparable.
Detailing is often priced together with fabrication; see our steel detailing service and steel fabrication service; for member scope, see the H-beam page and box column page. Send us your drawings and requirements for a drawing-based review and quote.