Typical UK Cost Ranges (2025)
Point cloud survey costs range from £800 for a simple residential scan up to £50,000+ for large industrial or campus-scale projects.
| Project Type | Typical Cost (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | | Small residential (3-bed house) | £800–£2,500 | | Medium commercial (office floor) | £3,000–£10,000 | | Large/complex (hospital, factory) | £10,000–£50,000+ | | Day-rate capture only | £750–£1,250/day | | Data processing | £50–£120/hr |
London vs. Rest of UK
London projects realistically carry a 15–30% premium once logistics are factored in:
- Access restrictions — traffic management, permits, parking far more common
- Occupied buildings — live environments (hospitals, offices) typically add +25%
- Night/weekend working — frequently required in central London, adding +20%
- Security/escort requirements — common in major commercial buildings
Key Pricing Factors
| Factor | Impact | | --- | --- | | Site size and complexity | Multi-level, irregular geometry, dense MEP increase cost | | Deliverable type | Biggest cost driver — see breakdown below | | Level of Detail (LOD) | Tighter tolerances = more modelling hours | | RGB vs. mono | Full colour adds ~40% to on-site time | | Access and safety | Confined spaces, working at height, rail: significant uplift | | Urgency | Express 3–5 day: +30%; emergency 24–48hr: +50% | | Heritage buildings | Adds 15–30% due to intricate detail |
Deliverables Cost Breakdown
This is often where most budget variance lies — post-processing can exceed the survey cost:
| Deliverable | Typical Cost (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | | Raw point cloud (.e57/.rcs/.las) | Included in base/day rate | | 2D CAD drawings | £300–£2,000/drawing | | LOD 300 BIM (architectural) | ~£7/m² | | LOD 400 BIM (full MEP) | ~£10/m² |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the biggest cost driver in point cloud surveys?
Deliverables — specifically whether you need CAD drawings, BIM models, or just the raw point cloud. Post-processing often exceeds the survey cost itself.
Q: What does a point cloud survey cost in London?
Small residential: £800–£2,500. Commercial: £3,000–£10,000+. London adds 15–30% over provincial rates due to access complexity.
Q: How much does point cloud processing cost?
Data processing: £50–£120/hr. CAD drawings: £300–£2,000/drawing. BIM LOD 300: ~£7/m². LOD 400: ~£10/m².
Q: Is RGB colour scanning worth the extra cost?
For heritage, marketing, or client presentations: yes. For construction QA or BIM coordination: greyscale is usually sufficient and significantly cheaper.