Typical Price Ranges (UK 2025)
Point cloud survey costs range from £800 to £50,000+ — driven by size, complexity, and deliverables.
| Project Type | Cost Range (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+ | | Small plant room (scan + 2D plans) | £1,200–£1,800 | | Day rate (scan only) | £750–£1,250/day |
Per m² Benchmarks
| Deliverable | Rate (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | | Raw data capture | ~£1–£10/m² | | LOD 300 BIM (architectural) | ~£7/m² | | LOD 400 BIM (full MEP) | ~£10/m² | | Laser vs traditional survey | ~£1,200 per 100m² vs £800 |
Standard Deliverables Cost Breakdown
| Deliverable | Typical Cost (ex VAT) | | --- | --- | | Raw point cloud (E57/RCS/LAS) | Included in base/day rate | | 2D CAD drawings | £1,000–£2,000/drawing | | LOD 300 Revit model | £1,500–£5,000+ | | TruViews/360° web viewer | Variable | | RGB colour capture | Adds ~40% to capture time |
Key Cost Drivers
- Size and complexity — multi-floor, tall voids, complex MEP increase positions
- Deliverables and LOD — post-processing often exceeds the survey day cost itself
- Point density — higher density = larger files and processing time
- Site conditions — access restrictions, live environments, RAMS requirements
- Colour vs. mono — RGB nearly doubles capture time
- Heritage buildings — adds 15–30% due to precision requirements
- Urgency — express 3–5 day: +30%; emergency 24–48hr: +50%
- Night/weekend working — +20%
- Confined spaces — specialist teams push day rates to £1,200–£2,500/day
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does a point cloud survey cost per m²?
Roughly £1–£10/m² for raw capture. BIM deliverables: LOD 300 ~£7/m², LOD 400 ~£10/m². Post-processing typically exceeds the survey cost itself.
Q: What is the biggest cost driver?
Deliverables — specifically the level of detail (LOD) and format (point cloud only vs. full BIM). Post-processing often costs more than the on-site scan day.
Q: Is RGB colour capture worth the extra cost?
For heritage, client presentations, or marketing: yes. For construction QA and BIM coordination: monochrome is sufficient and significantly cheaper.
Q: What is the London premium for point cloud surveys?
London adds 15–30% due to access complexity, night/weekend working requirements, occupied building surcharges, and security/escort costs.