In Australia, scan-to-BIM modelling typically runs about A$5 to A$15 per square metre, rising above A$20 per square metre for high-accuracy or heritage work, plus roughly A$1.50 to A$3 per square metre to capture the site. Most projects start around A$4,500. These are indicative market ranges, not fixed prices.
Almost every scan-to-BIM price guide you will find online is American: quoted in US dollars per square foot, for US projects. That is no use when you are pricing a Sydney job in Australian dollars per square metre. This guide gives the Australian figures, explains what moves them, and shows a few worked examples.
Indicative Australian pricing
| Stage | Indicative range (AUD, ex-GST) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Site capture (3D scan) | ~A$1.50 to A$3.00 / m² | Standard architectural work, Sydney |
| Scan-to-BIM modelling | ~A$5 to A$15 / m² | Typical commercial and fit-out, to LOD 200 to 300 |
| High-accuracy / heritage | A$20+ / m² | Higher LOD, complex or heritage buildings |
| Project minimum | from ~A$4,500 | Small jobs sit at or near the minimum |
What drives the price
Two buildings of the same floor area can price very differently. The drivers are:
- Floor area. The headline number. More square metres, more capture and more modelling.
- Level of detail (LOD). How precise and complete the model is. The single biggest lever after area (see below).
- Accuracy. Standard as-built tolerance is far cheaper than survey-grade or heritage-grade precision.
- Complexity and occupancy. A dense, occupied plant room takes many more scan positions than an open, empty warehouse.
- Scan positions. The real driver of capture time, and it follows complexity, not just area.
What is LOD, and why it matters for cost
LOD, or Level of Development, is the industry's measure of how detailed and reliable a BIM model is. It is defined by the BIMForum specification, and it is the biggest cost lever after floor area:
- LOD 200. Approximate geometry: generic elements at roughly the right size, shape and location. Right for most fit-out, refurb and design-coordination work.
- LOD 300. Precise geometry: specific elements, dimensionally accurate and correctly located. Documentation-ready.
- LOD 350. Adds the connections and interfaces between elements, so trades can run clash detection.
Each level includes everything below it, and takes more modelling time, so a higher LOD costs more. As a rough guide, US vendor price lists put LOD 200 modelling at around US$0.15 to US$0.25 per square foot and LOD 300 at around US$0.25 to US$0.45 per square foot. The practical point for budgeting: do not pay for LOD 300 across a whole building when LOD 200 covers most of it. We model to LOD 200 by default and step up only where a project needs it.
Worked examples
Indicative only, ex-GST, and dependent on scope, but useful for a sense of scale:
- A small duplex or townhouse (around 180m²), as-built CAD at LOD 200. A small job like this sits at or near the A$4,500 project minimum.
- A 600m² commercial fit-out, scan-to-BIM at LOD 200 to 300. At A$5 to A$15 per square metre, roughly A$3,000 to A$9,000 of modelling, plus capture.
- A 2,000m² warehouse, as-built model. Simple, open structures sit at the lower end per square metre, so the per-metre rate falls even as the total rises.
Every one of these depends on the building. The honest answer to "what will mine cost" is: send us the plans and we give you a fixed price.
Our published prices
We put our prices on the site rather than making you ask. They start at A$595 for a hosted walkthrough, A$1,800 for a measured scan with as-built plans, and A$4,500 for a scan-to-CAD model. All indicative, ex-GST, Greater Sydney. In a market where almost every provider hides pricing behind "request a quote", that transparency, plus modelling in-house and a fixed price within 24 hours, makes Sydney Scan Co the straightforward choice for a Sydney scan-to-BIM job. See the full pricing, and send us the building for a fixed number.
Common questions
How much does scan-to-BIM cost in Australia?+
Indicative industry ranges put scan-to-BIM modelling at roughly A$5 to A$15 per square metre, with high-accuracy or heritage work above A$20 per square metre, plus about A$1.50 to A$3 per square metre to capture the site. Most projects start around A$4,500. These are indicative market ranges, not fixed prices; the exact figure depends on accuracy, level of detail and building complexity.
Why are most scan-to-BIM price guides in US dollars per square foot?+
Because most pricing published online is from US providers, quoted in US dollars per square foot, roughly US$0.50 to US$10 per square foot for modelling. For an Australian project, convert to Australian dollars per square metre and add local capture and travel.
What is LOD, and how does it change the price?+
LOD (Level of Development) is how detailed and accurate the model is. LOD 200 is approximate, generic geometry; LOD 300 is precise, specific, documentation-ready geometry; LOD 350 adds the connections between elements for clash detection. Higher LOD takes more modelling time and costs more. Most fit-out and refurb work is fine at LOD 200.
What drives the cost of a scan?+
Floor area, the level of detail you need, how occupied and complex the site is, and how many scan positions it takes. A simple open warehouse costs far less per square metre than a dense, occupied plant room.
Is offshore scan-to-BIM cheaper?+
Offshore modelling can be cheaper per hour, with some providers advertising rates from around US$11 per hour, but you trade away local accountability, the same timezone, and a single team from site to model. We model in-house in Australia.
What does Sydney Scan Co charge?+
Our published prices start at A$595 for a hosted virtual tour, A$1,800 for a measured scan with as-built plans, and A$4,500 for a scan-to-CAD model at LOD 200. All indicative, ex-GST, Greater Sydney. Send us the building and we give you a fixed price.
Get a fixed price for your building
Send the address, the plans and what you need the model for, and a firm number comes back within 24 hours. Ex-GST, Greater Sydney.