SolidCAD guide

How Much Do Shop Drawings Cost in Australia? What Actually Drives the Price

By the SolidCAD drafting team, Dandenong VIC · Published 22/10/2026

"How much will the shop drawings cost?" is usually the first question a builder or fabricator asks, and the honest answer is that it depends on the package. Two jobs with the same floor area can need very different amounts of drafting. This guide explains what drives the cost of shop drawings in Australia, so you can budget sensibly and get an accurate quotation sooner.

Why there is no single price per drawing

A shop drawing is not a fixed product. One sheet might show a single simple beam, while another shows a complex connection with plates, stiffeners, bolts and welds that took hours to resolve. Pricing "per sheet" or "per tonne" can look simple, but it hides the real effort, which is the time needed to turn approved design information into drawings a workshop or installer can build from without questions.

That is why most drafting firms, including SolidCAD, quote each package on its scope. We review the drawings and specification first, agree the drawing list and review milestones, and then confirm a quotation for that package.

The main factors that affect shop drawing cost

1. Size of the package

The number of members, assemblies, parts, layouts and sheets is the starting point. A steel package with a few portal frames is very different from a multi-level building with hundreds of members, stairs, handrails and platforms. For MEP work, the number of floors, risers and plant areas matters. For joinery, it is the number of units, elevations and details.

2. Complexity of the connections and geometry

Repetitive, standard connections are quick to detail. Custom connections, curved or sloped members, transfer structures, tight coordination zones and unusual architectural details take far more time, because each one has to be worked through and checked individually.

3. Quality and completeness of the input

This is the factor most people underestimate. Complete, approved, coordinated drawings or a clean Revit or IFC model allow fast, efficient drafting. Partial information, conflicts between architectural and structural drawings, or missing connection design mean requests for information, waiting time and rework. Good input is the single best way to reduce the cost of shop drawings.

4. Programme and staging

A comfortable programme lets the drafting team work through the package in a logical order. A fast-track programme may need staged issues, extra resourcing and priority scheduling. SolidCAD offers a fast turnaround, but it helps to tell us the real deadlines at quotation stage so the right resources are allocated.

5. Revisions and design changes

Revisions from the review cycle are normal and are usually allowed for. Design changes after drafting has started are different, because they can affect many drawings at once. A clear agreement on how design changes are handled avoids surprises later.

6. Deliverables and software

The required outputs change the effort: PDF and DWG drawing sets, a Tekla model, NC/DSTV files for CNC machines, bolt lists, schedules or bills of materials. Let us know which deliverables your workshop or site team actually uses, so you only pay for what you need.

Costs that come from poor shop drawings

When comparing quotations, it is worth remembering where the real money goes. A wrongly cut member, a missing bolt hole or a duct that clashes with a beam can cost far more in wasted material, site labour and delay than the drafting itself. Accurate, checked shop drawings are one of the cheapest forms of risk reduction on a project.

How to get an accurate quote faster

• Send the latest approved architectural and structural or services drawings, or the model.
• Include the specification and any relevant standards, such as AS 4100 and AS/NZS 5131 for structural steel.
• Describe the scope clearly: which elements are included and which are by others.
• Tell us the deliverables you need and your title block or drawing standards.
• Give your programme, including when the first issue is needed.

With that information we can confirm the drawing list, the review milestones and a fixed quotation for the package. Read more about our shop drawing services or, if you are in Victoria, our shop drawings in Melbourne from our Dandenong office.

Frequently asked questions

How much do shop drawings cost in Australia?

There is no fixed price per drawing. Cost depends on the size and complexity of the package, the quality of the design information supplied, the programme, the revisions expected and the deliverables required. Most drafting firms quote each package on its scope.

Are shop drawings priced per sheet or per tonne?

Some firms use per-sheet or per-tonne rates, but these can hide the real effort, because complex connections take much longer than simple members. SolidCAD reviews the drawings first and confirms a quotation for the agreed drawing list.

How can I reduce the cost of shop drawings?

Provide complete, approved and coordinated design information, a clear scope, your required deliverables and a realistic programme. Fewer gaps and design changes mean less rework and a lower overall cost.

How long do shop drawings take?

It depends on the package size, complexity and the information supplied. The drawing list, review milestones and programme are agreed before drafting starts, and SolidCAD offers a fast turnaround where the programme needs it.