Architect fees in Switzerland — SIA regulations and 2026 rates

Building a house, renovating a flat, adding storeys to a block: engaging an architect is often unavoidable. But what does it cost, and how are the fees calculated? In Switzerland the regulations of the SIA (Société suisse des Ingénieurs et des Architectes — the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects) are the reference. Here is what you need to know in 2026.

The three ways architect fees are calculated

There are three ways to pay an architect in Switzerland. Which one applies depends on the type of project and must be set out clearly in the contract.

1. As a percentage of the construction cost (the historic method)

Historically the most common approach: the architect charges a percentage of CFC 2 (Code de frais de construction, category 2 — the Swiss construction cost classification), which covers the cost of the building itself: structure, envelope, basic finishes. The percentage is regressive: the larger the budget, the lower the percentage.

Important: since the SIA 102/2020 revision, which followed an intervention by the Competition Commission (COMCO), calculating fees as a percentage of construction cost is no longer officially recognised by the SIA — it was judged anti-competitive. It survives in practice as a market benchmark, but the contract must base fees on estimated hours × hourly rate, the method COMCO validated.

2. Time and materials (en régie)

The architect bills actual hours worked, multiplied by an hourly rate that depends on the seniority of the person doing the work. This gives maximum transparency but makes the final budget hard to predict. Note that régie here means “on a time-spent basis” — it is not the same word you will meet on your lease, where a régie is the managing agent.

3. Fixed fee (au forfait)

A fixed amount is agreed in advance for the whole appointment or for specific phases. This is the most predictable option for the client, but it requires a very precise brief.

Percentage benchmarks observed in the market

These ranges reflect market practice in French-speaking Switzerland — they are no longer official SIA scales, and have not been since 2020. They are calculated on CFC 2, excluding VAT:

• Detached house (new build): 12 to 15%
• Residential rental block: 10 to 13%
• Large complex (CHF 5 million+): 8 to 10%
• Major renovation: 14 to 18%
• Conversion / adding storeys: 15 to 20%
• Small works: 15 to 20%

A concrete example: for a house with a construction budget (CFC 2) of CHF 750'000 at 13%, fees come to roughly CHF 97'500 excluding VAT for the full appointment.

Careful: CFC 2 is not the total project cost

This is the point most clients miss. Fees are calculated on CFC 2 alone, which typically represents 50 to 70% of the total budget depending on the project. Excluded from it are:

• The land (CFC 0)
• Preparatory works — demolition, excavation (CFC 1)
• Building services — heating, electrical, plumbing (CFC 3)
• External works and landscaping (CFC 4)
• Ancillary costs and contingencies (CFC 5)
• Furnishings (CFC 9)

Always check which cost base the contract uses. Some architects calculate on a wider base than CFC 2 alone, which changes the bill considerably.

SIA 102 — the reference regulation

SIA 102 (2020 edition) is the reference regulation for architects’ services and fees in Switzerland — technically a SIA règlement (regulation) rather than a norm in the strict sense. It sets out the rights and duties of the parties and describes the six phases of an architect’s appointment.

Key point: the SIA regulation applies only if it is explicitly incorporated into the contract, usually through the standard contract SIA 1001/1 — 2020 edition, which replaced the former SIA 1002. It is not law; it is a professional convention.

Since the 2020 revision, and following the COMCO intervention, the fee calculation tables based on construction cost have been withdrawn from the regulation. The official method is now time × hourly rate; the percentages remain a market benchmark, not a binding SIA scale.

The six SIA phases and how fees break down

A full architect’s appointment divides into six phases. The approximate fee split gives a sense of the work involved at each stage:

• Phase 1 — Defining the objectives (3-5%): needs analysis, feasibility, risks
• Phase 2 — Preliminary studies (7-10%): outline design, sketches
• Phase 3 — Project design (20-25%): final drawings, estimated cost plan (devis estimatif), building permit
• Phase 4 — Tendering (10-15%): tender documents, comparison of bids, award
• Phase 5 — Construction (35-45%): site management, supervision, cost and programme control, and sub-phase 53 “commissioning / completion” (handover, warranties)
• Phase 6 — Operation (rarely included): running, monitoring and maintenance over the building’s life. Most architect appointments stop at the end of phase 5.

Worth knowing: you are not obliged to give all six phases to the same architect. A partial appointment — phases 1 to 3 only, for design and the permit — is entirely common.

Reference hourly rates (KBOB / Canton of Vaud)

The Canton of Vaud and the KBOB (the coordination body for federal and cantonal public-sector construction clients) publish reference rates for public procurement, by categories A to G rather than by job title. For engineering and architecture appointments, the 2024 reference rates are as follows, and are indexed annually:

• Category A (specialist expert): ~CHF 200/h and above
• Category B: CHF 175/h
• Category C: CHF 150/h
• Category D: CHF 125/h
• Category E: CHF 105/h
• Category F: CHF 95/h
• Category G: CHF 90/h

In private practice rates vary more widely. Established practices in Lausanne or Geneva commonly charge between CHF 120 and CHF 300/h depending on the profile.

New for 2025-2026: the SIA Value App

Together with ETH Zurich, the SIA has developed a new digital tool, the Value App, which calculates the hours required from objective project criteria — use, floor area, complexity — instead of from construction cost. The aim is to remove the incentive to inflate costs. Adoption of the new edition of the regulations (RPH 2026) is expected in autumn 2026 at an extraordinary delegates’ assembly; publication and entry into force will follow.

Seven tips for managing architect fees

• Compare at least three offers — the percentage can range from 12 to 18% for the same project
• Clarify the calculation base — make sure the contract states whether fees apply to CFC 2 alone or to a wider base
• Consider a partial appointment — you can give an architect the design and permit stages only (phases 1-3)
• Negotiate the percentage — SIA rates are recommendations, not legal obligations
• Insist on regular statements — on a time and materials basis, ask for monthly timesheets
• Watch for additional services — changes made during construction are usually billed on top
• Favour quality — an architect at 13% who saves 15% on construction through good site management costs you less than a cheap architect at 10% who lets costs drift

Don’t forget: VAT at 8.1% is added to the fees quoted.

Finding an architect in French-speaking Switzerland

On Artisan Romandie you can consult verified professionals across Vaud and the rest of Romandie, each with a transparent confidence score and its Commercial Register (RC) verification status, and contact them directly.

Also worth reading: our guide to building permits in French-speaking Switzerland — the architect prepares the application.