How Much Does a Structural Engineer Cost in London?
Real fees, not vague ranges. Here is what EMA Structures charges for advice visits, inspections, calculations and design packages in 2026, and what moves the price up or down.
In short: at EMA Structures a site advice visit costs £265 + VAT including a written email summary, a structural inspection with a full report costs £495 + VAT, calculations and drawings for a straightforward internal wall removal start at £495 + VAT, a loft conversion structural package is typically £1,300 to £1,800 + VAT, and a rear extension package £1,400 to £3,500 + VAT depending on size and complexity. Fees are correct as of July 2026 and every job is confirmed with a written quotation before any work starts. Send us your drawings or photos and we will confirm the fee for your project.
Engineering fees at a glance
These are our standard fees for the most common jobs London homeowners ask us about. All figures exclude VAT and apply within our normal coverage area.
| Service | What is included | Fee (+ VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Site advice visit | An engineer visits, assesses the question on site, for example whether a wall is load-bearing or whether something is a structural concern, followed by a written email summary of the advice | £265 |
| Structural inspection with report | Inspection and a full written report covering findings such as signs of subsidence, advice on remediation works, and estimated costs for any intrusive investigation or repairs | £495 |
| Wall removal, one internal wall | Site visit, structural calculations and drawings for Building Control, where no goalpost frame or new column foundations are required | £495 |
| Wall removal, two internal walls | As above, for two walls | £650 |
| Loft conversion structural package | Structural design, calculations and drawings for the conversion, fee depends on complexity | £1,300 to £1,800 |
| Rear extension structural package | Structural design, calculations and drawings, fee depends on size and complexity | £1,400 to £3,500 |
| New build | Priced on the size of the building and estimated construction cost; can be quoted for the Building Control stage only, with construction-stage support charged separately on an hourly-rate basis | Quoted per project |
Fees correct as of July 2026 and reviewed periodically. Every project is confirmed with a written quotation before work begins; where a job is more complicated than the standard cases above, we ask to see your drawings and floor plans, if available, before confirming the fee.
What each service actually gets you
Site advice visit (£265 + VAT)
The right starting point when you have a specific question rather than a full project: is this wall load-bearing, is this crack anything to worry about, can this chimney breast come out. An engineer visits, looks at the actual structure, and follows up with an email summarising the advice so you have it in writing. If the job then grows into calculations or a full report, you already have an engineer who knows the property.
Structural inspection with report (£495 + VAT)
A full structural inspection with a written report. This is the one to book when something is visibly wrong or a surveyor has raised a concern: cracking, movement, suspected subsidence, bowing walls. The report covers what we found, what is likely causing it, advice on remediation works, and estimated costs for any intrusive investigation or repairs that follow, so you can plan the next step with real numbers rather than guesswork.
Wall removals (from £495 + VAT)
The most common structural job in London homes. For an internal wall where the new beam can bear on the existing structure, with no goalpost frame and no new column foundations, the package is fixed: site visit, calculations for Building Control, and drawings your builder can price and build from. One wall is £495, two walls £650. If your removal needs a frame, new pad foundations, or interacts with other alterations, send us the drawings and we will quote it properly, see our guide to load-bearing wall removal for what is involved.
Loft conversions (£1,300 to £1,800 + VAT)
The structural package for a loft conversion: new floor structure, roof alterations, dormer support where applicable, and the calculations Building Control need. A simple rooflight conversion sits at the lower end; a dormer with steels, or awkward existing structure, moves it towards the upper end.
Rear extensions (£1,400 to £3,500 + VAT)
Structural design for a rear extension: foundations, any steel frames or beams, knock-through support into the existing house, and the full calculation package. A modest single-storey extension with straightforward ground conditions sits at the lower end; larger, two-storey or structurally awkward schemes move up the range. The fee is confirmed from your architect's drawings.
New builds (quoted per project)
New-build structural engineering is priced on the size of the building and its estimated construction cost, because that is what drives the engineering effort. We can quote for the Building Control stage only, with construction-stage involvement, site inspections and contractor queries, charged separately on an hourly-rate basis, so you only pay for the support your project actually needs.
What about construction costs?
Because EMA Structures both designs and carries out works, we can also give indicative construction figures, something a design-only practice cannot do. For basement construction and underpinning rates, see our separate guide to basement and underpinning costs in London.
What moves the fee up or down
- Complexity of the structure. A beam bearing on existing walls is simple; goalpost frames, transfer structures and new foundations are not.
- Quality of the information. Good architect's drawings mean less measurement and assumption work. Send plans, sections and elevations if you have them.
- The existing building. Older London properties with unknown foundations or previous alterations can need trial pits or opening-up works before design can be finalised.
- Site inspections. Packages include the visits stated; additional construction-stage visits are agreed separately, typically on an hourly-rate basis.
- Scope creep. If the scheme changes significantly mid-design, the fee is revisited, and we agree it with you before doing the extra work, never after.
Why the cheapest calculations often cost more
A calculations-only price found online can look attractive until Building Control raises queries nobody answers, the beam does not suit what the builder finds on site, or the "simple" removal turns out to need a frame. Our packages include a site visit for exactly that reason: the engineer designs what is actually there, not what a form assumed. And because we also build and repair structures, our drawings are drawn to be built from, not just approved.
Getting an exact price
If your project matches one of the standard cases above, the fee is the fee. For anything else, send us your drawings, floor plans or photos and a short description, and we will come back with a written quotation, the scope it covers, and a realistic timescale. No obligation, and no surprises later.
All fees on this page exclude VAT, apply within our normal London coverage area, are correct as of July 2026 and are reviewed periodically. Every engagement is confirmed with a written quotation setting out the scope, fee and terms before work begins. Construction figures are indicative and subject to site-specific assessment.
Cost questions
How much does a structural engineer cost in London?
At EMA Structures, a site advice visit within our coverage area costs £265 plus VAT including a written email summary. A structural inspection with a full report costs £495 plus VAT. Structural calculations and drawings for a straightforward internal wall removal start at £495 plus VAT, loft conversion structural packages typically cost £1,300 to £1,800 plus VAT, and rear extension packages £1,400 to £3,500 plus VAT depending on size and complexity. Fees are correct as of July 2026 and are always confirmed in a written quotation.
How much do structural calculations for a wall removal cost?
For an internal load-bearing wall where no goalpost frame or new column foundations are needed, EMA Structures charges £495 plus VAT for a single wall, or £650 plus VAT for two walls. That includes a site visit, the structural calculations and the drawings Building Control need. Where the removal is more complex, for example needing a frame or new foundations, the fee is quoted after reviewing your drawings and floor plans.
Why do structural engineer fees vary so much?
The fee follows the engineering effort. A single beam over an internal opening is a few calculations and a drawing; a rear extension can involve foundations, steel frames, connections and coordination with your architect; a new build is priced on its size and estimated construction cost. Complexity, the quality of the existing drawings, ground conditions and whether site inspections are needed all move the fee, which is why anything beyond the standard cases is quoted after reviewing your drawings.
Want an exact figure for your project?
Send us your drawings, floor plans or photos and we will confirm the fee in writing, with the scope and timescale, no obligation.