# Structural Engineer Cost Dublin | 2026 Fees by Job Type > Structural engineer cost in Dublin in 2026: €400–€900 for a wall, €1,200–€3,500 for an extension, €400–€800 for a survey. What's included and what moves it. URL: https://structuralengineer.ie/guide/structural-engineer-cost-dublin/ Cost Guide # How Much Does a Structural Engineer Cost in Dublin? (2026) Typical 2026 fees by job type, the three ways engineers charge, and what a complete quote should include, with sources for every figure. By StructuralEngineer.ie · Reviewed by Joachim Louw, CEng MIEI · Updated 19 October 2026 [StructuralEngineer.ie](https://structuralengineer.ie/)'s summary of published 2026 Irish cost guides: a structural engineer in Dublin typically costs **€400–€900** for a single wall removal, **€1,200–€3,500** for extension structural design, **€800–€2,500** for an attic conversion, and **€400–€800** for a pre-purchase structural survey. Hourly rates run €90–€180. Structural engineer cost depends on the job far more than on the engineer. A single steel beam is a small, well-defined piece of design. A two-storey extension on soft ground with BCAR certification is a much bigger one. The table below gives the published ranges, followed by what drives them. ## Typical fees by job type (2026) | Job | Typical fee | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Single wall removal / RSJ calcs | €400–€900 | Visit, calcs, drawing; check inspection and cert are included | | Single-storey rear extension design | €1,200–€2,200 | Foundations, opening steel, roof | | Two-storey or wraparound extension | €2,000–€3,500 | Can rise to €5,000 with site investigation | | Attic conversion engineering | €800–€2,500 | Floor, trusses, dormer steel | | Pre-purchase structural survey | €400–€800 | Larger and period houses higher | | Standalone structural report | €600–€1,200 | e.g. a specific defect | | Crack or subsidence investigation | €600–€1,200 | Monitoring and trial pits extra | | Hourly rate (chartered engineer) | €90–€180 | Open-ended work | Some engineers price larger projects as a percentage of the build cost. Published figures range from 1–2% to 2–3% for residential work. ## The three ways engineers charge **Fixed fee.** The most common model for domestic work, and the easiest to compare. A good fixed-fee quote lists exactly what is included: visits, calcs, drawings, inspections and certificates. **Hourly.** Common for investigations where the scope isn’t known at the start, such as unexplained cracking or an insurance dispute. Ask for an estimate and a cap. **Percentage of build cost.** Used on larger projects. It’s less transparent for a homeowner, because the fee moves with the builder’s price. ## What a complete quote includes The single biggest difference between a cheap quote and a fair one is what happens after the calcs: - A site visit, not a design from photos only - Calculations to the Eurocodes and a drawing your builder can price - A steel schedule your fabricator can cut from - A propping or temporary-works sequence - **An inspection before the work is covered** - **A signed opinion of compliance**, or BCAR certificates over 40 m² Leave out the last two and you save a little now but may pay more later, when a buyer’s solicitor asks for a certificate and the steel is behind plasterboard. ## What pushes a fee up - **Span and load.** Wide openings, two storeys above, roof struts and chimneys - **Ground.** Trees on clay, made ground, drains and river ground all mean deeper foundation design and sometimes trial holes - **Party walls.** Bearing into a shared wall brings neighbour considerations under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 - **Period and protected houses.** Solid masonry, lime mortar and planning constraints take longer to assess - **BCAR.** Acting as designer and assigned certifier on an extension over 40 m² means an inspection plan and statutory certificates ## How to get a firm number Send the engineer the address, the type and age of house, what you want to do, and photos or drawings. StructuralEngineer.ie confirms a fixed fee in writing before the visit, so you know the engineering cost before anyone comes out. For a rough figure first, try the [structural engineer cost calculator](https://structuralengineer.ie/tools/structural-engineer-cost-estimator/). ## Bottom line Budget €400–€900 for a single wall, €1,200–€3,500 for an extension and €400–€800 for a pre-purchase survey in Dublin in 2026. Make sure the quote includes an inspection before covering and a signed certificate. For a fixed fee for your job, call [01 270 9764](tel:+35312709764). Want a fixed fee for your job? Call 01 270 9764. Callback the same working day. Fixed fee confirmed in writing before the visit. [Call 01 270 9764](tel:+35312709764) [Request a fixed quote](https://structuralengineer.ie/contact/) ## Frequently asked questions **Do structural engineers charge by the hour in Ireland?** Some do, typically €90–€180 an hour for a chartered engineer. For defined domestic jobs such as a wall removal, an extension design or a survey, most quote a fixed fee, which is easier to compare. Hourly rates are more common for open-ended investigations and expert-witness work. **Is the engineer's fee included in my builder's price?** Sometimes. Design-and-build firms often include engineering in the build price. The trade-off is independence: an engineer you appoint directly works for you, inspects the builder's work against the design, and issues the certificate to you. **Why do engineer quotes vary so much?** Mostly because of what's left out. One quote might cover calcs only, while another includes the site visit, drawings, steel schedule, inspections and a signed certificate. Compare like for like, and ask whether the inspection before covering and the opinion of compliance are included. Sources - [BuildTech: How much does a residential structural engineer cost in Ireland](https://buildtech.ie/blog/residential-structural-engineer-cost-ireland) - [Banrach: How much does a structural engineer cost in Ireland](https://banrach.ie/how-much-does-a-structural-engineer-cost-in-ireland/) - [BuildPro: Structural design costs in Ireland](https://buildpro.ie/blog/structural-design-cost-ireland) - [Cork Demolitions: Cost to remove a load-bearing wall](https://corkdemolitions.ie/cost-to-remove-load-bearing-wall/) - [calculateroofcost.ie: Attic conversion cost Dublin 2026](https://www.calculateroofcost.ie/attic-conversion-cost-dublin/) Get a fixed engineering fee Two short steps. We call back the same working day. Prefer to talk? [Call 01 270 9764](tel:+35312709764). A live person answers during office hours. [Related service Structural engineering services Extensions, wall removal, conversions, cracks and surveys across the Greater Dublin Area. See the service](https://structuralengineer.ie/) Talk it through 01 270 9764 Mon–Fri 8:00–18:00 [Call now](tel:+35312709764) ### More guides - [Cost to Remove a Load-Bearing Wall in Dublin (2026) Engineer's fee, steel, propping and making good, with the factors that move the price and sources for every figure.](https://structuralengineer.ie/guide/load-bearing-wall-removal-cost/) - [Extension Engineer Fees in Ireland: What a Structural Engineer Charges (2026) What a structural engineer charges to design and sign off a house extension, how BCAR changes it, and what the fee should include.](https://structuralengineer.ie/guide/extension-structural-engineer-cost/) - [Structural Survey Cost in Dublin (2026) What a pre-purchase structural survey costs in Dublin, what it covers, and how it compares with a building survey.](https://structuralengineer.ie/guide/structural-survey-cost/) - [Attic Conversion Cost in Dublin (2026) What a habitable attic room costs in Dublin, where the money goes, and why dormers and trussed roofs move the price.](https://structuralengineer.ie/guide/attic-conversion-cost-dublin/) - [What Happens on a Structural Engineer Visit? What the engineer looks at, how long it takes, what to have ready, and what arrives afterwards.](https://structuralengineer.ie/guide/what-happens-structural-engineer-visit/)