Guide
How much does an architectural CGI cost in the UK?
By 3D Design Studios ·
A single architectural CGI in the UK can cost anything from around £150 to well over £1,000. The range is wide because "a CGI" covers everything from a quick image of a house to a hero aerial of a 200-home scheme. Here is what UK studios publish, and what moves the price up or down.
What UK studios publish (October 2026)
Most studios quote per project, but some publish starting prices. These are their own published figures, read in October 2026:
- RealRender3D: exterior CGI from £245, interior from £195, 60-second flythrough from £1,650
- Real Render: residential exterior or interior £450, 3D floor plan £250, coloured 2D floor plan £120
- A UK cost guide published by an offshore studio: £150 to £500 per exterior still, £80 to £250 for a 3D floor plan
- Industry price guides: £400 to £800 for an exterior daylight image, £600 to £1,200 for a dusk or night image
What drives the price
- Size and complexity of the building: a detached house is quicker than a mixed-use block
- Context: an empty background is cheapest; a fully modelled street or aerial costs more
- What you supply: a Revit or SketchUp model saves modelling time; hand sketches add it
- Number of views: the first view carries the modelling cost, extra views of the same model cost much less
- Lighting and mood: dusk and night images take more work than daylight
- Changes: changes after the camera angle is approved add cost; changes at the clay stage are cheap
Exterior, interior and animation compared
Interiors are often priced close to exteriors because each room has to be furnished, lit and styled. Animations cost more because every second is around 25 rendered frames, and the camera path has to be designed, though building the model once for stills and video keeps the total down.
How to get an accurate quote
Send the plans and elevations (PDF or DWG), any model, a finishes schedule or mood board, the number of views you want, what the images are for and your deadline. A studio can then quote a fixed price rather than a range. Ask whether the quote includes revisions, what counts as a design change, and what resolution and formats you will receive.
Cheap or expensive?
Very low prices usually mean less modelling detail, generic materials or limited revisions. Very high prices often reflect a London studio's overheads, a larger creative team or the art direction a major development launch needs. For most houses, extensions and small developments, a mid-priced studio that works from your drawings and lets you approve a clay model first is the sensible choice.