Ever wondered what it actually costs to turn a building scan into a detailed BIM model? Whether you hire a pro or do it yourself, scan-to-BIM pricing can vary a lot. Modeling costs range from $0.15 to $0.75 per square foot, and scanning adds another $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot. Most firms have a minimum project fee of about $2,500 for both scanning and modeling. If you use a LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad, you can skip the scan fee and just pay for a $400-per-year Polycam Business plan, plus your own time or a per-square-foot modeling service.
This guide brings together scan-to-BIM costs per square foot from vendors' price pages, explains what affects the price, and shares turnaround times from those sources. It also goes with our as-built survey pricing guide, which covers 2D drawings. Read more: What an As-Built Survey Costs (and What It Costs to Do It Yourself)
Key Takeaways
- THE FUTURE 3D lists BIM conversion at $0.15 to $0.25 per sq ft for LOD 200, $0.25 to $0.45 for LOD 300, and $0.45 to $0.75 for LOD 400, with a typical $2,500 BIM-firm minimum.
- LiDAR Precise Plans lists a Revit model as a $1,500 to $3,000 add-on for a house and $500 to $1,500 for a mid-size commercial building.
- Scan it yourself, and Twindo converts it to 3D CAD/BIM for $0.22 to $0.26 per sq ft on residential projects.
What Scan-to-BIM Firms Charge
Scan-to-BIM includes two services, so make sure your quote clearly states which ones you’re getting.
| Laser scan, point cloud only | $0.15 to $0.25 per sq ft, $2,500 minimum | THE FUTURE 3D |
|---|---|---|
| BIM modeling, LOD 200 | $0.15 to $0.25 per sq ft | THE FUTURE 3D (market estimate) |
| BIM modeling, LOD 300 | $0.25 to $0.45 per sq ft | THE FUTURE 3D (market estimate) |
| BIM modeling, LOD 400 | $0.45 to $0.75 per sq ft | THE FUTURE 3D (market estimate) |
| Revit model add-on, house | $1,500 to $3,000 | LiDAR Precise Plans |
| Revit model add-on, mid-size commercial | $500 to $1,500 | LiDAR Precise Plans |
THE FUTURE 3D sells the scan and labels its BIM figures as estimated market rates for third-party conversion, with a typical $2,500 minimum from the BIM firm. LiDAR Precise Plans bundles scan and drawings and lists the Revit model as an add-on. Its work examples include a 25,000 sq ft office at LOD 300 for about $10,000 to $18,000, and a 100,000 sq ft industrial facility at LOD 400 for $60,000 to $105,000 or more.
What Moves the Price
- Level of development matters. Moving from LOD 200 to 400 can triple the modeling rate. Check what you need the model for before paying for extra detail you won’t use. A space plan only needs LOD 200, while a clash-checked MEP renovation needs a higher level.
- Above-ceiling scope. THE FUTURE 3D says documenting above ceilings adds 20-40%.
- Building type. LiDAR Precise Plans prices simple retail or office at $0.35 to $0.75 per sq ft all-in, and historic or industrial at $1.00 to $3.00.
- Rush. LiDAR Precise Plans adds 25 to 50 percent and delivers in three business days. Twindo adds 20 percent for rush and says rush times aren't guaranteed.
- Minimum fees matter. For projects under about 10,000 square feet, the $2,500 minimum affects the price more than the per-square-foot rate.
Scan It Yourself, Then Convert
If you capture the building with your phone, you skip the scan fee and only pay for modeling.
| Polycam Business, then your own drafting | $400 per user per year | 2D floor plan, DXF, point cloud export, Spatial Report. You model in Revit from the DXF or point cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Transform Engine | Starting at $200 | Revit model from the Polycam scan |
| Twindo, 3D CAD/BIM | $0 or $29 a month plus $0.22 to $0.26 per sq ft (residential; commercial quoted) | Drafted 3D CAD/BIM file, LOD 100 or 200 on commercial |
For a 2,500-square-foot house, Twindo’s 3D file costs $550 to $650, while a survey firm charges $1,500 to $3,000 for a Revit add-on. For a 25,000-square-foot office, firms quote per-square-foot rates individually, so you’ll need to compare quotes directly.
JNR Architecture in Columbus, Ohio, chose Transform Engine. Jorge Nieves-Rodriguez, AIA: "Transform Engine saved me approximately two weeks of manual Revit modeling." He scanned a 100-year-old house in about an hour.
Turnaround: What to Expect
Few vendors publish a standard turnaround for scan-to-BIM. What they do publish:
- Matterport says its LOD 200 BIM files arrive "in days, not weeks."
- LiDAR Precise Plans treats under three business days as rush, at a 25 to 50 percent premium, which puts standard delivery beyond that.
- Twindo charges 20 percent for rush on its drafted files and doesn't guarantee rush times.
Based on these numbers, expect a week or more for a modeled building at standard rates, and a few days if you pay for rush. Make sure the quote includes a delivery date. Scanning is usually quick. In Polycam, Space mode takes about 2 minutes per 100 square feet and processes smaller buildings in minutes.
When the Survey Firm Is Still the Right Call
When we tested Polycam against a laser distometer, standard interior captures were accurate within about half an inch, though larger spaces over 5,000 square feet showed more variation. For a space plan, renovation model, or schematic BIM, this is usually enough. For LOD 400, above-ceiling MEP, stamped deliverables, or large or complex buildings, you’ll still need a terrestrial scanner and a survey firm. Use the per-square-foot figures above to compare quotes.
Drawings out of date?
FAQ
How much does scan-to-BIM cost per square foot?
If you hire a professional, modeling costs run from $0.15 to $0.75 per square foot. Scanning adds another 0.25 per square foot. Most firms have a minimum fee of about $2,500 for scanning and modeling combined. If you scan the building yourself with a LiDAR iPhone or iPad, you can skip the scan fee and just pay for a $400-per-year Polycam Business plan, plus whatever time you spend or the cost of a per-square-foot modeling service. This way, you can quickly see which option best fits your project.
How long does scan-to-BIM take?
Vendors rarely publish a standard time. Matterport says "days, not weeks." LiDAR Precise Plans charges 25 to 50 percent extra for delivery in under three business days, and Twindo 20 percent for rush. Expect a week or more at standard rates and ask for a delivery date in the quote.
Can I do scan to BIM myself with a phone?
You can capture the building yourself. Polycam Business ($400 per user per year) exports a DXF floor plan and a point cloud you can model against in Revit, or you can send the scan to a conversion service: Twindo at $0.22 to $0.26 per sq ft for 3D CAD/BIM, or Transform Engine for a Revit model.
What level of development do I need?
LOD 200 covers space planning and early design. LOD 300 covers renovation design where walls, openings, and major systems need to be located. LOD 400 is fabrication-level detail. Modeling rates roughly triple from LOD 200 to 400, so match the LOD to the decision the model has to support.
