Renovating an apartment in Paris quickly raises a question: how much does hiring an interior architect actually cost? Between hourly rates, price per square metre and a percentage of the works cost, billing methods vary from one practice to another, which makes comparing quotes difficult for anyone unfamiliar with the sector. At Supra Studio, we believe a clear budget, explained upfront, is part of building trust with our clients.
Hourly rate
Suited to a one-off service — an opinion, a consultation visit, reviewing a plan — the hourly rate offers full transparency on the time spent by the architect. In Paris, it generally falls between €100 and €200 excl. VAT per hour in 2026, depending on the practice's experience and the complexity of the question at hand. It is the most flexible formula, but also the hardest to anticipate if the need is not clearly defined from the outset.
Price per square metre for design
Widely used for a design brief — plans, renderings, material selection — the price per m² makes it possible to know the budget from the launch of the project. In Paris, it ranges in 2026 from €90 to €200 per m² for design alone, and can rise to between €150 and €300 per m² when the brief includes a detailed technical file (execution drawings, coordination with a structural consultant). The advantage of this formula is its predictability: the amount is fixed before work begins, whatever the actual design time required.
Percentage of the works cost
This is the reference model for a fully managed renovation, with on-site supervision. Fees are then calculated on the total amount of the contractors' quotes (masonry, electrical work, plumbing, painting, joinery). In Paris in 2026, this rate is most often between 10% and 15% of the works cost excl. VAT, decreasing with the scale of the project: around 12–15% for works under €100,000, 10–12% between €100,000 and €200,000, and 7–10% beyond €200,000. This method aligns the architect's fee with the real scale of the project, but requires a good early estimate of the works cost to avoid unpleasant surprises.
What to budget in practice
As a rough guide: a full brief (design, plans, site supervision) for a 60 m² Parisian apartment represents a 2026 fee budget of between €8,000 and €12,000 excl. VAT, excluding the cost of the works themselves. For a small space or a one-off advisory brief, the budget can start at around €2,500. For the complete renovation of a large family apartment involving a full reconfiguration of the space, it can exceed €20,000.
These fees, however, are only part of the overall budget of a renovation project. In Paris in 2026, the cost of the works themselves varies significantly depending on their scale: a simple refresh (paint, flooring, minor plumbing) sits around €300 to €800 per m², a standard renovation without major structural work between €700 and €1,400 per m², and a heavy renovation involving reconfiguring partitions, redoing the plumbing and creating new spaces between €1,200 and €2,500 per m², or even more in older Haussmann-era buildings requiring a complete transformation. Including architect's fees, site coordination and insurance, the overall budget for a well-supported Parisian project is most often between €1,400 and €1,800 per m².
The factors that make the price vary
Several factors explain why two projects of comparable size can show very different budgets. The condition of the existing building plays a decisive role: a Haussmann-era building requiring deep renovation, with warped floors or old plumbing to be entirely replaced, costs noticeably more to work on than a recent building in good condition.
The scope of the brief directly affects the fee budget: a simple consultation visit has nothing to do with a full brief including design, filing planning applications and site supervision through to completion. Changing the layout has a specific cost: every wall moved involves a structural study, co-ownership approval, demolition and rebuilding, which can add several thousand euros to the overall budget.
The co-ownership regulations can also weigh on the schedule, and therefore on the cost: restricted working hours or a ban on certain structural works extend the length of the works. Finally, the desired level of finish can make the budget vary twofold: between a standard paint finish and a bespoke lime render or polished concrete, the price difference is significant — a choice that is as much about aesthetics as about the budget allocated to the project.
How we set a budget at Supra Studio
As every project is unique, we do not offer a fixed price list. Our first step is always an on-site consultation visit, which allows us to assess the condition of the building, the technical complexity of the project and the real scope of the brief required — from simple design advice to full support through to completion of the works. On this basis, we draw up a personalised, detailed quote, before any commitment on your part.
This approach allows us to adjust our fees to the reality of each place rather than applying a generic flat rate — in keeping with our conviction that a successful project is built on a precise reading of the existing building, before any question of budget.
Planning a renovation project in Paris? Book an appointment for a consultation visit, or get in touch to discuss it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price of an interior architect in Paris in 2026? Fees are most often between €90 and €200 per m² for a design brief, or between 10% and 15% of the works cost for a full brief with site supervision.
Does the price depend on the size of the apartment? Yes, but not in strict proportion: a project's fixed costs (administrative procedures, site setup, coordination) are spread over a larger number of m² in bigger spaces, which explains a price per m² that decreases slightly beyond 80–100 m².
Can you hire an interior architect on a small budget? Yes. A one-off brief — a consultation visit, an opinion on a plan, partial support — remains accessible from around €2,500, and can be enough to secure the essential choices of a project without committing to a full fee budget.
Should the cost of the works be included in the architect's budget? No: design and supervision fees are separate from the cost of the works carried out by contractors. It is essential to budget for both separately to get a realistic picture of the project's total cost.
