Key facts
- dijitul 2D and 3D CAD: £45 an hour + VAT, fixed quotes available on clear briefs
- MyJobQuote's UK architect cost guide (updated September 2026) gives architect rates of £50 to £100 an hour
- Payscale (2026) puts the average UK employed CAD technician salary at £26,366, before employer overheads
- Converting a sketch is quicker than designing from scratch; reverse engineering a part takes longest
- Common outputs: DWG and DXF for 2D, STEP for 3D exchange, STL for 3D printing, PDF for sign-off
- Clear dimensions, tolerances and materials up front cut the hours needed
How CAD work is priced
CAD drafting is time-based work, so most providers charge either by the hour or as a fixed fee calculated from an hours estimate. dijitul's CAD design rate is £45 an hour + VAT for 2D drafting and 3D modelling. When a job is well defined, for example redrawing a hand sketch with all dimensions marked, we can give a fixed price before starting.
Open-ended work, such as developing a product through several design iterations, is better billed hourly with an agreed estimate so you only pay for the time used.
What the UK market charges
There is no single public rate card for CAD technicians, so compare against related professions. MyJobQuote's UK architect cost guide, updated in September 2026 from quotes on its platform, gives typical architect rates of £50 to £100 an hour. For context on employed staff, Payscale's 2026 UK data puts the average CAD technician salary at £26,366 a year. An outsourced rate is higher than a salary divided by hours because it covers software, hardware, training, insurance and unbilled time that an employer would otherwise pay.
For a business that needs drawings now and then, outsourcing at £45 an hour + VAT is usually cheaper than employing someone and licensing the software.
Be careful comparing hourly rates on their own. A cheaper drafter who takes twice as long, or who sends drawings that a manufacturer rejects because the tolerances or projection are wrong, costs more in the end. Ask to see how a supplier lays out a drawing, and whether they understand the process your part is going through.
Typical jobs and what affects the hours
| Job | What drives the time |
|---|---|
| Sketch to 2D drawing | How complete the dimensions are and how many views are needed |
| PDF or paper drawing to DWG | Drawing quality, scale accuracy and number of sheets. See CAD conversion |
| 3D model of a new part | Number of features, fillets and assemblies |
| Reverse engineering a physical part | Measuring, curved surfaces and tolerances |
| Fabrication drawings | Bend allowances, flat patterns and cut lists. See sheet metal drawings |
| Floor plans | Measured survey supplied or not, number of floors. See floor plans |
How to reduce the cost
- Supply every dimension you have, marked clearly, including units. Guessing and checking takes time.
- State the material and process: laser-cut steel, injection-moulded ABS or 3D-printed PLA all change what the drawing needs to show.
- Give tolerances or say "general tolerances to ISO 2768-m" if nothing is critical.
- Say which projection you need. UK and European manufacturers usually work in first-angle projection; US suppliers often expect third-angle.
- Ask for the right file once. Know whether your manufacturer wants DWG, DXF, STEP or STL. Our guide to STEP vs STL vs DWG explains the difference.
What you should receive
Agree the deliverables before work begins. Typical outputs are:
- Native or exchange 2D files (DWG or DXF) for laser cutters, CNC routers and other CAD users
- STEP files for 3D exchange with machine shops and manufacturers
- STL or 3MF files for 3D printing
- Dimensioned PDF drawings with a title block, revision letter and projection symbol, laid out with reference to BS 8888 for sign-off and quoting
- Rendered images if you need visuals for marketing or investors. See 3D rendering and visualisation
Make sure you also receive the native model files, not just exports. If the design changes later, editing the original model is far quicker than rebuilding it from a STEP or STL file, which keeps future revisions cheaper.
When to call dijitul
If a manufacturer, fabricator or planning officer is waiting on drawings, send us your sketches, photos or existing files. dijitul has worked with UK businesses since 2006 and produces CAD work remotely from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Our rate is £45 an hour + VAT, with fixed quotes for clearly defined jobs. See all prices on our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a CAD drawing cost in the UK?
It depends on complexity, but most CAD work is priced on time. dijitul charges £45 an hour + VAT for 2D drafting and 3D modelling, and gives a fixed quote when you send a clear sketch with dimensions, so you know the total before work starts.
Is it cheaper to outsource CAD than hire someone?
For occasional work, usually yes. Employing a technician means salary, software licences, a workstation and training whether there is work or not. Paying dijitul £45 an hour + VAT means you only pay for drawing time you actually need.
Can you give a fixed price for CAD work?
Yes, when the scope is clear. Send dijitul your sketch, photos, measurements and the file type your manufacturer needs and we will quote a fixed price. Development work with unknown iterations is better billed hourly against an agreed estimate.
Do you charge VAT on CAD drafting?
Yes. dijitul is VAT registered, so CAD work is £45 an hour + VAT. VAT-registered businesses can normally reclaim it. When comparing with a freelancer below the VAT threshold, compare the net cost to your business.
How much does it cost to convert a PDF to DWG?
Conversion is charged on time at dijitul's £45 an hour + VAT rate, or as a fixed quote per sheet once we see the drawings. Clean vector PDFs convert quickly; scanned paper drawings need redrawing to scale, which takes longer.
What CAD file formats do you supply?
dijitul supplies DWG and DXF for 2D work, STEP for 3D exchange with manufacturers, STL or 3MF for 3D printing, OBJ for visualisation, and dimensioned PDFs for sign-off. Tell us what your supplier needs and we deliver in that format.
Related
Get a fixed price
Send a rough brief. You'll know exactly what it costs before we start.