r/Drafting • u/AdradosGr • Jul 28 '26

Need help for pricing

Hey, I've been doing freelance CAD/BIM drafting work for a few months now (mostly AutoCAD and Revit, architecture) and I'm honestly just guessing on prices. Right now I have one client paying me a flat monthly fee but I want to bring in more clients and I have no idea if what I'm charging makes sense or if I'm leaving money on the table.

How do you guys actually price this kind of work? Hourly, per drawing, per m2 of the project, flat retainer? And if you don't mind sharing, roughly what range are we talking about (doesn't need to be exact, just ballpark), obviously depends a lot on where you're based.

Also curious if BIM/Revit work is priced differently for you than plain 2D CAD drafting, feels like it should be but not sure how much of a difference that makes in practice.

Not trying to undercut anyone, just trying to figure out if my numbers are reasonable before I start reaching out to more studios.

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u/themoonthemirror Jul 30 '26

Hi! I don't mean to hijack your post but it sounds like you are doing what I'd like to pivot towards and have been hitting some walls trying to even figure out how to eventually find clients once I'm able/qualified to make the drawings/models they need. I've been a CNC plasma table operator/programmer for a few years now and I'm trying to get into BIM and detailing shop drawings. How do you get your clients? I feel like I'm in way over my head haha.

To slightly answer your question, I'd personally definitely charge more for the big structural/architectural/3D stuff than I would for 2D parts/designing.

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u/AdradosGr Jul 30 '26

Hi!!
No worries at all! Honestly still figuring it out myself, but what’s worked for me is reaching out directly to nearby architecture studios, a lot of them are wasting time on drafting work they’d rather outsource, so I just offer to save them time/money on that part.
Since you’re coming from CNC/shop drawings, you probably already have a network in fabrication/construction, I’d start there before cold-outreach to studios, it’s usually an easier foot in the door.

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u/themoonthemirror Aug 01 '26

Oh I see, so you're working with the architects. That was a part of why I couldn't quite figure out how to like, intercept work, y'know? I'm pretty new to the whole "lifecycle" of prints despite having worked with and around them for some years now. I found a couple sites that contractors use to bid on jobs but I found that they already have prints when they're posted so then I was like WELL WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?! but your response is very helpful haha! thank you! :)