How to Evaluate a Scan to BIM Quote: What to Look For
Scan to BIM quotes can look deceptively simple at first glance — but they vary enormously in scope, quality, and what is actually included. A quote for £1,500 and a quote for £15,000 may describe "LOD 300 BIM modelling," but the detail behind those words will determine whether you get a usable model or an expensive disappointment.
This guide gives you a practical framework for evaluating Scan to BIM quotations in the UK — what to verify, what questions to ask, what hidden costs to watch for, and what the 2025 market rates mean for your budget.
UK Scan to BIM Cost Benchmarks 2025
| Service Component | Typical UK Cost | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | 3D laser scanning (point cloud only) | £799+ minimum | £15–£35 per m² depending on site access and complexity | | LOD 200 (geometric, coordination) | £1,499+ / £0.15–£0.25 per sq ft | Approximately £16–£27 per m² | | LOD 300 (design-ready, arch + structural) | £1,799+ / £0.25–£0.45 per sq ft | Most common for refurbishment and retrofit | | LOD 350 (MEP interfaces, plant rooms) | +20–30% on LOD 300 | Required for tight ceiling zones and risers | | LOD 400 (fabrication-level) | £0.45–£0.75 per sq ft (£48–£80 per m²) | Quote required — only for stable final designs | | MEP modelling (add-on per discipline) | +£500+ | Per discipline | | Model revision or update | £499+ | Per revision cycle | | Hourly BIM consultant rate | £25–£45 per hour | 2025–2026 UK rates |
Rule of thumb: A 500m² commercial refurbishment at LOD 300 typically costs £2,500–£6,000 for modelling plus £1,500–£3,000 for scanning.
What Must Be Included in a Quote
Essential Items to Verify
| Item | What to Check | | --- | --- | | Grids, levels, and coordinates setup | Model must be georeferenced — either to Ordnance Survey National Grid or a local site grid | | Modelling to agreed LOD | Quote should specify LOD by zone — for example, "typical areas at LOD 300, plant rooms and risers at LOD 350" | | Clean model structure | Disciplines separated (Architecture, Structural, MEP) following ISO 19650 naming conventions | | QA and Deviation Report | Point cloud vs. model tolerance check — typically ±5–15mm for standard surveys; ±15–25mm for as-built | | Scan Registration Report | Confirms individual scan stations are stitched accurately (±2–5mm tolerance) | | File formats delivered | RVT (Revit), IFC, DWG, and point cloud (E57 or RCP) — confirm all are included |
Questions to Ask About Each Item
- Georeferencing: Is the model placed in its correct OS grid position, or is it in a local coordinate system?
- LOD specification: Is the LOD stated in the quote for every zone of the building, or is it a single average?
- Model structure: Does the provider follow a recognised standard (Uniclass 2015 classification, COBie data template)?
- Deviation report: Is there a written tolerance check, or just a verbal assurance of quality?
- Registration report: Will you receive documented evidence that the scan data is within tolerance?
Hidden Costs: What Is Often Excluded
The items below are frequently omitted from Scan to BIM quotes — but they are almost always needed for a real project. Scope these explicitly before accepting.
Commonly Excluded Items
| Item | Why It Matters | Typical Extra Cost | | --- | --- | --- | | Clash detection and reports | Who resolves clashes? How often are reports issued? This must be agreed upfront | £500–£2,000+ depending on scope | | Drawing production | General arrangement drawings, risers, and plant room sheets are usually additional | £375–£600 per drawing | | COBie and asset tagging | Required for client handover and facility management — not always included by default | £500–£2,000+ | | LOD 400 fabrication detail | Only quoted separately — requires a stable final design | £48–£80 per m² | | Revisions after delivery | What is the revision allowance? What is the cost per additional revision cycle? | £499+ per revision | | Ongoing BIM support | Who manages the model after handover? Is there a support retainer available? | £500–£2,000+ per month | | Point cloud delivery | Some providers charge extra for the raw scan data — you may need it for future projects | £300–£1,000 | | 360° imagery or TruView | Useful for remote inspection — often an optional extra | £200–£500 |
The Revision Trap
One of the most common complaints about Scan to BIM projects is the cost of revisions. Before accepting a quote, confirm:
| Question | Why It Matters | | --- | --- | | How many revision cycles are included? | Some providers include one round of revisions; others include none | | What triggers a revision charge? | Changes to scope, model re-work, or re-modelling from a different point cloud | | What is the cost per additional revision cycle? | Can escalate rapidly if the design changes | | Who determines if something is a revision vs. new work? | Providers may argue that a change is new work rather than a correction |
LOD Levels: Verify What They Actually Mean
The Level of Development (LOD) specified in a quote is only as meaningful as the detail behind it. Ask the provider to specify exactly what is included at each LOD.
What Should Be Included at Each LOD
| Element | LOD 200 | LOD 300 | LOD 350 | LOD 400 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Walls | Approximate thickness, approximate position | Exact dimensions, layers, finishes | As LOD 300 | As LOD 300 plus junctions | | Floors | Approximate slab geometry | Exact slab, structure, finishes | Fabricated detail | Full connection geometry | | Doors and windows | Approximate opening size | Exact frame, sash, glazing, cills | As LOD 300 | Full ironmongery specification | | Stairs | Approximate treads and risers | Exact geometry, balustrades | As LOD 300 | Fully detailed balustrade connections | | Structural | Approximate beams and columns | Exact sections and connections | Exact connections and restraints | Fabricated steelwork | | MEP (visible) | Rough routing only | Services traced where visible | MEP with fittings, valves, hangers | Full system with tolerances | | MEP (concealed) | Not modelled | Not modelled | Not modelled | Only where scanned |
LOD by Zone
Sophisticated providers quote by zone — specifying LOD 300 for typical areas and LOD 350 for complex areas. A single LOD for the whole building often means the complex areas are under-modelled or the simple areas are over-modelled.
How to Compare Two Different Quotes
If you have two or more quotes for the same project, compare them using this checklist:
| Criterion | Quote A | Quote B | Which Is Better? | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total price | | | Depends on scope — cheapest is not always best | | Scanning included? | Yes/No | Yes/No | If scanning is extra in one quote, add it for comparison | | LOD by zone specified? | Yes/No | Yes/No | Zone-by-zone is more reliable | | File formats included | | | Both should include RVT, IFC, DWG, and point cloud | | Deviation report included? | Yes/No | Yes/No | Essential for QA | | Clash detection included? | Yes/No | Yes/No | Often excluded — check | | COBie/asset data included? | Yes/No | Yes/No | Needed for FM handover | | Revision allowance | | | More revisions = less risk for you | | Provider experience | | | Relevant project portfolio, not just years in business | | Insurance and PI cover | | | Adequate for your project's value |
Red Flags to Watch For
| Red Flag | What It Signals | | --- | --- | | LOD stated without zone specification | Provider may be hedging — or will under-deliver on complex areas | | No deviation report mentioned | No quality assurance of model accuracy — risk of errors going undetected | | Scanning priced separately with no combined total | Difficult to compare; combined package may work out cheaper | | No revision allowance stated | Provider may charge for every change — even corrections to their own errors | | Generic template model structure | Model may not reflect actual building geometry accurately | | Price per m² without minimum | Very low per-m² rates only work on large buildings — small projects may be unprofitable for the provider and cut corners | | No mention of ISO 19650 or naming standards | Model structure may be incompatible with your project BIM Execution Plan | | No examples of comparable projects | Provider may lack relevant experience for your building type |
What a Professional Scan to BIM Quote Should Include
A comprehensive Scan to BIM quotation should include:
| Section | What It Covers | | --- | --- | | Project brief | Confirmation of building address, size, scope, and access arrangements | | Methodology | How scanning will be carried out — scanner type, number of stations, accuracy | | Deliverables | File formats, LOD by zone, deviation report, registration report, drawings if included | | Programme | Survey date, scan duration, modelling duration, delivery date | | Pricing | Broken down by scanning, modelling, extras, and total — with revision allowance | | Provider credentials | Insurance, relevant portfolio, BIM capability statement | | Terms and conditions | IP, liability, payment schedule, dispute resolution |
Questions to Ask Before Accepting
| Question | Why It Matters | | --- | --- | | What scanner will you use? | Confirms whether the provider uses survey-grade equipment (Leica, FARO, Trimble) vs. consumer-grade | | How will the model be QA-checked? | Should include a deviation report comparing the model to the point cloud | | What is your typical registration tolerance? | Should be ±2–5mm — anything higher is a quality concern | | Who owns the scan data and point cloud? | You should retain the raw scan data for future use | | What happens if the model is wrong? | What is the provider's correction policy and timeline? | | Can you provide a sample model from a comparable project? | Allows you to assess model quality before committing | | Do you follow ISO 19650? | Confirms that the provider understands BIM standards and protocols |
2025 Market Rate Summary
| Project Type | Scanning | Modelling (LOD 300) | Total Indicative | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Small house (up to 150m²) | £800–£1,500 | £1,500–£2,500 | £2,300–£4,000 | | Medium house (150–300m²) | £1,500–£2,500 | £2,500–£4,000 | £4,000–£6,500 | | Large house (300–500m²) | £2,500–£4,000 | £4,000–£6,000 | £6,500–£10,000 | | Small commercial (up to 500m²) | £2,000–£4,000 | £4,000–£7,000 | £6,000–£11,000 | | Medium commercial (500–2,000m²) | £4,000–£8,000 | £7,000–£15,000 | £11,000–£23,000 |
All prices are indicative and exclude VAT. Actual costs depend on complexity, accessibility, and required deliverables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I go with the cheapest Scan to BIM quote?
Not necessarily. The cheapest quote may exclude scanning, provide a model at LOD 200 when you need LOD 300, omit the deviation report, and have no revision allowance. The total cost of a cheap quote that requires significant rework or additional purchases often exceeds a more comprehensive quotation. Evaluate scope, not price alone.
Q: What is the minimum viable Scan to BIM package?
For a simple refurbishment where you only need floor plans and basic dimensions, a measured building survey with 2D CAD drawings may be sufficient at £800–£2,000. For any project requiring MEP coordination, structural analysis, or facility management, a full Scan to BIM package starting from £3,000 is the minimum viable option.
Q: How do I know if a provider's LOD 300 is actually LOD 300?
Ask for a sample model or model viewer access from a comparable project. Review the model in Revit or BIM Viewer — check whether doors and windows have frames, whether walls have correct layer thicknesses, whether MEP systems are modelled. If the model looks like a simplified massing model, it is LOD 200 at best.
Q: Are there standard templates for Scan to BIM quotes?
There is no universal template, but professional providers will include a project brief, methodology, deliverables schedule, programme, and pricing breakdown as a minimum. If a quote is just a single line ("LOD 300 BIM modelling — £5,000"), it is likely to be an informal arrangement without proper QA.
Q: Should Scan to BIM and laser scanning be quoted together or separately?
Ideally together as a combined package — this ensures the scanning company and the modelling company (if different) are coordinated. If quoted separately, confirm that the scanning specification meets the modeller's requirements for point cloud density and accuracy.
Q: What is a Deviation Report and is it really necessary?
A Deviation Report compares the Revit model geometry to the source point cloud data, identifying any areas where the model deviates from the scan data beyond the specified tolerance. It is the primary QA tool for Scan to BIM — without it, there is no documented evidence that the model is accurate. Always insist on a deviation report being included in the scope.
Q: How do I know if the price per m² is reasonable?
Use the benchmarks in this guide as a starting point. The rate varies significantly by LOD (LOD 200 is cheapest, LOD 400 is most expensive), by building complexity (heritage and complex geometry cost more per m²), and by provider experience (specialists in specific building types may charge a premium but deliver better quality). Always get at least two quotes and compare scope, not just price.