Many industries and fields enjoy the benefits of today’s cutting-edge CAD technology and the skilled engineers who use it. From designing new products and developing concepts to laying out someone’s ideal home, there are plenty of CAD services with various applications.
While these services are convenient and even critically important at times, sometimes we need to look to other professionals to provide them. You don’t have to be an engineer or freelance CAD drawing professional to enjoy the benefits of modern CAD services, but you will have to work with one.
Outsourcing this type of work can be challenging if you aren’t particularly familiar with it. That being said, the process can be simple and even enjoyable when everyone has appropriate expectations. Such expectations include the cost of the service.
Read on to learn more about the types of CAD services that professionals and firms offer, as well as basic pricing information and general tips for the whole process.
The exact price of various CAD services varies from one project type to another and by market. Below, you will find some general information about what you can expect to pay for some of the most common types of projects. The table at the end of this section presents the information in a clear, organized format.
Plenty of businesses and entrepreneurs turn to design firms and freelancers when they need help designing a new product. This type of work usually focuses on creating one or more 3D models used to gather feedback and observations before moving deeper into the production process.
In addition to 3D modeling services, a lot of basic 2D drafting can be found here. Some 3D rendering can also be involved here, although not nearly as much as 3D modeling. Such services can cost between $50 and $200 per hour. 3D rendering has the highest rates of any of these services. Please see the table for a more specific breakdown.
Mechanical design services tend to have a lot of crossover with product design. The same general CAD services are heavily utilized here, such as 3D modeling, 2D drafting, and a bit of 3D rendering at times. However, mechanical design often requires a higher degree of precision than basic product design.
This tends to show itself in the slightly higher rates for this type of project. The price for drafting and 3D modeling can be anywhere from $50 to $150 per hour. If 3D rendering is required, you can expect it to be in the neighborhood of $90 to $200 per hour.
CAD services for furniture design generally share the same rates as similar products for other markets, such as product design. The most significant difference here is the great use of 3D rendering.
In fact, 3D rendering is one of the primary ways furniture products are depicted for advertising and marketing purposes. This allows the product to be presented well across a variety of platforms.
This may surprise you, but rates for architectural 3D modeling services can actually be a little lower than what you would pay for mechanical design or product design. For example, 3D modeling work for architectural projects may only start at $40 per hour. These same services in other markets begin at an even higher hourly rate and go up from there.
RELATED: 3D Rendering Costs & 3D Visualization Prices for Firms
That being said, some architectural products can be large and require many hours. Top-quality 3D renderings of expansive interiors or large exteriors can easily cost several thousand dollars, depending on the project’s details and scope.
Drafting services for an architectural project, such as a new addition to an existing structure,, run slightly higher than other related services. You should expect to pay at least $100 per hour for architectural drafting.
A common project, such as a 1,000-square-foot addition, will require somewhere around eight to sixteen hours of work to complete. Specialized types of drafting commonly command even higher hourly rates.
| Type of Project | Industry | Rate |
| 3D Modeling | Product design, mechanical design, architecture | $40-$60/hour to $100 per hour |
| 3D Rendering | Product design, architectural design | $90-$200 per hour |
| Architectural Drafting | Architecture | $100+ per hour |
Many factors indeed affect the final price of a project. Many of these are out of your hands. The good news is that there are a few you can control. Let’s take a look at what these factors are.
One of the easiest ways to significantly increase the cost of a project is to put a hard deadline on it in the very near future. Demanding a very fast turnaround will almost always increase the cost of the work by a large margin.
Some freelancers and firms have special rates just for this type of situation. While the increase varies from one professional to another, it’s not particularly unusual to see a 50% increase in the cost of a project if you want it as soon as possible.
On the other hand, you can sometimes reduce costs a bit by being more flexible with the deadlines for the project. Some freelance CAD engineers and firms offer three-speed tiers for turnaround times, such as urgent, standard, and no-rush. If your service provider of choice doesn’t list any information about this, it’s worth asking about it.
Most projects require a standard level of precision or visual quality. For clarity, think of precision as how exactly a 3D model or 2D print is and consider visual quality a measure of the final appearance of a 3D rendering.
The engineer or designer you choose for your project will likely be able to provide a higher level of precision or visual quality than necessary. If you’re trying to work within a strict budget, opt for only what the project truly requires. Chasing perfection in terms of precision or visual quality is an easy way to rack up a whopper of a bill before you know it. A little restraint goes a long way toward keeping costs reasonable.
It’s terrific to have so many skilled professionals available today. There are more options than ever if you need to find someone with the experience and skills to handle the CAD aspects of your project. The downside to this is that trying to find the right firm or freelance CAD digitalization service can start to seem like looking for a needle in a haystack rather quickly. The good news is at Cad Crowd, we’re ready to help.
We have a tremendous pool of experienced, skilled designers and engineers ready to take on your project. These professionals are vetted; you can take advantage of their services confidentially.
The standard procedures at Cad Crowd were created to accommodate your needs. First of all, you won’t have to worry about privacy. Non-disclosure agreements are part of the standard process here. If you’re concerned about intellectual property rights, don’t fret. These rights remain yours when you choose to work with a Cad Crowd designer or freelance Creo engineer.
You may want to choose the best professional for your project. There are plenty that are sure to be a great fit. Get things moving and start the process today by getting a quote.
At Cad Crowd, we have the privilege of working with some of the world’s best freelance CAD services and drafters. Contact us for a free quote if you want assistance with your next design project.
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