ACA Architects’ Time/Cost Calculator Guide

The fifth iteration of the ACA Architects’ Time/Cost Calculator Guide (TCCG) was launched in February 2026, with 47 updates and improvements. The TCCG helps practices manage project time and costs, combining practice-specific data with reliable calculations to support accurate, tailored fee proposals.

The Guide assists practices of all sizes to assess the true time and cost required to deliver an appropriate level of service across diverse building types, service levels and procurement methods.

Log in to the Architects’ Time / Cost Calculator 

The Architects’ Time/Cost Calculator is part of the ACA Business Toolbox, and is available to all ACA members at no cost.

Calculate fees with confidence and track innovation

The TCCG combines information you supply about your practice’s overheads, costs, expertise and project details with historic data about required hours to generate a suggested fee. It helps you tailor this information to the particulars of your office.

The TCCG allows you to factor in Innovation and Commercial Risk through Office Variables.

Benchmark your practice

The Guide also acts as a powerful benchmarking tool, letting you compare your overheads with those of similar sized practices. For example, are you paying significantly more for Professional Indemnity insurance than others? The Guide helps you find out, arming you with the insights you need to keep overheads under control.

Track multiple projects with ease

You can save an unlimited number of projects within the TCCG, each with its own overheads, hours and fees. This means you can track the specifics of each project, ensuring accurate cost estimation and better budget management. Need a quick calculation? The TCCG also acts as a simple calculator without needing full project details.

Better information, more accurate fees

By providing clear insight into the real time and costs associated with projects, the Guide puts architects in a stronger position to negotiate fair fees that reflect the true time and resources needed to deliver quality work. This benefits both practices and clients.

What’s new?

The ACA’s business toolbox developer, Big Dog Software, has incorporated 47 updates and improvements into the new Time Cost Calculator Guide, including the following highlights:

• A complete visual redesign for a modern, mobile-friendly experience.
• An automated deployment system for quicker updates.
• New interactive charts for clearer data visualisation.
• Improved project editing features.
• Enhanced administrative tools with new calculation algorithms.
• Improved page titles for a better user experience.
• Numerous bug fixes for better stability and user experience.

THE GUIDE PROCESS

The Architects’ Time/Cost Calculator provides a four-step process:

• Steps 1 and 2 allow practices to calculate their office overheads and office variables – this means that the cost calculations for each project are specific to the particulars of the individual practice. The data entered for Step 1 and 2 remain in place over time, and can be readily edited as practice circumstances change.
• Step 3 identifies the estimated range of hours required for the project, based on multiple sets of historic data for different project types.
• Step 4 identifies a charge-out rate for the project based on the information supplied about the practice and the project. Individual practices must then make their own adjustments in relation to project hours – based on specific knowledge of the expertise and experience within the practice. This enables the architect to determine a fee appropriate to their circumstances.

If you have queries about using the Guide, please contact us at national@aca.org.au.

We hope you find the Guide useful.