Estimate a renovation or new build

You willGet an indicative cost for the whole project or a few rooms, by trade and by room, with a likely range.

Time4 min

Why it mattersKnowing the cost early stops a design you can’t afford, and shows which changes cost the most.

Try it in Plotlay → Opens an example project with this lesson beside it. Nothing to install.

Steps

Choose Estimates in the workspace switch at the top (Alt+5), or type estimate in Ctrl+K.
Choose Estimate this project. Plotlay measures the model (walls net of doors and windows, tiles by height band, floors, ceilings, fit-out, site works) and prices every line.
A project with things marked new or coming out is priced as a renovation: what comes out, what goes in and making good. Otherwise everything is priced as a new build.
Read the total, the range and the lines. By section groups the cost by trade, By room by room or area.
To price only some rooms, a level or the selection, choose Generate estimate, set Scope and choose Generate.
Open Options to see each design option priced side by side, with what makes the difference.

The estimate uses the cost level and currency of the project’s address. Change either under Settings: the two are kept separate, so a currency change converts and never changes the cost level.
Lines marked assumed use a default because the model doesn’t say, such as wall tiles in a bathroom with no finishes set. Set the finishes in the Building workspace for a better figure.
Select a room or an item and open Estimate in the panel on the right for what that one thing costs.

Relying on the figure as a price: it is indicative, built from typical published prices. Get quotes from licensed trades.
Expecting a renovation estimate to price rooms that don’t change: mark the work as new or coming out (Existing or new) first.

Check yourself

You switch an estimate for a London project from pounds to Australian dollars. What changes?

The cost level and the currency Only the currency: the same costs, converted at the exchange rate shown Nothing until you regenerate

Phase (existing, proposed, demolish): Whether something is there now and stays (existing), is new work (proposed) or is coming out (existing, to be removed). Plans, 3D and documents show Current, Proposed or Both from it.
Workspace: Site, Building, Capture or Documents in the top bar. A workspace changes which tools come first; it never hides anything in the project.
Fit-out: The fixed things that go into a room: vanities, toilets, kitchen runs, appliances, lights and joinery. Fit-out is placed against a wall and built in 3D.
Design option: One of two or more versions of part of a design, such as two vanities, kept in one project. Only the chosen option shows; clients can pick the one they like.

Steps checked in the app on 18 October 2026.