TL;DR Architecture fees are freely set by the professional in Brazil. CAU suggests a reference, the regional market applies pressure, but the decision is yours. There is no law that requires a minimum or maximum value.

Direct answer

In Brazil, architecture fees are free. There is no mandatory official table. CAU/BR maintains a reference, but that is all it is, a reference. You can charge more or less.

The 3 forces at play

1. CAU/BR, the technical reference

The CAU table calculates fees on the CUB, with complexity factors. It is well structured and gives you a defensible floor. But it is not mandatory.

2. The regional market

In Pinheiros (SP) a client pays 3x what they pay in the interior of Goias. The market sets the practical ceiling more than CAU does.

3. Your positioning

A recent graduate charges 60% of the reference. A firm with 12 years and an award-winning portfolio charges 150-200%. Positioning changes everything.

How to decide

  1. Calculate the CAU table for your project (simulators exist).
  2. Research 3-5 competing firms in your region.
  3. Position yourself: 70%? 100%? 150% of the reference?
  4. Calculate your real technical hour and see if it adds up.

Setting fees is not about "finding a number that feels fair", it is calculation + positioning + a conscious choice.

Limify

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Limify calculates CAU fees and compares them with your technical hour in seconds. You decide with data.

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