Conveyancing Fees Calculator: Factors to Consider Before You Instruct
12 December 2025 • 7 min read
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Key Takeaways:
- A conveyancing fees calculator provides an upfront estimate of the legal and disbursement costs of buying or selling a property in England and Wales.
- The conveyancing fee calculators can help buyers and sellers plan their budget and choose the right conveyancer.
- The accuracy of the conveyancing fee calculator depends on the details provided, including property value, location, property type (freehold or leasehold), etc.
- Property location and the complexity of the process significantly affect the final cost of conveyancing, with leaseholds costing more than freehold properties, and some locations incurring higher local search fees.
- Not all calculators include add-on services. Always obtain a detailed list of services and fees before instructing a conveyancer.
A conveyancing fees calculator estimates the legal and professional costs of buying or selling a house. It helps you plan your finances wisely so you don’t exceed your budget.
In this article, you’ll get a deeper understanding of what a conveyancing fees calculator is and how it works. You’ll also learn the 5 factors to consider when calculating conveyancing fees, so you’ll know how to use them in choosing the right conveyancing firm to work with.
What is a Conveyancing Fees Calculator?
A conveyancing fees calculator is a tool provided by most conveyancing firms to estimate the cost of their services upfront.
Conveyancing services usually include handling transfer documents and registrations, negotiating contracts, and dealing with searches and title inquiries, among other tasks. Licensed conveyancers also provide professional and legal advice on property transactions. Because of the complexity of the conveyancing process, costs can quickly pile up.
This is where a conveyancing fees calculator comes into play. Using this tool allows you to decide if you’d like to take the next step with the firm and have them manage the legalities of buying or selling a property.
How to use a conveyancing fees calculator
Most conveyancing fee calculators require you to enter information such as the property transaction type, property type, property value, location, etc. The more details you provide, the more accurate the estimated conveyancing fee will be.
Consider location-specific fees and changes in legal fees and tax payments. For instance, the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax changed last April 2025. Factor these in your calculations in case the changes are implemented before you complete the property transaction.
Important reminders when using the conveyancing fees calculator
Conveyancing fee calculators don’t quote the same way. It will vary depending on whether you’re buying or selling a house. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to clarify what is included in the conveyancing cost.
Inquire about any additional charges that may be incurred during the case’s progression (e.g., a transfer fee to the mortgage lender). Talk to different conveyancing firms to compare costs. Focus on those that’ll give you the best value for your money.
5 Considerations When Calculating Conveyancing Fees
Knowing what influences the average conveyancing fees will help you set the right budget for the whole property sales or purchase process.
Keep these 5 considerations in mind when using a conveyancing fees calculator.
Types of conveyancing fees
There are two types of conveyancing fees: fixed legal fees and disbursement costs.
The first refers to the professional cost charged by conveyancers for the legal services they’ll provide, including drafting contracts, conducting legal checks, and providing legal advice.
The second refers to the payments made by the conveyancer to a third party on your behalf. This includes payments for property searches, anti-money laundering checks, Stamp Duty Land Tax, and the Land Registry, among others.
The calculator should clearly specify which of these costs are included in the conveyancing fees. Some will only include the fixed legal fees, while others will include disbursement costs.
Property details
Calculators will ask you to input the type of property you want to buy or sell. If you plan to buy leasehold properties, this will require additional documentation and checks. This is why it commands a higher fee compared to freehold properties.
Calculators will also require the property’s value. High-value properties are more complex and carry greater risk. This affects the overall conveyancing process – leading to higher fees.
Service VS Cost
The more experienced the conveyancer is, the higher the fees. You’ll be paying for their expertise, networks, and overall capabilities in completing property transactions.
This also refers to the range of services provided. Some offer different levels, so make sure you know if you’re getting the basic service or a full package.
While it’s tempting to get the cheapest option, consider the quality they’ll deliver. Read through reviews and ratings to assess the type of service the conveyancer will offer.
With Muve, our conveyancing quote itemises the services we provide. But on top of that, a dedicated account manager is working with your conveyancer to provide regular updates on your case’s progress. Our fees include the use of digital tools such as AI-driven risk detection tools, automated ID checks, a DocuSign remote signing system, and a 24/7 Client Portal—all designed to expedite the conveyancing process.
Property location
Conveyancing fees in major cities like London will differ from those in small towns. Some local councils would also require additional payments to release information.
Did you know: Local authority searches vary across England and Wales. It could be as low as £74.50 (in Manchester) or as high as £192.80 (in Southampton).
Some locations require extra searches or assessments. For instance, if the property is near a river, this will require further searches to assess flooding risks. All these will incur higher costs as well.
Add-on services
Scrutinise the add-on services offered by conveyancing firms, as they will affect the calculated fees.
For instance, those offering a quick turnaround may charge higher fees because they’ll have to pay extra to expedite certain processes. With Muve, we offer Lightspeed as an upgrade from Muve Forward. The extra cost will lead to an exchange in 5 weeks (for freehold properties) to 8 weeks (for leasehold properties), making it an ideal option for time-sensitive transactions.
A conveyancing lawyer who promptly responds to you or sends regular reports may charge higher fees, as these require more time and effort.
Other services that could increase conveyancing fees include special searches, such as environmental risk searches, mining searches, etc.
Make sure you check the conveyancing fees calculator for these details. The more thorough the information required by the calculator, the better the estimate you’ll get from it.
Choose the Best Conveyancing Firm in England and Wales
Understanding how a conveyancing fees calculator works and how to use it wisely will help you identify the right conveyancing firm to work with. While you can ask your estate agent for recommendations, it’s better to know how to identify the right conveyancer to work with.
When you talk to potential conveyancing firms, don’t just ask for quotes. Get the details. Compare quotes and the detailed service description. If they offer fixed fee conveyancing, ask for a list of services.
Look for a firm you can trust, specifically one that has proof of successful completions and can complete them as quickly as possible. These are the firms you want to instruct.
If you’d like to know more about conveyancing fees, get in touch with us. Muve specialises in fast and efficient conveyancing processes. We’ll help you complete property transactions as quickly and with as minimal risk as possible.
FAQs: Conveyancing Fees Calculator
An online conveyancing fees calculator can only provide an estimate of the legal and disbursement fees incurred when buying or selling a property in England and Wales. The accuracy of the calculation will depend on the details provided—such as property price, value, location, transaction type (freehold or leasehold), and similar factors.
When using a conveyancing fees calculator, it’s important to treat it as a guide and not an actual quotation. The estimate will give you a general idea of the budget you have to prepare, but it may differ from the final bill you’ll receive at completion.
Most calculators will ask for the following:
- Property type (freehold or leasehold)
- Property value
- Location
- Property transaction (buying or selling)
The more details about the transaction, the more accurate the estimate will be.
Calculators are programmed with different components. Some provide only fixed legal fees. Others include disbursement fees. Many calculators don’t include upgrade services like fast conveyancing.
This is why it’s important to ask conveyancing firms for an itemised quote to know exactly what is included in the quoted conveyancing fee.
Yes, it can. The calculations provided will help you compare different conveyancers and determine which service can deliver your needs. You can check the services they offer and the cost of using them as your conveyancer.