How Much Does Conveyancing Cost in Australia? (2026 Fees by State)

The short answer

Conveyancing for a standard home purchase in Australia usually costs about $700 to $2,000 in professional fees, depending on the state and whether you use a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor. Searches, certificates and electronic settlement fees add roughly $300 to $950 on top. Selling usually costs less than buying.

What does conveyancing cost in each state?

Professional fees for a standard residential purchase or sale fall in these ranges, as at October 2026. They are typical published ranges, not quotes, and exclude searches, disbursements and stamp duty.

State	Buying	Selling
New South Wales	$900 to $2,000	$600 to $1,450
Victoria	$800 to $1,900	$500 to $1,400
Queensland	$1,000 to $2,200	$500 to $1,200
Western Australia	$700 to $1,800	$700 to $1,300
South Australia	$700 to $1,600	$500 to $1,200
Australian Capital Territory	$800 to $2,000	$500 to $1,200
Tasmania	$700 to $1,800	$500 to $1,200
Northern Territory	$800 to $2,000	$500 to $1,200

What are disbursements?

Disbursements are the third party costs your conveyancer pays for you and passes on at cost. They usually add $300 to $950, depending on the state and the property.

Typical disbursements include title and council searches, water and land tax certificates, strata or owners corporation certificates for units, the electronic settlement fee charged by PEXA or Sympli, and the land registry fee to register the transfer. Stamp duty is separate again and is paid by the buyer.

Why do conveyancing quotes vary so much?

Quotes vary because of who does the work and how complex the property is. The biggest factors are:

Conveyancer or solicitor. Licensed conveyancers usually charge less. A solicitor costs more but can give legal advice if the contract raises a problem.
Property type. Units, off the plan purchases, vacant land and rural property take more work than an established house on its own title.
How the buyer is structured. Trusts, companies and self managed super fund purchases add work.
Fixed fee or hourly. A fixed fee is easier to compare. Check exactly what it includes.
Whether disbursements are bundled. Some firms quote one all inclusive price, others list searches separately.

Is buying more expensive than selling?

Buying usually costs more than selling. The buyer's conveyancer orders more searches, reviews the contract, handles finance and stamp duty, and arranges the transfer. A seller's conveyancer prepares or checks the contract and disclosure documents and handles the discharge of any mortgage at settlement.

How do I compare conveyancing quotes?

Compare the total, not the headline fee. A cheap professional fee with expensive add ons can cost more than an all inclusive quote.

Ask for a written, itemised quote that lists the professional fee, every disbursement and GST.
Check whether the quote is fixed, and what would make it go up.
Ask whether you pay anything if the sale or purchase falls through.
Confirm who will run your file day to day, and how quickly they reply.

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Questions people ask

Is conveyancing cheaper with a conveyancer or a solicitor?

A licensed conveyancer is usually cheaper. In NSW, for example, conveyancers commonly charge about $900 to $2,000 for a purchase while solicitors often quote $1,800 to $4,000. A solicitor can give legal advice when a contract raises issues, which can be worth the extra cost.

Do I pay conveyancing fees upfront?

Usually not in full. Many conveyancers take a small deposit to cover searches and collect the rest at settlement, and some charge nothing until settlement. Ask before you engage them, and check what you owe if the deal falls through.

Is GST included in conveyancing fees?

It depends on the firm. Some quotes include GST and some add it on top, so check the quote says which. Disbursements such as government search fees may not attract GST.

Can I do my own conveyancing?

In most states you can legally do your own conveyancing, but state governments warn it carries real risk. You would have no professional indemnity insurance if something goes wrong, and electronic settlement normally needs a subscriber such as a conveyancer or solicitor.

Ready to compare? Pick your city: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin. Or get quotes from a few.

Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Rules change, so check with your conveyancer before you rely on them.

How much does conveyancing cost in Australia?