Is a conveyancing quote with "no hidden fees" all-inclusive?

Not always. Check whether the quote covers disbursements such as searches, certificates, ELNO fees and registration fees, or only the professional fee. Ask for the disbursements to be listed separately.

Do I pay the conveyancer upfront?

Practices vary. Many conveyancers take part payment for searches at the start and collect the balance at settlement, but the timing is set by your costs agreement.

Is conveyancing cheaper for a seller than for a buyer?

Often it is similar or slightly lower, because the buyer's side usually carries more searches and the transfer duty and registration steps. Quotes vary by firm.

What happens to the fee if the sale falls through?

It depends on the costs agreement. Many conveyancers charge for the work done and the disbursements already paid, so check the terms before you engage one.

Conveyancing Costs in Australia (By State)

Conveyancing costs in Australia run from about $800 to $2,500 in professional fees for a standard residential purchase or sale, plus disbursements that usually add several hundred dollars. Transfer duty (stamp duty) is not a conveyancing cost: it is a state tax that the buyer pays to the state revenue office, and it is often far larger than the conveyancer's bill.

Before you engage a conveyancer, ask for a written quote that lists the professional fee, each disbursement and GST separately. You can compare firms on Conveyancers & Conveyancing Lawyers in Australia. The ranges below are indicative as at September 2026 and vary with the state, the property and the practitioner.

How much does a conveyancer cost?

A conveyancer typically charges a fixed professional fee of about $800 to $2,500 for a standard residential transaction. The fee rises with complexity.

Transaction	Indicative professional fee
Standard residential purchase	Around $900 to $2,500
Standard residential sale	Around $800 to $2,000
Off-the-plan purchase	Around $1,200 to $3,000
Strata unit (extra strata searches and review)	Around $1,000 to $2,500
Rural, commercial or development property	Quoted case by case, often $2,500 and more
Transfer between family members or spouses	Around $800 to $2,000

Solicitors usually charge more than licensed conveyancers for the same transfer, because they can advise on legal issues outside the transfer. In Queensland there is no separate licensing scheme for conveyancers, so conveyancing for a fee is done by or under the supervision of a solicitor.

What are conveyancing disbursements?

Disbursements are amounts the conveyancer pays to third parties on your behalf and passes on at cost. The common types are:

Title searches on the land register.
Council, water and land tax certificates, which confirm the amounts owing for the adjustment.
Strata or owners corporation certificates for units and townhouses.
Planning and property searches, such as zoning and road-widening certificates.
Electronic settlement fees charged by the electronic lodgment network operator (ELNO), such as PEXA or Sympli.
Registration fees paid to the land registry to record the transfer, a new mortgage or a mortgage discharge.

In NSW, the government-regulated fee for registering a transfer, a mortgage or a discharge of mortgage is $182.73 each from 1 July 2026, according to the NSW Land Registry Services fee schedule. A buyer who is borrowing usually pays for both the transfer and the new mortgage; a seller with a loan usually pays for the discharge.

Is stamp duty part of conveyancing costs?

No. Stamp duty, also called transfer duty, is a state tax assessed by the state revenue office, not a fee charged by the conveyancer. It depends on the price, the state and the buyer's circumstances, and first home buyers may be eligible for an exemption or concession depending on the state and the property value. The conveyancer usually arranges payment of the duty through the settlement, which is why it can appear on the settlement statement.

What does conveyancing cost in each state?

Professional fees fall in a broadly similar range across Australia; what changes is who can act, which registry records the transfer, and which office assesses duty.

State or territory	Who can charge for conveyancing	Land registry	Duty assessed by
NSW	Solicitor or licensed conveyancer	NSW Land Registry Services	Revenue NSW
Victoria	Lawyer or licensed conveyancer	Land Use Victoria	State Revenue Office
Queensland	Solicitor (or under a solicitor's supervision)	Titles Queensland	Queensland Revenue Office
Western Australia	Lawyer or licensed settlement agent	Landgate	RevenueWA
South Australia	Legal practitioner or registered conveyancer	Land Services SA	RevenueSA
Tasmania	Lawyer or licensed conveyancer	Land Titles Office (Land Tasmania)	State Revenue Office of Tasmania
ACT	Lawyer or licensed conveyancer	ACT Land Titles Office (Access Canberra)	ACT Revenue Office
Northern Territory	Lawyer or licensed conveyancing agent	Land Titles Office	Territory Revenue Office

Registration fees, search fees and ELNO fees are set separately in each state and are updated over time, so ask the conveyancer for the current figures for the property.

What makes conveyancing more expensive?

Conveyancing costs more when the transfer needs more searches, more negotiation or legal advice. The main cost drivers are:

Property type. Strata, off-the-plan, rural and commercial properties need extra searches and review.
Contract problems. Unusual special conditions, amendments and late negotiations add hours.
Title issues. Caveats, easements, covenants or boundary questions require investigation. The What Is a Caveat on Property? Lodging & Removing One guide explains how caveats affect a transfer.
Delays. A delayed settlement or a failed settlement often leads to extra correspondence and notices.
Legal structure. A purchase by a company, trust or self-managed super fund needs legal work beyond a standard transfer.

How do you compare conveyancing quotes?

Compare quotes on the same basis. Check these 5 points in each:

Is the professional fee fixed, and what work is excluded?
Are the disbursements listed item by item?
Is GST included?
What is charged if the sale or purchase falls through?
Does the quote include the contract review before you sign?

Lawyers must give written costs disclosure under state legal profession laws; the How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Australia? guide explains costs agreements. The What Does a Conveyancer Do? guide lists the work the fee should cover.

Finding a conveyancer

Compare conveyancers and conveyancing lawyers, their fee models and review ratings on Conveyancers & Conveyancing Lawyers in Australia. City rankings are available for Conveyancers in Sydney, Conveyancers in Melbourne, Conveyancers in Brisbane and Settlement Agents & Conveyancers in Perth.