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Total cost of buying a house pages

See complete buying costs by price, including stamp duty plus editable conveyancing, survey and lender fees so you can budget completion cash accurately.

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Quick answer

The total cost of buying a house is far more than the deposit and the purchase price. On top of your deposit you should budget for stamp duty (SDLT in England and Northern Ireland, LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales), conveyancing and legal fees of roughly £1,200 to £2,500, a survey of £400 to £1,500, mortgage arrangement and valuation fees of £0 to £2,000, search fees of £250 to £450, and removal costs of £400 to £2,000. On a £300,000 home a typical buyer needs several thousand pounds in fees on top of the deposit and any stamp duty. Enter your price on any page below to see your full all-in cash figure, not just the tax.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the main costs of buying a house?

The deposit, stamp duty (or LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales), conveyancing and legal fees, a survey, mortgage fees, search fees, and removals. For most buyers, the fees other than the deposit and tax come to a few thousand pounds.

How much are the fees when buying a house?

Aside from the deposit and stamp duty, expect roughly £1,200 to £2,500 for conveyancing, £400 to £1,500 for a survey, £250 to £450 for searches, £0 to £2,000 in mortgage fees, and £400 to £2,000 for removals.

How much deposit do I need?

Most lenders want at least 5% to 10% of the purchase price, though a larger deposit usually unlocks better mortgage rates. The deposit is separate from the fees and stamp duty you also need in cash.

When are these costs due?

Some are payable upfront (a survey and some mortgage fees), the deposit is due at exchange, and stamp duty plus the balance are due at completion within your nation's reporting deadline. The calculator shows what falls due and when.

Can I add buying costs to my mortgage?

You can sometimes add mortgage arrangement fees to the loan, but you then pay interest on them for the term. Stamp duty, legal fees and surveys generally must be paid from savings, so plan to have that cash available before you exchange.

What changes at key thresholds?

Compare nearby brackets before making offers. Small price moves can change tax slices and all-in completion cash.

Check £250,000 Check £300,000 Check £350,000 Check £425,000 Check £500,000 Check £625,000 Check £750,000 Check £925,000 Check £1,000,000 Check £1,250,000

Related content

Start with the calculator, then use scenario hubs and guides to verify assumptions before exchange.

Typical conveyancing fees When do you pay stamp duty? Guides City pages County pages Sources

Written and reviewed by James Whitfield and the HomeBuyingCosts editorial team.

Stamp duty, LBTT and LTT figures are checked against GOV.UK, Revenue Scotland and GOV.WALES. We explain every cost of buying a home in plain English, with worked examples. Editorial standards · About us