House Buying Costs Calculator
Find out exactly what buying a home will cost you in the UK — Stamp Duty, Land Transaction Tax or Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, legal fees, surveys, and every other cost beyond the deposit.
Work Out Your Total Buying Costs
Enter your property price and a few details below. This calculator estimates transaction tax, legal fees, survey costs, and mortgage fees so you know how much cash you need on top of your deposit.
Your Purchase Details
All fields are estimates you can adjust to match your situation
Your Estimated Costs
Based on the details you entered
Every Cost, Explained
Beyond the price of the property itself, a UK house purchase involves several separate costs. Here’s what each one covers and when you’ll need to pay it.
The Cost Breakdown
Six categories that make up your total spend
Deposit
Usually the largest single cost, typically 5% to 25% of the purchase price. A bigger deposit generally unlocks lower mortgage interest rates.
Stamp Duty, LTT, or LBTT
A tiered property transaction tax that varies by nation: Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Northern Ireland, Land Transaction Tax in Wales, and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland. Rates depend on price, buyer status, and whether it’s an additional property.
Legal & Conveyancing Fees
Solicitor or licensed conveyancer fees for handling contracts, searches, and the transfer of ownership, plus local authority search fees and Land Registry fees.
Survey
An independent inspection of the property’s condition, ranging from a basic condition report to a full structural survey for older or unusual buildings.
Mortgage Fees
Arrangement fees, valuation fees, and broker fees charged by your lender or mortgage adviser, sometimes addable to the loan itself rather than paid upfront.
Moving & Miscellaneous
Removal firms, buildings insurance from exchange of contracts, and incidental costs like changing your address on official documents.
Pre-Offer Budget Checklist
Confirm these figures before you make an offer
Standard Transaction Tax Bands
A summary of the main residential tax bands used by this calculator. First-time buyers and additional-property purchases use different bands; see the FAQ below for details.
| Nation & Tax | Portion of Price | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| England / NI — SDLT | Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| England / NI — SDLT | £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| England / NI — SDLT | £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| England / NI — SDLT | £925,001 to £1.5m | 10% |
| England / NI — SDLT | Over £1.5m | 12% |
| Wales — LTT | Up to £225,000 | 0% |
| Wales — LTT | £225,001 to £400,000 | 6% |
| Wales — LTT | £400,001 to £750,000 | 7.5% |
| Scotland — LBTT | Up to £145,000 | 0% |
| Scotland — LBTT | £145,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| Scotland — LBTT | £250,001 to £325,000 | 5% |
House Buying Costs FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the cost of buying a home in the UK.
The main costs are your deposit, Stamp Duty (or Land Transaction Tax in Wales / Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland), solicitor and conveyancing fees, a property survey, mortgage arrangement and valuation fees, and removal costs. Smaller costs include mortgage broker fees, land registry fees, and buildings insurance from the point of exchange.
As a rule of thumb, budget an additional 2% to 5% of the property price for fees and taxes on top of your deposit, though this can be higher for expensive properties or additional-property purchases where higher-rate tax surcharges apply.
In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on the first £300,000 of a property’s price, and 5% on the portion between £300,001 and £500,000. There is no first-time buyer relief above £500,000, and Wales does not offer a first-time buyer discount at all, though its nil-rate band is comparatively high.
Survey and mortgage valuation fees are usually paid upfront during the application process. Solicitor fees are typically due at exchange or completion. Stamp Duty, Land Transaction Tax, or Land and Buildings Transaction Tax must be paid shortly after completion, usually within 14 days in England and Northern Ireland and 30 days in Wales and Scotland.