Commercial EPC cost
A commercial EPC in England & Wales typically costs between £150 and £1,500. The gap is not about floor area so much as how complicated the building services are.
| Assessment level | Typical building | Floor area | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 — simple buildings | Small shop, office or unit with simple heating and no cooling | Up to 250 m² | £150–£400 |
| Level 3 — larger simple buildings | Retail unit or office floor, still naturally ventilated | 250–1,000 m² | £350–£750 |
| Level 4 — complex services | Air conditioning, mechanical ventilation, multiple zones | Any size | £600–£1,500 |
| Level 5 — dynamic simulation | Atria, mixed mode ventilation, unusual construction | Any size | £1,500 and up |
Indicative market rates for England & Wales, not quotations. Always confirm what is included before booking.
What drives the price
- Assessment level. The level is set by the building’s services, not by its size. Air conditioning pushes a small office from level 3 to level 4 and roughly doubles the fee.
- Building records. Drawings, a schedule of areas and plant details cut survey time. Without them the assessor measures everything themselves.
- Zones. Each separately serviced area is modelled separately. A parade of five units is five assessments, not one.
- Travel and access. Out of hours access to a tenanted building costs more.
How to avoid paying twice
Commercial certificates last ten years and are public. Check whether one already exists before commissioning a new assessment — our expiry checker works from any lodgement date.
If the building has been altered since the last certificate, a new one is usually worth having anyway: an out of date rating of F or G is a trading problem, not just paperwork.
Common questions
Is a commercial EPC more expensive than a domestic one?
Yes, several times over. A domestic EPC is typically £45 to £120; a commercial one starts around £150 and rises with the complexity of the building services.
Who pays for it?
The party marketing the building — the landlord for a letting, the owner for a sale.
How long does a commercial assessment take?
A small level 3 survey takes an hour or two on site. A level 4 or 5 building can take a day, plus modelling time afterwards.
Can I use a domestic assessor?
No. It needs a non-domestic energy assessor accredited at the level the building requires.