Conveyancing Fees in Australia (2026): Costs in NSW, VIC, QLD and Every State

Every sale ends in a contract, and the seller’s side prepares it. Engage your own conveyancer before you make an offer, so someone working for you reads it for what isn’t in it before you sign.

How much does conveyancing cost?

Conveyancing costs two things: the professional fee for the conveyancer’s or solicitor’s work, and disbursements, the searches, certificates, PEXA settlement fee and registry fees they pay on your behalf. No state sets the professional fee. The table gives the ranges fee guides and firms publish, with the published average for each state.

Professional fee, GST included, before disbursements. Averages from OpenAgent’s conveyancer cost guide, updated 17 September 2026. The source of each range is listed in the state sections and under Sources.

Conveyancing cost estimator

Pick the state, whether you are buying or selling, and the price. The estimator adds the state’s published fee range to the disbursements a standard transaction pays, using the exact 2026/27 registry and PEXA fees where the state publishes them. Mortgage and strata costs are shown as additions.

How much does conveyancing cost in NSW?

A licensed conveyancer in New South Wales charges $1,000 to $2,500 for a standard purchase or sale, and a solicitor $1,500 to $3,200 (Our Top 10, updated 27 September 2026). Jameson Law puts a standard purchase at $1,200 to $2,500 (15 March 2026), and the published NSW average is $1,650 (OpenAgent, 17 September 2026). At the top of the market, Westla publishes $2,000 to $3,000 for buyers and $2,500 to $3,500 for sellers (2026). NSW sets no standard fee (Coutts Legal, 31 August 2026), so the quote is the only number that counts.

The disbursements are small in NSW because the registry fee is flat: NSW Land Registry Services charges $182.73 to register a transfer, a mortgage or a discharge from 1 July 2026, whatever the price. The buyer’s conveyancer orders the council rates certificate (section 603) and the water authority’s certificate for the settlement adjustments; the seller’s conveyancer attaches the title search, the section 10.7 planning certificate and the sewerage service diagram to the contract.

Council fees differ: the table uses the City of Sydney’s certificate prices and Sydney Water’s charges, and a land tax certificate, strata records and any extra searches are on top. Jameson Law’s range for all disbursements on a standard purchase is $350 to $700.

If you think a licensed conveyancer’s bill is wrong, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal can hear the dispute if you apply within 60 days of receiving it; a solicitor’s bill goes to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner instead (NCAT, read 30 September 2026).

How much does conveyancing cost in Victoria?

Victorian buyers pay $900 to $1,500 and sellers $800 to $1,300 in professional fees (All Conveyancing Australia, 21 July 2026). Conveyancing Explained gives $880 to $2,200 for a standard transaction (13 July 2026), Keylaw publishes fixed fees of $1,290 to buy and $990 to sell (17 September 2026), and the published Victorian average is $1,280 (OpenAgent, 17 September 2026). Sellers sit higher in some quotes because their conveyancer prepares the Section 32 vendor statement.

The large line is the buyer’s transfer fee. Land Use Victoria charges $104.30 plus $2.34 for every whole $1,000 of the price, capped at $3,614, to register an electronic transfer in 2026/27: $1,976.30 on an $800,000 purchase. A mortgage adds $129.20 to register and $55.99 in PEXA fees.

The seller’s certificates (council, water and land tax, $90 to $180 together, and an owners corporation certificate at $80 to $400) go into the Section 32. Search costs are All Conveyancing Australia’s ranges, which include the search agent’s margin.

How much does conveyancing cost in Queensland?

Queensland does not license conveyancers, so a law firm does the work (Attwood Marshall Lawyers). Published fixed fees still start low: Keylaw charges $885 to buy and $619 to sell with outlays extra (17 September 2026), River City Conveyancing $1,400 to buy plus searches and $1,100 to sell, and Empire Legal $2,600 to buy and $1,600 to sell with every standard search included (28 April 2026). The published Queensland average is $1,050, the lowest of any state (OpenAgent, 17 September 2026).

Titles Queensland’s transfer fee rises with the price: $248.04 up to $180,000, plus $46.56 for each $10,000 or part of $10,000 above it (FY2026/27), which is $3,134.76 on an $800,000 purchase. Registering a mortgage or releasing one costs $248.04 each. The buyer’s solicitor runs the searches: title ($25.71 at Titles Queensland), council rates ($100 to $300 or more), water ($40 to $100) and land tax clearance (about $50, Empire Legal, 28 April 2026).

Empire Legal’s $2,600 already includes the searches, so the top of the total counts them twice; with a fee that excludes them, Spire Law puts disbursements including searches at $700 to $1,300 on a Sunshine Coast purchase before the transfer fee (2026).

How much does conveyancing cost in WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT?

• Western Australia. Licensed settlement agents do conveyancing in WA, at $700 to $1,500, with disbursements of $200 to $600 including Landgate registration of about $180 to $320 (ConveyancerCompare, rates for 2025-26).
• South Australia. The seller’s conveyancer prepares the Form 1 vendor statement; fee guides give $700 to $1,600 for the professional fee (Our Top 10, 27 September 2026).
• Tasmania. The thinnest published data of any state: Our Top 10 puts fees in line with WA and South Australia, and the published average is $1,280 (OpenAgent). Get two written quotes.
• The ACT. Our Top 10 lists conveyancing as solicitor work at $1,800 to $3,000; Ray Swift Moutrage publishes $1,700 plus GST for a standard purchase or sale. ACT sellers also pay for the building, compliance and pest reports up front and recover them from the buyer at completion.
• The Northern Territory. The highest published average at $1,875 (OpenAgent). Keylaw charges a fixed $1,490 to buy or sell (17 September 2026) and Voeux Conveyancing from $2,680 to buy and $2,580 to sell.

Outside NSW, Victoria and Queensland the estimator uses Our Top 10’s disbursement range ($300 to $800 to buy, $100 to $400 to sell) because no registry fee schedule was read for those states.

What conveyancing is

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of real property from one person to another. It encompasses everything from reviewing the contract of sale and conducting property searches, through to organising settlement and registering the new title.

In Australia, both buyers and sellers engage their own conveyancers (or solicitors) to handle their respective sides of a transaction. The buyer’s conveyancer protects the buyer’s interests; the vendor’s conveyancer prepares the contract and disclosure documents.

Conveyancing is now largely conducted electronically in Australia via the PEXA (Property Exchange Australia) platform, which allows funds to be transferred and title documents lodged digitally at settlement. From 1 July 2026 PEXA charges $146.30 for a transfer with financial settlement in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Conveyancer vs solicitor

Both licensed conveyancers and solicitors (lawyers) can handle property conveyancing in most of Australia; in Queensland only law firms can. The key differences:

NSW professional fees, GST included, from Our Top 10, updated 27 September 2026.

For the vast majority of straightforward residential purchases, a licensed conveyancer is sufficient and more cost-effective. For complex transactions (e.g. buying via a trust or company, off-the-plan disputes, unusual contract conditions), a solicitor is recommended.

The conveyancing process step by step

For buyers

1. Engage your conveyancer early. Ideally before you make an offer, so they can review the contract before you sign.
2. Contract review. Your conveyancer reviews the contract of sale and vendor’s statement (Section 32 in VIC), identifying any unusual conditions, risks, or items requiring negotiation.
3. Pre-exchange advice. Your conveyancer explains your rights and obligations, including the cooling-off period (if applicable), deposit amount, and any conditions in the contract.
4. Exchange of contracts. Both parties sign identical contracts and the deposit is paid. The deal is now binding (with any conditions outstanding).
5. Property searches. Your conveyancer conducts searches: title, council rates and zoning, land tax, water rates, and any planned road or infrastructure works that may affect the property.
6. Liaising with your lender. Your conveyancer coordinates with your bank or mortgage broker to ensure loan documents are ready for settlement.
7. Pre-settlement inspection. Done by you (not your conveyancer), usually 24 to 48 hours before settlement, to confirm the property is in the agreed condition.
8. Settlement. Your conveyancer coordinates the electronic settlement via PEXA. Funds are transferred, the title is registered in your name, and you get the keys.

For sellers

The seller’s conveyancer prepares the contract of sale and Section 32 (VIC) / vendor disclosure documents, reviews the buyer’s requests for special conditions, and handles settlement to ensure funds arrive correctly. They also discharge the existing mortgage.

DIY conveyancing (not recommended)

In theory, it is possible to conduct your own conveyancing in most Australian states. In practice, this is strongly not recommended for most buyers and sellers.

Reasons to avoid DIY conveyancing:

• Complexity. Property law and the conveyancing process contain many technical requirements. Missing a step or deadline can have serious consequences, including forfeiting your deposit or being liable for damages.
• No professional indemnity. If a licensed conveyancer makes an error, their professional indemnity insurance covers you. If you make an error, you bear the cost entirely.
• PEXA access. Electronic settlement requires access to the PEXA platform, which is restricted to licensed practitioners.
• Cost saving is minimal. Conveyancing fees are modest relative to the property value. The risk-reward calculus strongly favours engaging a professional.

Red flags in contracts

A good conveyancer will flag these issues, but it helps to know what to watch for:

• Unusually long settlement periods (e.g. 90+ days without explanation). May indicate the vendor has a complicating issue to resolve.
• Missing inclusions. Fixtures listed verbally by the agent but not included in the contract (e.g. dishwasher, ducted air conditioning, garden shed).
• Title encumbrances. Mortgages not yet discharged, unregistered easements, or heritage overlays that will restrict future development.
• GST clauses. If buying new property from a developer, confirm whether the price is inclusive or exclusive of GST.
• Unusual “as-is” clauses. Some contracts try to limit the vendor’s disclosure obligations. Your conveyancer should flag these.
• Sunset clauses (off-the-plan). A clause allowing the developer to cancel the contract if completion doesn’t occur by a certain date. Controversial and sometimes misused.

When to use a solicitor instead

While a licensed conveyancer handles most standard purchases perfectly well, there are situations where the broader legal expertise of a solicitor is advisable:

• Buying or selling via a trust, company, or self-managed super fund (SMSF)
• Complex joint ownership structures
• Off-the-plan purchases with non-standard contract terms
• Development sites or properties with planning disputes
• Contract disputes or vendor non-disclosure claims
• Commercial property transactions
• Deceased estates where title issues are unresolved

How to choose a conveyancer

Questions to ask before engaging a conveyancer:

• Are you licensed in this state?
• Do you have experience with this type of property (e.g. off-the-plan, strata)?
• What is your total fee, and which disbursements, including PEXA and the registry’s transfer fee, are included?
• Will you be handling my file personally, or will it be delegated?
• What are your communication standards, will you respond to emails within 24 hours?
• Do you use PEXA for electronic settlement?

Avoid choosing a conveyancer solely on price. The cheapest option may cut corners on searches or contract review. A few hundred dollars of saving is not worth the risk on a $700,000 transaction.

Ask your mortgage broker, or friends who have recently purchased in the area, for recommendations rather than relying on the selling agent’s.

Speaking of settlement-day costs, your conveyancer will arrange payment of stamp duty alongside the loan settlement. Estimate it now: