How Much Does Land Surveying Cost in Chicago, IL? [2026 Data]

Land surveying costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.

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Cost Insights
  • Land surveying costs in Chicago, IL, range from $1,000 to $2,500 for a 1-acre property.

  • American Land Title Association (ALTA) surveys are the most expensive, up to six times as much as a standard boundary survey.

  • Per-acre prices are lower on larger properties, with a 50-acre survey costing $10,000 to $25,000.

  • Working with a local surveyor in Chicago, IL, ensures an accurate, compliant survey—these pros charge $85 to $175 per hour.

Considering the above-average cost of living in Chicago, IL, it’s no surprise that prices are higher when it comes to getting a land survey. Land surveying costs in Chicago, IL, average at $2,383, though your price can range between $829 and $5,698, depending on the size of the land, the type of survey, and your surveyor’s labor rates.

Land Surveying Cost Factors 

The most important cost factor of a land survey in Chicago, IL, is property size, though the survey type also plays a role.

Size

The size of your property plays a big role in survey cost. Property that’s less than an acre can cost as little as $700 or less, while a one-acre survey will start at $1,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the survey and the terrain. Like most things, buying in bulk can help lower your rate. In most cases, the larger the property, the lower the price per acre. In both cases, the wide price range comes down to the size and terrain of the property. 

Property Size (Acres)Average Cost
1$1,000–$2,500
5$1,500–$4,000
10$2,000–$6,500
25$5,500–$12,000
50$10,000–$25,000
6 reasons to get a land survey, including selling property or building an addition

Survey Type

There are different types of land surveys that differ based on the reason you need one. This reasoning can impact its price. Surveyors will charge more when additional land information beyond the standard for establishing property lines needs to be collected.

Type of SurveyAverage Cost
Boundary $600–$2,500
Topographic $2,000–$6,500
Mortgage $350–$1,200
Fence Land $500–$1,500
As-Built $1,600–$3,800
ALTA $3,000–$15,000
New Construction $1,800–$6,500

Land Survey Pro Costs

Hiring a professional surveying company in Chicago, IL, is essential. These pros use advanced survey technology and bring years of experience to the job, so you can be confident that your land survey or plot plan is accurate, legal, and will remain useful over the survey’s lifespan. In Chicago, IL, you can expect to pay a professional land surveyor between $85 and $175 per hour for their labor.

Additional Pros to Consider Hiring 

The other pros you hire will depend on the purpose of your land survey, whether it’s marking property lines, planning new construction, or installing a fence. These pros may include:

  • Real Estate Attorneys: If you’re getting a land survey for legal reasons, you’ll need to hire a real estate attorney for help. These pros can research the deed history of the property, help you deal with any property disputes, and support you in creating or interpreting easements and right-of-way agreements. In Chicago, IL, real estate attorneys charge $275 to $425 per hour.

  • General Contractors: If you’re getting a land survey to plan a new construction project on the property, it might be worth hiring a general contractor to consult during the survey process. These pros can help focus the survey area and reduce your overall costs. Chicago, IL, general contractors charge $50 to $150 per hour.

  • Land Clearing and Excavation Pros: Dense trees, undergrowth, or landscape features like large rocks can make it very difficult to accurately survey land. To ensure an accurate survey, you can hire a land clearing or excavation company for $110 to $250 per hour.

How Angi Gets Its Local Cost Data 

To help homeowners plan their next project, Angi provides readers with carefully researched cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We start with national average project costs, which we collect by analyzing competitor information, retailer material costs, and input from professional contractors. We then apply local price index data to calculate location-specific estimates that reflect what homeowners typically pay in their local area. To do that, we use data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), including its Regional Price Parities (RPPs), which measure price differences across cities. This helps us account for differences in labor, materials, and overall cost of living, so estimates in higher- or lower-cost areas better reflect real-world local pricing.

Every estimate undergoes a thorough editorial review to verify accuracy, consistency, and alignment with observed market conditions.

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

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