How Much Does It Cost to Translate a Construction Drawing?

— Airui Translation: The Perfect Fusion of Technical Precision and Linguistic Expertise

In the fields of engineering, architecture, mechanical and electrical installation, and structural design, construction drawings serve as the visual language of technical communication.
One of the most common questions clients ask is:

“How much does it cost to translate a construction drawing?”

At Airui Translation, we believe this question is not merely about price — it’s about professionalism, accuracy, and value.

Ⅰ. Key Factors That Determine the Cost

The cost of translating a construction drawing depends on several important variables:

1. Type of Drawing and Specialization

Structural, architectural, MEP, HVAC, plumbing, or electrical system drawings all require translators with specific technical backgrounds and industry terminology knowledge.

2. Complexity and Clarity

The complexity of lines, symbols, and annotations directly affects the workload.
If the original file has low resolution, overlapping text, or unclear annotations, additional graphic editing and text reconstruction may be required.

3. Language Pair

Translations involving common language pairs (e.g., Chinese–English, English–Chinese) are relatively straightforward.
However, less common or multi-language projects often require additional review and linguistic coordination.

4. Delivery Time

Standard projects and urgent projects differ in time allocation and manpower.
Rush requests requiring short turnaround times may involve higher coordination effort.

5. Formatting and Layout Requirements

Many drawings must retain their original layout and annotation style.
Our DTP (Desktop Publishing) specialists and CAD engineers ensure translated texts are seamlessly integrated into the drawings without compromising the visual structure.

6. Quality and Certification Requirements

If the translated drawings are to be used for tendering, government approval, or compliance submission, a higher level of verification and technical review is required.
Projects involving both technical and linguistic validation will naturally involve additional stages and expertise.

Ⅱ. Airui Translation’s Service Philosophy

At Airui Translation, we uphold a pricing approach based on professionalism, transparency, and customization — never arbitrary or misleading.

• Free Evaluation: Clients may submit sample drawings for a free assessment of scope and complexity.

• Transparent Quotation: Written quotations are based on the actual workload, difficulty, and delivery requirements.

• Expert Assignment: Projects are assigned to translators and engineers specialized in relevant disciplines (structural, MEP, or civil engineering).

• Strict Workflow: Translation → Technical Review → Formatting → Final Quality Check, ensuring consistency between text and graphics.

• After-Sales Support: We provide follow-up services such as revisions, terminology maintenance, and version updates for long-term projects.

Ⅲ. What We Need to Provide an Accurate Estimate

If you would like us to prepare a detailed quote, please let us know:

1. Type of drawing (Architectural / Structural / MEP / HVAC / Electrical, etc.)

2. File size or format (A0, A1, A2, PDF, DWG, etc.)

3. Volume of text or annotation density (heavy / light text content)

4. Whether formatting and layout must remain identical to the original

5. Deadline or urgency of the project

6. Target language(s) (Chinese–English, English–Chinese, or multilingual)

With these details, we can provide a precise and professional quotation that reflects the real value of your project.

◀️：Jinan Translation Company

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