In general, the certification fees include the handling of the entire certification process by the DGNB. In addition, costs arise for the DGNB Auditor, which may vary depending on the project and the services performed. The following chart explains how the certification fees are compiled:
Overview of the DGNB fees
The services provided by the DGNB include a plausibility check (pre-certificate) and the first two rounds of the conformity check (certificate). If the DGNB Auditor or client wishes to have the documents checked further, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of Euro 2,000 net for up to ten criteria. For each additional criterion to be checked, a net fee of Euro 500 is charged. The conformity assessment can only be carried out once all certification fees have been paid in advance.
In addition, the statutory sales tax is payable on all certification fees. The discount for DGNB members is granted if the client or the applicant of the project is a DGNB member or a member of an international DGNB partner organisation.
The fees are to be calculated according to the gross floor area (GFA(S)). The GFA includes above ground and underground areas including all underground parking, technology and storage areas.
The registration for the pre-certificate and the certificate takes place together. After signing the certification contract, 40 percent of the fees will be charged. This includes the fees for submission of the documents for the pre-certificate, if applicable. The remaining 60 percent of the fees will be invoiced regardless of the application for a a pre-certificate on submission of the documents for the certificate.
If your project has already been pre-certified with an earlier market version or if you have general questions about an earlier version, we are happy to help you at system@dgnb.de.
DGNB fees in detail
| Please note: The following information is a translation of a German document using AI. It is for information purposes only and provided in order to outline the content of the German original. In all matters of specific interpretation, the German original shall take precedence. |
|---|
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (pre-certificate and certificate) on the part of the DGNB for the schemes:
New Construction and Renovation of Offices | New Construction and Renovation of Educational buildings | New Construction and Renovation of Residential buildings (more than 6 residential units) |
New Construction and Renovation of Consumer markets | New Construction and Renovation of Shopping centres | New Construction of Laboratories |
New Construction and Renovation of Mixed Use | New Construction and Renovation of Department stores | New Construction of Healthcare buildings |
New Construction and Renovation of Hotels | New Construction and Renovation of Assembly buildings | New Construction of Sport halls |
The certification fees listed below cover the entire certification process carried out by the DGNB. This includes the following checks (and the issuance of any certificates that may be awarded):
- Plausibility check for the DGNB pre-certificate (one round of checks),
- Conformity check for the DGNB Renovation or New Construction Certificate (two rounds of checks),
- Review of the criteria for the ESG Verification for the EU Taxonomy1 and
- Initial certification in accordance with the DGNB System Buildings In Use (no later than three years after the DGNB New Construction Certificate has been awarded)
If the auditor, building owner or contractual partner requests a further review of the documents after the rounds of checks included in the fees, the DGNB will charge a fee of €2,000 for up to 10 criteria (€500 for each additional criterion to be reviewed). Reviews of achieved qualities for the QNG quality seal² can be conducted upon request by the auditor, building owner, or contractual partner and will be charged separately.
The conformity check can only be carried out once the relevant certification fees have been paid.
| GFA in m2 (≤) | 1.250 | 2.500 | 5.000 | 7.500 | 10.000 | 12.500 | 15.000 | 17.500 | 20.000 | 25.000 | 30.000 | 40.000 | 50.000 | 60.000 | 70.000 | 80.000 | 90.000 | 100.000 | 110.000 | 120.000 | 130.0003 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB Member | Pre-certificate and certificate | €2,900 | €4,250 | €6,050 | €7,800 | €9,350 | €10,900 | €12,450 | €14,000 | €15,500 | €18,150 | €20,750 | €26,000 | €31,250 | €36,500 | €41,750 | €47,000 | €52,250 | €57,250 | €62,000 | €66,750 | €71,500 | |
| QNG quality seal2 | upon registration4 | €600 | €800 | €1,200 | €2,000 | €3,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| subsequently | €750 | €1,000 | €1,500 | €2,500 | €3,700 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-member | Pre-certificate and certificate | €4,900 | €7,600 | €9,400 | €11,300 | €13,200 | €15,100 | €17,000 | €18,900 | €20,800 | €24,150 | €27,500 | €33,600 | €39,700 | €45,800 | €51,900 | €58,000 | €64,100 | €70,100 | €76,000 | €81,800 | €87,500 | |
| QNG quality seal2 | upon registration4 | €800 | €1,100 | €1,500 | €2,500 | €3,700 | |||||||||||||||||
| subsequently | €1,000 | €1,300 | €1,800 | €3,000 | €4,400 | ||||||||||||||||||
All costs are subject to statutory value added tax. The discount for members is granted if the building owner of the project or the contractual partner is a member of the DGNB or an international DGNB Partner Organisation.
The project size for the fees is to be calculated on the basis of the gross floor area (Regular Case) - GFA (R) in accordance with DIN 277-1:2016-01. The GFA includes above-ground and underground areas, including all underground garages, technical areas and storage areas.5
Note on auditor services
Auditor fees are not included in the above certification fees. Auditor fees vary greatly depending on the project. Please discuss these with your auditor. They will also inform you of any additional costs that may be incurred.
1Only available in countries according to the list published on our website
2If a seal variant is available for the QNG quality seal, the achieved qualities can be verified and confirmed
3 We would be happy to provide you with a quote for buildings with a gross floor area (Regular Case) - GFA (R) > 130,000 m². Please contact us by email at zertifizierung@dgnb.de or by telephone on +49 711/ 722 322 98
4Information provided when registering for DGNB Certification
Download the the scale of fees (German only)
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (pre-certificate and certificate) on the part of the DGNB for the schemes:
New Construction and Renovation Logistic buildings | New Construction and Renovation Production buildings | New Construction Car parks |
| New Construction Small-scale industrial and commercial buildings |
The certification fees listed below cover the entire certification process carried out by the DGNB. This includes the following checks (and the issuance of any certificates that may be awarded):
- Plausibility check for the DGNB pre-certificate (one round of checks),
- Conformity check for the DGNB Renovation or New Construction Certificate (two rounds of checks),
- Review of the criteria for the ESG Verification for the EU Taxonomy1 and
- Initial certification in accordance with the DGNB System Buildings In Use (no later than three years after the DGNB New Construction Certificate has been awarded)
If the auditor, building owner or contractual partner requests a further review of the documents after the rounds of checks included in the fees, the DGNB will charge a fee of €2,000 for up to 10 criteria (€500 for each additional criterion to be reviewed). Reviews of achieved qualities for the QNG quality seal² can be conducted upon request by the auditor, building owner, or contractual partner and will be charged separately.
The conformity check can only be carried out once the relevant certification fees have been paid.
| GFA in m2 (≤) | 2.500 | 5.000 | 7.500 | 10.000 | 12.500 | 15.000 | 17.500 | 20.000 | 25.000 | 30.000 | 40.000 | 50.000 | 60.000 | 70.000 | 80.000 | 90.000 | 100.000 | 110.000 | 120.000 | 130.0002 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB Member | Pre-certificate and certificate | 4.450 € | 5.850 € | 7.200 € | 8.500 € | 9.700 € | 10.850 € | 11.950 € | 13.000 € | 14.500 € | 15.900 € | 18.400 € | 20.750 € | 22.850 € | 24.900 € | 26.950 € | 29.000 € | 31.000 € | 33.000 € | 35.000 € | 37.000 € | |
| QNG quality seal2 | upon registration4 | 600 € | 800 € | 1.200 € | 2.000 € | |||||||||||||||||
| subsequently | 750 € | 1.000 € | 1.500 € | 2.500 € | ||||||||||||||||||
| Non-member | Pre-certificate and certificate | 7.600 € | 9.150 € | 10.700 € | 12.150 € | 13.600 € | 15.050 € | 16.500 € | 17.900 € | 19.700 € | 21.300 € | 24.000 € | 26.700 € | 29.300 € | 31.900 € | 34.500 € | 37.100 € | 39.700 € | 42.200 € | 44.700 € | 47.200 € | |
| QNG quality seal2 | upon registration4 | 800 € | 1.100 € | 1.500 € | 2.500 € | |||||||||||||||||
| subsequently | 1.000 € | 1.300 € | 1.800 € | 3.000 € | ||||||||||||||||||
All costs are subject to statutory value added tax. The discount for members is granted if the building owner of the project or the contractual partner is a member of the DGNB or an international DGNB Partner Organisation.
The project size for the fees is to be calculated on the basis of the gross floor area (Regular Case) - GFA (R) in accordance with DIN 277-1:2016-01. The GFA includes above-ground and underground areas, including all underground garages, technical areas and storage areas.5
Note on auditor services
Auditor fees are not included in the above certification fees. Auditor fees vary greatly depending on the project. Please discuss these with your auditor. They will also inform you of any additional costs that may be incurred.
1Only available in countries according to the list published on our website
2If a seal variant is available for the QNG quality seal, the achieved qualities can be verified and confirmed
3 We would be happy to provide you with a quote for buildings with a gross floor area (Regular Case) - GFA (R) > 130,000 m². Please contact us by email at zertifizierung@dgnb.de or by telephone on +49 711/ 722 322 98
4Information provided when registering for DGNB Certification
Download the the scale of fees (German only)
The following cost table provides an overview of the certification fees (pre-certificate and certificate) on part of the DGNB for the renovation or new construction of small residential buildings with up to 12 residential units (certification with the DGNB Small Residential Buildings Renovation/New Construction System, Version 2024)
The certification fees listed below cover the entire certification process carried out by the DGNB. This includes the following checks (and the issuance of any certificates that may be awarded):
- Plausibility check for the DGNB pre-certificate (one round of checks),
- Conformity check for the DGNB Renovation or New Construction Certificate
(two rounds of checks)
If the auditor, building owner or contractual partner requests a further review of the documents after the rounds of checks included in the fees, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of €500 net for up to 20 indicators. A fee of €50 net will be charged for each additional indicator to be reviewed.
The conformity check can only be carried out once all certification fees have been paid.
Reviews of achieved qualities for the QNG quality seal² or the criteria for the ESG Verification for the EU Taxonomy can be conducted upon request by the auditor, building owner, or contractual partner and will be charged separately.
| Number of residential units | Certification fees (Pre-certificate and certificate) | QNG quality seal1 | ESG Verification for the EU Taxonomy2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| upon registration6 | subsequently | upon registration6 | subsequently | |||
| DGNB Member | ≤ 23 | 750 € | 400 € | 550 € | 1.250 € | 1.400 € |
| 3 to 54 | 1.350 € | |||||
| 6 to 125 | 2.250 € | |||||
| Non-member | ≤ 23 | 1.350 € | 600 € | 750 € | 3.000 € | 3.150 € |
| 3 to 54 | 1.950 € | |||||
| 6 to 125 | 2.950 € | |||||
All costs are subject to statutory value added tax. The discount for members is granted if the building owner of the project or the contractual partner is a member of the DGNB or an international DGNB Partner Organisation.
The number of residential units is based on the state building regulations underlying the project. When registering a project, proof of the number of residential units must be provided in the form of an extract from the building permit or a corresponding confirmation from the architect.
Note on auditor services
Auditor fees are not included in the above certification fees. Auditor fees vary greatly depending on the project. Please discuss these with your auditor. They will also inform you of any additional costs that may be incurred.
1If a seal variant is available for the QNG quality seal, the achieved qualities can be verified and confirmed
2Only available in countries according to the list published on our website
3Single family homes, single-family homes with granny flats, two-family homes, semi-detached houses with one building owner
4Small multi-family homes, terraced houses with one building owner
5Multi-family homes, terraced houses with one building owner
6Information provided when applying for DGNB Certification
Download the the scale of fees including serial certification (German only
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (Pre-Certificate and Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for Small residential buildings (Version 2013):
| Number of full floors (excluding basement) | Certification fees | |
|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | ≤ 2 > 2 | 950 € 1,450 € |
| Non-member | ≤ 2 > 2 | 1,450 € 1,950 € |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the building owner or the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
The certification fees are eligible for funding under KfW Programme 431 Energy-efficient Construction and Refurbishment – Building Assistance Grant. This cannot be applied for at present. Please refer to the website of the KfW for relevant information if you are already receiving the grant.
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (Certificate only, not Pre-Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for Interiors:
| Project size/area to be certified in m2 (≤) | 2,500 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 50,0001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 2,000 € | 3,000 € | 4,000 € | 6,000 € | 8,000 € | 10,000 € | 12,000 € |
| Non-member | 3,000 € | 4,500 € | 6,000 € | 8,000 € | 10,000 € | 12,500 € | 15,000 € |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the client or applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
The fees are to be calculated on the basis of the area to be certified. Evidence must be produced for this purpose.
1 For interiors with an area to be certified > 50,000 m2 we gladly prepare a proposal. Please contact us via phone +49 711 722 322-0 or via email at zertifizierung@dgnb.de
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees "Buildings In Use", system version 2020, with "Climate-positive" award and ESG verification:
| Registration fees | 1st certification | Recertification |
|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 1,500 € | n/a |
| Non-member | 3,000 € | n/a |
The fee is made up of the registration fee and the certification fee. The Buildings in Use certificate is valid for three years from the date of issue. Recertification is possible annually or at the latest every 3 years. The requirements can be found in the recertification guidelines. The recertification fee is indicated in the table of certification fees per year. If a building is re-certified after one year, the fee is charged once, twice after two years and three times in the third year. The climate-positive award and ESG verification for the EU taxonomy are free of charge if updated annually. The certificate is valid from the month in which the official property assessment is issued. The certification contract is automatically extended for a further 3 years if it is not cancelled at least 3 months before the end of the contract period.
| GFA in m2 | Certification type | up to 500 | >500 up to 5,000 | >5,000 up to 20,000 | >20,000 up to 50,000 | >50.000 up to 100,000 | > 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 1st certification Recertification per year | n/a 175 € | 1,500 € 375 € | 2,500 € 625 € | 4,000 € 1,000 € | 7,500 € 1,875 € | Price on request Price on request |
| Non-member | 1st certification Recertification per year | n/a 175€ | 1,500€ 375 € | 3,000 € 750 € | 5,000 € 1,250 € | 9,000 € 2,250 € | Price on request Price on request |
All costs are subject to the statutory value added tax. The discount for members is granted if the owner of the property or the applicant is a member of the DGNB or an international DGNB partner organisation. The fees are to be calculated on the basis of the GFA(R) in accordance with DIN 277-1:2016-01. The GFA includes the above-ground and underground GFA including all underground car park, technical and storage areas.
Please note: This is a translation of an original schedule of fees in German. Translated using AI, this textis for information purposes only and provided in order to outline the content of the German original. In all matters of specific interpretation, the German original shall take precedence. You can download the original schedule of fees below.
Schedule of fees for Buildings In Use (German only)
The following cost table is an overview of the certification costs on the part of the DGNB for Existing Buildings, Office:
| Certification type | Pre-Certification (valid 18 months) | Certification with Pre-Certificate (valid 3 years) | Certification without Pre-Certificate (valid 3 years) | Re-Certification for a further 3 years (without structural modifications) | Re-Certification for a further 3 years (with structural modifications) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 5,000 € | 4,000 € | 7,000 € | 3,000 € | 5,500 € |
| Non-member | 6,000 € | 5,000 € | 9,000 € | 4,000 € | 7,500 € |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the building owner or the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (individual prices Pre-Certificate, Development Certificate or Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for the schemes:
Urban Districts | Business Disctricts | Commercial Areas |
Industrial Sites | Event Areals | Resorts |
Vertical Cities |
In general, the certification fees cover the entire certification process carried out by the DGNB, including the first two rounds of conformity assessments for the respective (Pre-)Certificate. If the auditor or building owner/principal insists on further documentation reviews, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of Euro 2000 for up to 10 critera. For each additional criterion, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of € 500. The conformity assessment will be conducted once all certification fees have been paid.
| Project size (Gross development area in ha (≤)) | 10 | 30 | 100 | 200*** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | Pre-Certificate, Development Certificate or Certificate* Package price discount** | 9,800 €
| 14,600 €
| 19,500 €
| 25,500 €
|
| Non-member | Pre-Certificate, Development Certificate or Certificate* Package price discount** | 12,800 €
| 17,600 €
| 22,500 €
| 28,500 €
|
All of the costs listed exclude value-added tax. The discount for members applies if the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organization of the DGNB.
The fees are calculated based on gross development area (GDA) in hectar (ha).
* A double fee will be charged if there is no pre-certificate or development certificate carried out at certificate application.
** The package price applies to the simultaneous registration of several phases (pre-certificate, development certificate, certificate).
*** For projects > 200 ha please contact us by phone +49 711 722 322-0 or email zertifizierung@dgnb.de for an individual offer.
- Certification of sub-sections
For large projects it is possible to pre-certify the overall project, while the phases of construction are certified individually. The fees for the first phase of construction are based on the size of the overall project. For each additional phase of construction, an additional 30 percent of the regular fees for the entire project are charged.
- Re-Certification (Industrial Sites)
The certification for Industrial Sites is limited to five years. If there are no structural changes, the recertification fee will be 40 percent of the regular certification fees. If there are structural changes, the re-certification fee will be 60 percent of the regular certification fees.
- International Projects
There is a 20 percent discount on certification fees for projects not based in Germany.
- Vertical Cities
The calculation of certification fees for the usage profile Vertical Cities are based on the fees for "New Construction". Therefore, the fee for each regular building must be determined and summed up.
- Information about auditing fees
Auditing fees are not included in the certification fees mentioned above. The cost of auditing services varies greatly from one project to another. Please negotiate these fees with your auditor, who will inform you of any extra costs, such as for special planning services, etc.
| DGNB projects1 | other projects | |
|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 2,500 € | n/a |
| Non-member | 4,000 € | n/a |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the owner of the property or the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
1 Only accessible for projects with DGNB Certificate in Gold or Platinum
In general, the fees cover the processing of the entire verification by the DGNB, including two verification cycles. For each additional verification cycle, an additional 50 percent of the verification fee is charged net. The conformity verification can only take place if all fees have been paid beforehand.
The fees* consist of the registration fee and the verification fee.
| Registration fee | New Construction | Renovation | Acquisition and Ownership | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 750 € | 2,500 € | 2,500 € | 1,500 € |
| Non-member | 1,500 € | 3,000 € | 3,000 € | 2,000 € |
All costs listed exlcude value-added tax. The discount for members applies if the project applicant is a DGNB member or a member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
* If several identical buildings at the same location are to be verified, we will be happy to provide you with a quote. Please contact us by phone +49 711 722 322-0 or via email to zertifizierung@dgnb.de.
Note on consultancy services: Fees for consultancy services are not included in the above fees. The costs for consultancy services are highly dependent on the project. Please arrange these with your DGNB Auditor or DGNB Consultant. They will also inform you of any additional costs that may occur.
Please note:
(1) No fees are due if all of the following requirements are met:
- The project has already been registered with the DGNB in accordance with the system variants New Construction, Version 2018 and Version 2023; Renovation, Version 2021; or Buildings In Use, Version 2020.
- The documents to be submitted as part of the ESG Verification are submitted at the same time as the DGNB conformity assessment.
- The applicant for verification and for certification is the same.
(2) If several projects are registered at the same time and submitted collectively, the registration fee is only due once.
(3) For projects that are already DGNB-certified, only the verification fee is due.
Please contact us if you are interested in a verification of building ensembles.
Note regarding auditor services
Auditor fees are not included in the certification fees listed above. The fees for auditor services strongly depend on the project in question. Please discuss the fees directly with your auditor. They will also inform you about any additional costs such as further planning services required from specialist planners.
