"It's taken the guesswork out of pricing": the BNG Price Calculator

We built the BNG Price Calculator to solve a specific frustration: you have a DEFRA metric, you want a BNG unit budget, and getting one has meant emailing around and waiting days for a reply.

A few months after we launched, we asked users of the platform how they were estimating off-site BNG unit costs before they found the tool. The answers were telling. One developer described working to "a rough guide of £40k a unit." Another was using average unit costs for the main habitat type. Several were going back to their ecologist each time for an indicative quote.

David McElroy at Bromford put it plainly:

"Before the BNG Price Calculator, estimating unit costs was really a rough rule of thumb. Now I've got a tool that is very useful, straightforward, and has taken the guesswork out of pricing. A much better estimating tool than I am!"

What came through repeatedly was speed - and what that speed unlocks. Samuel Finlay at LNT Care Developments told us:

"It's an intuitive and user-friendly tool that provides instant estimates for BNG credit requirements. One of its most valuable features is the low, medium, and high-cost range, which helps users understand how credit prices can vary across different areas and plan accordingly. It makes the often-complex process of estimating BNG credit costs much more accessible."

‍For advisors and consultants, the value is often in the conversation it enables with clients. Dr Fiona Sharpe of Sharpe Ecology:

"It's a very useful, quick and easy tool — both my clients and I find it very helpful for getting a rough idea of costs and keeping everyone informed on potential spend. And when off-site costs come back high, it's a great way to encourage clients to consider on-site BNG."‍ ‍

That last point is one we hadn't anticipated, and it's a good one. ‍

The BNG Price Calculator remains free to use.

Upload your metric at bngpricecalculator.com