Virtual tours have become a standard part of property and business marketing, but the pricing is genuinely confusing. You'll find quotes ranging from £75 to £1,500 for what appears to be the same product. This guide explains what drives the cost, what you should expect to pay for each format, and how to avoid paying for things you don't need.
For full pricing, see my pricing page. This post focuses on the context behind the numbers.
01The Three Formats and What They Cost
There are three main types of virtual tour, and they have very different cost structures. Understanding the difference is the first step to getting the right product at the right price.
Matterport 3D Tours
Matterport is the most widely recognised virtual tour format. A Pro 3 scanner captures the space in accurate 3D, producing an interactive walkthrough with a dollhouse overhead view, auto-generated floor plan, and measurement tools.
The cost of a Matterport scan depends on the size of the space. A standard residential property typically takes two to three hours to scan. Larger commercial spaces take longer.
| Space size | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Small property (up to 1,000 sq ft) | £249 |
| Medium property (1,000–2,000 sq ft) | £329 |
| Large property / commercial | £429–£549+ |
| Add-on to photography package | From £150 |
The hosting cost to factor in: Matterport charges an annual subscription to keep your tour live. At the time of writing, this is £99 per year after the first 12 months (the first year is included in the scan price). For a property that sells quickly, this rarely matters. For a business that wants a permanent tour, it's worth considering against the bespoke alternative.
Bespoke 360° Tours
A bespoke 360° tour is built from high-resolution panoramic photography and presented in a fully branded, custom interface. You own it outright, with no annual fees.
Bespoke tours cost more upfront than Matterport for equivalent spaces, because the production work is more involved. But over a two to three year period, the total cost is often lower once Matterport's hosting fees are factored in.
| Space size | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Up to 6 scenes | £449 |
| Additional scenes | £40 per scene |
| Larger / multi-site | Fixed quote |
There are no ongoing fees. The tour is yours indefinitely. For full details on what's included, see the bespoke 360° tours page.
Google Street View
Google Street View is the most affordable virtual tour format. A Street View tour is published directly to your Google Business Profile and appears on Google Maps, boosting your local search presence.
| Business size | Typical price range |
|---|---|
| Small venue (up to 10 panoramas) | £269 |
| Medium venue (10–20 panoramas) | £399 |
| Large venue (20+ panoramas) | From £549 |
There are no ongoing fees. Google hosts the tour at no cost. For more on what Street View does for local search, see the Google Street View page.
02What Drives the Price?
Several factors affect the cost of any virtual tour:
Size of the space. More rooms, more floors, and more outdoor areas all take longer to capture. Matterport pricing in particular scales closely with scan time.
Travel. I'm based in Somerset and cover the UK nationwide. Travel within my standard coverage area (Somerset, Bristol, Bath, and surrounding counties) is included. For nationwide shoots, travel is quoted separately and transparently.
Complexity. A straightforward residential property is simpler to scan than a multi-floor hotel with outdoor terraces, a spa, and a restaurant. Bespoke tours with custom hotspot content, video integration, or branded information panels take more production time.
Turnaround. Standard delivery is 48 hours. Express 24-hour delivery is available for an additional fee.
Add-ons. Floor plans, additional photography, and drone shots can be added to any virtual tour package.
03How Does Virtual Tour Pricing Compare to Photography?
My property photography packages start from £175. A standalone Matterport tour starts from £249, or from £150 when the scan is added to a photography shoot. Combining both in a single visit is the most cost-effective approach, as it saves travel time and means the property only needs to be prepared once.
For businesses that want a complete marketing package, photography plus a bespoke 360° tour is a strong combination. The photography provides the static images for your website and social media; the tour provides the immersive experience that converts browsers into visitors.
04What You Should Be Wary Of
A few things to watch out for when comparing virtual tour quotes:
Hidden hosting fees. Some providers quote a low upfront price but charge significant annual fees to keep the tour live. Always ask about ongoing costs before booking.
Reseller pricing. Some virtual tour providers are resellers who outsource the actual scanning. This adds a margin without adding value. I own my equipment and do every shoot myself.
VAT. I'm not VAT registered, so the price you see is the price you pay. Some providers add VAT on top of their quoted prices.
Minimum charges. Some providers have minimum charges that make small jobs expensive. My pricing scales with the size of the space, so smaller businesses aren't penalised.
05Ready to Get a Price?
The simplest way to get an accurate price is to get in touch. Call me on 07545 450543 or email hello@propertyphotoguy.co.uk. I'll give you a clear, all-inclusive quote with no hidden extras.
You can also see full published pricing on the pricing page, or visit the virtual tours hub for an overview of all three formats.
