Costs shift from year to year based on material prices, labor demand, and regional trends. They also swing wildly depending on your property size, how complex the design is, whether you want a sketch or a full 3D rendering, and who you hire to draw it up.
This guide breaks down real pricing ranges, the factors that push costs up or down, what's typically included versus excluded, and how to budget before you call a pro.
Key Takeaways
- National average design fee averages $4,588, with most homeowners paying $1,933 to $7,268
- Larger lots, complex layouts, and 3D renderings cost more than simple sketches or basic 2D plans
- Design fees and total landscaping installation costs are separate budgets
- Compare multiple vetted local designers to avoid overpaying or accepting an under-scoped plan
How Much Does Landscape Design Cost? (Pricing Overview)
There's no fixed price tag for landscape design. Costs shift with project scope, the deliverable you need, and the designer or firm you hire.
Most budgeting headaches come from misunderstanding what the design fee actually pays for. Common mistakes include:
- Assuming the design fee also covers materials and installation
- Underbudgeting for revisions or extra site visits
- Hiring the cheapest bid and ending up with an impractical plan
Typical Cost Range
According to Angi's 2026 landscape design cost data, the national average is $4,588, with a typical range of $1,933 to $7,268. Overall, plans can run anywhere from $300 to $15,000, though most homeowners land well below $6,000.
| Tier | Typical Price Range | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level / basic | $300-$600 | Small updates, single beds |
| Mid-range / standard | $700-$3,000 | Patios, walkways, mid-size yards |
| High-end / complex | $3,500-$10,000+ | Large or multi-feature properties |
These figures include a site visit, a plant or material list, and a reasonable number of revisions. They exclude installation labor, permits, and ongoing maintenance—those get quoted separately.
Basic Sketch
A basic sketch gives you a hand-drawn or digital layout with rough plant placement. Don't expect precise measurements or engineered detail here.
Best for: small updates, a single garden bed, or quick budget planning before committing to anything bigger.
Scaled 2D Design
This tier steps up to accurate measurements, specific plant selections, a hardscape layout, and drainage notes. It's the workhorse option for most residential projects.
Best for: patios, walkways, and mid-size yard renovations where precision matters but you don't need photorealistic visuals.
3D Rendering / Full Master Plan
The top tier delivers realistic visuals, detailed material specs, irrigation and lighting plans, and often phased construction guidance for rolling out the project over time.
Best for: large or complex properties, whole-yard transformations, and any project where you're investing enough that you want to see it before you build it.
Key Factors That Affect the Cost of Landscape Design
Pricing depends on your property, who you hire, how ambitious the scope is, and where and when you book the work.
Property Size and Design Complexity
Larger lots take more design hours, plain and simple. Multi-level or terraced yards add even more time because every grade change needs to be accounted for.
- A simple native-plant layout on a flat, small lot is quick to design and cheap to plan
- Mixed plantings plus a basic patio or walkway land in the middle on hours and cost
- Water features, regrading, or retaining walls need far more technical drawing time and push fees toward the high end
Designer Experience: Landscape Designer vs. Landscape Architect
Not all "landscape professionals" charge the same, and the difference often comes down to licensing.
According to HomeAdvisor's cost data, a general landscape designer typically charges $50-$150 per hour, averaging around $100. Licensed landscape architects run $70-$140 per hour for comparable work, though experienced architects handling technical documents can charge $150-$275+ per hour.
You generally need a licensed architect when the project involves:
- Grading or drainage engineering
- Retaining walls above a certain height
- Permit-required construction documents
For a straightforward plant-and-patio layout, a designer is usually enough, and cheaper.
Materials, Features, and Site Conditions
Hardscape-heavy designs (patios, water features, outdoor kitchens) take longer to plan than a softscape-only garden bed layout, since every structural element needs specs and placement details.
Site conditions matter too. Poor soil, drainage issues, or steep slopes all add complexity and design hours up front.
Location and Season
Cost of living drives designer rates. Designers in urban and high-cost-of-living areas charge noticeably more than those in rural markets for the same scope of work.
Season plays a role too. Spring and summer are peak season for landscape design, and pricing tends to run higher then. Fall and winter often bring better availability and softer pricing.
How Landscape Designers Price Their Services
Designers don't all bill the same way. Understanding the model behind a quote helps you compare offers fairly.
- Hourly rate: Typically $50–$150 per hour for designers; licensed architects or on-site supervision often run $140+.
- Per square foot: Rates vary widely by region and project complexity, and they climb quickly on larger or highly detailed footprints.
- Flat fee / per plan: Usually $300 to $15,000, averaging around $4,500. Scope, location, and how much detail you request drive the fee up or down.
- Percentage of project budget: Design fees often run 10–20% of total construction cost, per Houzz research on hiring a landscape architect. On a $30,000 project, expect roughly $3,000 to $6,000.
No single model is best for every job. A flat fee gives predictability; hourly billing suits simpler projects; percentage-based pricing scales with bigger builds.
Design Fee vs. Total Landscaping Project Cost
The design fee is only the first line item on a much bigger budget. It's easy to fixate on that number and forget everything that comes after.
- Design fee (one-time): Covers the planning, drawings, and specs (not the labor or materials to build it).
- Materials and installation (one-time): Typically the largest chunk of total spend, often several times the design cost alone.
- Maintenance and upkeep (recurring): Ongoing lawn and plant care after installation commonly runs $100-$500 per month for a standard residential property.
- Add-on features (periodic/optional): Patios, pergolas, water features, and lighting are usually quoted separately from the base design fee, even if they appear in the plan.
Think of the design fee as your roadmap cost, not your total trip budget.
How to Budget Smart for Your Landscape Design
A common rule of thumb: set aside roughly 10% of your home's value for landscaping overall, then split that between design and installation, with design typically taking the smaller slice.
From there:
- Gather multiple quotes before committing to anyone. Comparing vetted local pros—through a service like TrustPatrick—helps you avoid pressure tactics and get a fair read on market pricing.
- Avoid focusing only on the upfront design fee. A cheap design paired with an unrealistic plan can cost more once installation reveals what was missed.
- Don't skip maintenance costs when setting your total budget. A gorgeous design that you can't afford to maintain isn't a win.
- Resist over-customizing features that aren't essential to the space's function or your daily use of it.
For bigger projects, consider a phased approach: design the whole vision up front, then install it in stages across seasons. This spreads out cost without sacrificing the overall plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of landscape design in Perth?
This guide covers U.S. pricing in USD. Australian rates differ with currency, labor markets, and local demand. For Perth figures, check a local directory or talk with a nearby landscape professional.
Can I DIY my own landscape design to save money?
DIY works fine for small, simple updates like a single garden bed or basic plant swap. Larger or more complex projects involving grading, drainage, or structures risk costly mistakes without professional input.
What's the difference between a landscape designer and a landscape architect?
Landscape architects are licensed and can handle technical work like grading, drainage, and permit documents; designers generally aren't licensed and focus on aesthetics and layout. Architects typically charge more per hour as a result.
How much does landscape design cost per square foot?
Many designers charge a flat project fee rather than a true per-square-foot rate. When per-square-foot pricing is used, simple garden layouts cost less; detailed multi-feature or hardscape-heavy plans cost more.
Does the landscape design fee include installation?
No. Design and installation are almost always billed separately, with installation typically costing several times more than the design fee itself. Always confirm what's included before signing a contract.
How long does the landscape design process usually take?
A small yard design may take a couple of days, while a larger property with multiple structures can take up to four weeks. Collaboration and revisions can stretch that timeline.
Conclusion
Landscape design costs vary based on your property's size, the complexity of the layout, the type of deliverable you need, and the credentials of the designer.
Understanding the difference between the design fee and your total project cost (installation, maintenance, and add-ons included) prevents budget surprises down the road.
Before you sign anything, compare multiple vetted, background-checked local professionals to find the right balance of price, quality, and reliability for your project.
