How Much Does Landscape Design Cost?

What Is a Landscape Designer?

Landscape designers are skilled contractors who can help you develop a plan to transform your outdoor space into something both functional and fashionable. While you can certainly DIY your front or backyard transformation, using an experienced landscape designer can ensure maximum return on your investment.

Though often used interchangeably with landscape architect, a landscape designer usually focuses on smaller residential projects, including:

• Gardens

• Trees

• Patios

• Water features

You can find a local landscape architect when your vision includes more complicated features like a retaining wall or yard regrading.

Landscape Design Cost per Square Foot

The typical landscape design price per square foot can vary greatly depending on the project’s complexity. More complex projects requiring a licensed landscape architect may cost more per square foot than a basic garden design. In general, budget anywhere from $4 to $40 per square foot for landscape design:

Landscape Design Costs by Type

The type of landscape design you choose can drastically impact your costs, with vegetable garden design costing as little as $0.03 per square foot and full-on xeriscaping design costing $200 per hour.

Residential Garden Design Cost

Garden designers near you may charge by the hour or area—or just a flat rate. Whether you’re building a butterfly garden or a vegetable garden, costs will range from $0.03 to $0.10 per square foot. In general, however, residential garden design costs less than the average landscape design.

Small Garden Design Cost

Small garden costs vary by size, location, and complexity. You'll spend anywhere from $4 to $18 per square foot, including installation. Design costs run from $0.05 to $0.75 per square foot, or about 5% to 10% of the project cost. Complex urban gardens tend to run on the higher end of the spectrum, with simple gardens in rural areas being the least expensive.

Xeriscape and Environmental Garden Design Cost

Xeriscaping tends to cost more, with local backyard designers charging about $200 per hour for the design work alone. These eco-friendly gardens—which use less water and generally no fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides—are cheaper to maintain in the long run.

Because xeriscaping relies on natural resources for irrigation and pest control, you won’t need to budget for the cost of a sprinkler system. Instead, designers utilize permaculture elements—a form of design centered on an ecologically balanced landscaping.

Throughout most of North America, more than 50% of residential water goes to landscape and lawn care. Xeriscaping reduces your annual lawn care costs. It’s also aesthetically pleasing, which can drive up your home’s value.

Landscape Designer Rates and Fee Structures

So, how much does a landscape designer cost? Different types of landscape designs cost more depending on the landscape designer, the project, location, and other factors.

Consultation Hourly Rates

Hourly rates range from $50 to $150 with most charging between $50 and $75 an hour. Since hourly rates are open-ended, they usually include everything from the initial consultation to design plans and revisions.

The cost of landscape design consultation on an ongoing basis can exceed $200 per hour—though as consultants, landscape designers take a more hands-on approach with on-site management of local landscapers, gardeners, and arborists.

Some professionals charge by project or area.

Per Project Rate

Flat project rates rely on the hours the designer calculates the project will take. This number will vary with complexity, location, and size. A per-project rate usually includes a limited number of plan revisions and typically doesn't include time spent working with landscapers. Designers may charge flat rates for front and backyards in some areas where yard sizes are uniform.

Percent Rate

Some landscape designers charge a percentage of your home garden budget as their cost. For example, a landscape designer may charge 20% of a client’s budget for small gardens and about 15% for medium-sized gardens.

Rate by Area

Your outdoor area’s size is one of the most important factors in determining the cost. The size, coupled with materials, location, and season, may increase or decrease the cost. However, expect to pay $500 or more for a quarter acre and $2,000 or more for a full acre (43,560 square feet).

By Plan

Design plans can range anywhere from $300 to $15,000, though most fall under $7,000. Some designers price by a percentage of the overall cost, anywhere from 5% to 15% of the total construction project. Most flat rates include plans. How designers bill varies by region and market, though price often equates with quality.

Garden and Landscape Cost Factors

The cost of landscape design depends on several factors, including the project size, the time of year, and the actual scope of the project.

Size and Location

Expect to pay $300 to $2,500 for most detailed landscape designs, depending on the size of your property. For big-name designers, you might pay between $6,000 and $16,000 for larger spaces. Anticipate at least 1 to 2 hours of talk time between you and your landscape designer, which often costs $50 to $75 per hour.

Cost of Materials

Material costs are separate from the design costs. Your designer will usually suggest materials to use along with the plants and other amenities you'll want; you’ll discuss most of these suggestions in the first consultation and site visit. If you're open, they'll offer more suggestions with the plans.

Cost of Labor

Labor costs are also separate from design costs but are directly related to the design your local yard designer dreams up. These labor costs will vary wildly, depending on your location, materials, landscapers’ experiences, and your project’s specificity. However, expect to pay about $50 to $100 per hour for a two-person crew.

Soil Testing Costs

Designers may test the soil for drainage, acidity, and nutrients during a site visit. This type of soil testing costs between $10 to $200—a cost commonly included in the consulting fees. With this testing, the designer can more accurately recommend the best types of trees and plants for the soil (as well as the climate).

Experience Level

Landscape designer fees usually range between $50 and $150 an hour. You’ll pay on the higher end of that range for a more experienced designer or a more established design company with a large portfolio of successful work. Sometimes, only the bigger-name designers can take on larger-scale projects and may have in-house local arborists, gardeners, and even licensed retaining wall contractors.

Time of Year

Landscape designers are busiest in the spring and summer months, so you may have to wait longer for a consultation and may pay a premium. If you plan ahead and get the consultation in the winter, when landscape designers are less busy and thus eager to take on work, you might be able to cut costs.

Landscape Materials and Features

Designers usually recommend materials that best fit the design, your budget, and your home. You can expect brick and paver recommendations for patio and walkways and woods for pergolas, decks, and planters. Designers have a good sense of how the varied materials cohesively unify the design, though you can always ask about cost-effective alternatives.

Designers usually know the best places to buy materials and may be able to recommend where to get the best deal. Just remember that all material costs (and labor costs) are separate from landscape design costs.

Common Landscape Materials 

Material costs will vary widely depending on where you live, especially when accounting for inflation. The table below breaks down some common materials used in landscape design—and their typical costs:

Common Landscaping Features

Many landscape design projects include specific features, like a new patio, pool, or pond. The table below estimates materials and labor costs for each project, outside of the initial design work.

DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Landscape Designer

Homeowners can technically design their own yard or garden using free software or paper and pencil. Some better-than-average design software might set you back $200. But hiring a local landscape designer comes with many benefits, including:

• Expert recommendations for specific plants, trees, wood, and stone

• Information on how to save money on materials and labor costs

• The potential for a much greater ROI when you go to sell your home

If you’re considering a landscaping project that’s any bigger than planting a flower bed, consider working with a local landscape designer.