Landscaping costs depend on your project and location. Check with a local pro for your specific job.
Your landscape design plan costs range from $1,934 to $7,267, based on your project scope.
Your yard size and design complexity drive your total, and slopes or curved edges raise labor time.
You should budget for materials and add-ons, with features like ponds or gazebos adding $200 to $30,000.
Hiring a local landscaping professional provides reliable help and saves you time with planning, plants, and permits.
In 2026, the national average cost to hire a landscape designer is $4,588, based on data from 3,233 verified projects reported by Angi Pros. Most homeowners pay between $1,934 and $7,267, with the spread driven primarily by yard size, design complexity, and the scope of features requested.
The cost to hire a landscape designer depends primarily on project complexity and the size of the area involved, and understanding both helps you budget accurately for how much landscaping costs. The sections below break down each factor that drives your final price.
Landscape designer fees range from $300 to $15,000, with most design plans coming in under $6,000, and the exact figure depends on your market, location, and the designer's experience. Some professionals charge by the hour while others charge a flat project rate, and plans are typically included in flat-rate quotes. Contact a top-rated landscaper in your area to get an exact quote, since costs vary meaningfully by region and designer credentials. The table below shows how costs break down by fee type.
| Type of Fee | Fee Range in 2026 | Average Fee in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation fee | $100–$3,000 | $300 |
| Flat rate | $300–$15,000 | $4,500 |
| Hourly rate | $50–$150 | $100 |
| Percentage of project | 10–70% | 55% |
| Project rate | $300–$15,000 | $4,500 |
Design complexity is one of the biggest drivers of landscape design cost, with projects ranging from a simple addition to a full yard makeover. Yards with irregular shapes, sloping hills, or circular edges require more complex measurements and additional labor, which raises the overall price. Costs vary significantly by complexity level, as the breakdown below shows.
| Design Complexity | Average Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Basic | $300–$600 |
| Intermediate | $700–$3,000 |
| Complex | $3,500–$10,000+ |
Property size directly affects landscape design cost, since most projects are priced per square foot, turf installation, for example, runs $5 to $20 per square foot, meaning larger yards consistently cost more. Costs by yard size are broken down in the table below.
| Yard Size | Average Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Small (1/4) acre) | $2,500 |
| Medium (½ acre to 1 acre) | $5,000 |
| Large (1.5 acres to 3 acres) | $8,000 |
A landscape designer's experience and credentials directly influence what they charge, with a more extensive portfolio commanding higher rates. Depending on your vision, it's worth comparing landscape architects versus landscape designers to determine which level of professional expertise your project actually requires.
Where you live shapes what you pay for landscape design, with rural areas generally offering lower service rates than urban markets, though suburban and rural projects often carry higher totals because there is simply more land to cover. The cost per square foot tends to be highest in major cities, so browsing landscape designers near you is the best way to get a realistic local estimate.
The type of landscaping you choose is a meaningful cost driver, so as you explore landscaping ideas it helps to weigh both your vision and your budget. The three main categories are softscaping, hardscaping, and xeriscaping, and they follow a clear cost progression: softscaping is typically the least expensive, hardscaping costs more, and xeriscaping is the most expensive of the three. The proportion of each type you incorporate will directly shape your project's total cost.
Landscaping is a seasonal service in many regions, with spring and summer being the best time of year to landscape and the periods when designer demand peaks. If you live somewhere that allows fall or winter work, scheduling during those off-peak months can make it easier to book a designer and may reduce your overall cost.
If your landscape plans include gardens or plants, some designers will require a soil test to assess soil health and identify additives that help plants and trees thrive. Soil testing averages around $1,400 but can range from $200 to several thousand dollars depending on the scope of analysis needed.
A soil test can tell you specific nutrients your soil needs in order to grow plants and grass. For example, a clay or marshy soil could mean your plants take longer take root and grow, which is important information to have when starting your project.
Your designer will help you select materials such as brick, crushed stone, and pavers that fit your design and budget, but material costs are separate from design fees and vary based on quality and quantity. See how material affects your total cost in the breakdown below:
| Material | Average Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Crushed stone | $27–$64 per ton |
| Brick | $10–$14 per square foot |
| Paver | $3–$20 per square foot |
| Stone | $8–$50 per square foot |
| Pea gravel | $40–$95 per ton |
| Sod | $0.35–$0.85 per square foot |
The features you add to your landscape are a significant part of the total project cost, with options ranging from an aboveground fire pit at $200 to $1,500 up to xeriscaping at $10,000 to $30,000. Costs vary widely by feature type, as the breakdown below shows.
| Feature | Average Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Pond | $1,300–$5,800 |
| Fence | $1,700–$4,500 |
| Deck Building | $4,300–$12,500 |
| Patio | $2,000–$6,000 |
| Pergola or trellis | $2,000–$6,500 |
| Aboveground fire pit | $200–$1,500 |
| Gazebo | $2,500–$10,000 |
| Flower garden | $300–$3,000 |
| Xeriscaping | $10,000–$30,000 |
| Installing turf | $5–$20 per sq. ft. |
| Yard and softscape | $50–$150 per hour |
| Vegetable garden | $0.03–$0.10 per sq. ft. |
| Installing shrubs | $25–$50 each |
When considering these features, keep in mind that costs have greatly increased over the years due to supply chain issues and increasing demand, and your project may end up costing more because of this.
Landscape design is a substantial project to undertake, especially if you have a larger yard or are working on a more complex project. A feature such as a pond can cost between $1,300 and $5,800, and a patio can cost between $2,000 and $6,000. Hiring the right landscape designer for your needs can be expensive, but it’s worthwhile for the professional finished appearance they can provide.
A professional landscaper brings technical skill, design strategy, and practical problem-solving that can be tricky for DIY projects.
Pros will conduct a comprehensive site analysis (including sun exposure, soil pH, slope, drainage paths, and microclimates) to design a landscape that suits your environment.
A pro can create scaled design plans or 3D renderings to help you visualize the layout before any work begins.
They know which plant species will thrive in your exact region, reducing the risk of choosing plants that die within a season.
Landscapers can resolve challenging yard issues, including erosion, standing water, poor grading, and compacted soil.
A professional can integrate irrigation systems, outdoor lighting, and hardscaping into a cohesive plan, rather than piecing it together over time.
Pros understand local building codes, HOA guidelines, and permit requirements for features like retaining walls, decks, and patios.
If you want to DIY this project, there are several parts of landscape design and installation that homeowners can confidently tackle with a bit of planning.
Handling basic planting tasks like adding shrubs, flowers, or small trees that don’t require major soil amendments or equipment.
Spreading mulch, compost, or decorative stone to refresh garden beds and improve curb appeal.
Installing simple edging around garden beds using pavers, metal edging, or stone borders.
Building small-scale features such as raised garden beds or container gardens.
Adding low-voltage or solar landscape lighting that doesn’t require electrical expertise.
Tackling DIY-friendly hardscaping projects like gravel pathways or stepping-stone walkways.
Knowing what gets you the most bang for your buck is helpful if you’re on a tight budget. Installing permeable hardscapes (materials like gravel and decomposed granite) is a cost-effective way to cover open spaces, as opposed to paver patios or decks, which cost significantly more per square foot.
Using what you have rather than building new structures will always save you money (and time)—and if you do have to remove structures or hardscapes, consider reusing materials. Being strategic with ground cover plantings (rather than buying a bunch of new plants) can help save money, too.
And, since planting a single tree costs anywhere from $150 to $300, keeping the trees you have can help cut costs.
Be prepared to discuss your must-have features (gardens, patios, lighting, privacy screening, water features, etc.)
Gather measurements or photos of your yard to help the pro understand the current layout, scale, and any problem areas.
Assemble your preferred materials and plant styles, ranging from hardscaping finishes to low-maintenance or native plants.
Ask about project timelines and installation phases, especially if you want the work completed by a certain season or event.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
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