How Much Does Landscape Design Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $1,933 - $7,243
The cost to hire a landscape designer is $4,572 on average, but you could pay anywhere from $500 up to $500 for your project.
Are you dreaming up your ideal outdoor space? Whatever your vision is, a professional landscape designer near you can help you achieve it. The average cost of hiring a landscape designer is $4,572, and most homeowners pay somewhere between $1,933 and $7,243. Ultimately, what you’ll pay will depend on the size of the outdoor space and the complexity of your desired design.
- Average
- $4,572
- Low end
- $500
- high end
- $14,000
Landscape Design Cost Factors
The cost to hire a landscape designer will vary depending on how complex the project is and the size of the area involved. Here is a breakdown of the main factors that affect how much landscaping costs.
Labor
Some professional landscape designers charge by the hour and some charge by the project. Design plans can range anywhere from $300 to $15,000. Most fall under $6,000. Plans are included in most flat rates. The exact figure will depend on the market, where you live, and the designer’s experience. Contact a top-rated landscaper in your area to get an exact quote.
Consultation fee: Some landscape designers charge a consultation fee to assess your property, review what you want included in the project, and draw up plans, if necessary. Some designers will deduct the consultation fee from your total project fee if you move forward with their estimate.
Flat rate: Your landscape designer might quote you a flat fee for your entire project or pieces of the project, which allows you to pick and choose which services you want. Depending on the designer, the flat rate might act like a retainer in that they’ll complete work until the designated number of hours of work included in the estimate is reached, at which point you might be on the hook to pay more to complete the job.
Hourly rate: If your landscape designer charges an hourly rate instead of a flat rate or a project rate, then you’ll pay the rate for every hour your professional works on your project. Your designer should give you an estimate for the number of hours they expect the work to take before they begin. You can get a rough idea for your total project cost using this estimate, but keep in mind that the estimated time could be off.
Project rate: One of the most convenient ways a landscape designer can charge you is for the entire project. This rate can vary wildly based on the size of your property and how much you want done. Your designer will include a full breakdown of the charges, which will usually include their hourly rate, material costs, permit fees, and other relevant costs.
Their hourly rate
All material costs
Charges for subcontractors, if necessary
Land clearing or alteration fees
Permits, if necessary
Percentage rate: In some cases, your designer may charge for their services based on a percentage of the total project cost. The total can vary, depending on how your contract is structured.
Here’s how much you’ll pay for each type of fee:
| Type of Fee | Typical Fee | Average Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Complexity of Design Plan
The complexity of the project is a big factor in the overall cost. It likely comes as no surprise that a simpler addition to your current landscape design is going to cost less than a full makeover. Some example projects and their average cost ranges include the following.
Not to mention that the shape and overall condition of your yard makes measurements more complex to determine which can also up the cost to landscape. For instance, if it's on a sloping hill or has circular edges, expect to pay slightly more than a standard flat surface.
Overall, the complexity of a landscaping project will affect the required equipment and labor. A very general cost range looks like the following:
| Design Complexity | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic | $300 – $600 |
| Intermediate | $700 – $3,000 |
| Complex | $3,500 – $10,000+ |
Size
The size of your property is another big factor when it comes to cost. For example, artificial grass or turf installation is priced by the square foot (at $5 to $20 per square foot), as are many other landscape design projects. As such, you can expect to pay more the bigger your yard is.
| Yard Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Small (1/4) acre) | $2,500 |
| Medium (½ acre to 1 acre) | $5,000 |
| Large (1.5 acres to 3 acres) | $8,000 |
Designer Experience
Much like most professions, the cost to hire landscape designers varies depending on their level of experience and credentials. The more complex and full a designer’s portfolio is, the more they can charge for their services. Depending on the specific vision you have for your yard, you may want to compare landscape architects vs. landscape designers to determine what professional experience suits your needs best.
Location
Where you live plays a role in the cost of most things—and landscape design is no exception. Rural areas tend to have lower prices for these types of services in comparison to urban or suburban areas. With that being said, suburban and rural projects tend to be more expensive solely because there’s more land to work with. Still, the cost per square foot will usually be higher in major cities.
It’s important to look into the available landscape designers near you to find the best one for you and your project.
Type of Landscaping
The type of landscaping you do also informs the final landscape design cost. When you’re thinking over landscaping ideas, consider what suits your vision—and budget—best.
There are three many types of landscaping—softscaping, hardscaping, and xeriscaping. Typically, softscaping costs less than hardscaping, which costs less than xeriscaping. How much of each you include in your landscape design will reflect on the overall cost of the project.
Season
Landscaping is a seasonal service in many areas, as colder and more wet weather doesn’t make for ease of work. Landscape designers are likely to receive most of their requests in the spring or summer—which are the seasons considered the best time of year to landscape—as the weather proves optimal for outdoor labor.
If you happen to live in a region where landscape design is possible in the fall or winter, you may have an easier time hiring a designer during those months, or even be able to complete the project for less.
Soil Testing
Some landscape design services will require a soil test, especially if your landscape ideas include gardens or plants. A soil test can tell you the overall health of your soil and what additives would make the ground a better place for plants and trees to thrive. Soil tests cost around $1,400, on average, but they can range from $200 to several thousand dollars.
Materials
A designer will help you find materials (brick, crushed stone, paver, etc.) that best fit your design, budget, and vision for your space. Keep in mind that material costs are separate from the design costs. The cost of deck, patio, and walkway materials varies based on quality and quantity.
To give you an idea, though, here are some common landscaping materials and features and their average costs:
| Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Type of Feature
Part of the total landscape design cost for your yard will be the features you choose to include. Special features—like a pond or gazebo—can really up the atmosphere of your landscaping.
| Feature | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 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 square foot |
| Yard and softscape | $50 – $150 per hour |
| Vegetable garden | $0.03 – $0.10 per square foot |
| 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.
Fence
A fence can provide privacy or safety around your yard or a pool, or act as a separation point or even decoration. Incorporating a fence into your design will cost between $1,700 and $4,500, with an average of about $3,100. That can vary a lot, though, depending on the type of fence and its purpose.
We’ll include some average fencing costs in the table below to help you get a sense of what your total will be.
| Type of Fence | Typical Cost (per linear foot) |
|---|---|
| Aluminum | $7–$32 |
| Chain-link | $8–$40 |
| Vinyl (PVC) | $15–$40 |
| Wood | $10–$45 |
| Wrought iron | $25–$55 |
DIY vs. Hiring a Landscape Designer
Landscape design is a fairly large project to tackle, especially if you have a bigger yard and are doing a more complex project. However, with the right equipment and supplies, it definitely is something that you could do on your own.
If you landscape your yard yourself, you will be responsible for all materials and features required. As mentioned before, a feature such as a pond can cost anywhere from $1,300 to $5,800, and a patio ranges from $2,000 to $6,000. It’s important to note that for the cost of various aspects of your landscape design, you need to account for the equipment or tools required to do the prep work. For example, excavating an area can be done with a shovel, but a pro will have access to better equipment to speed up this work.
That being said, while you may be able to save some money on labor costs, paying for all of the supplies on your own and allotting time for landscape designing can be quite the feat. Choosing the right landscape designer for your needs can be time-consuming and expensive, but it’s very often worthwhile for the professional finished appearance they can provide.
How to Save Money on Landscape Design Costs
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.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
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 costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The difference between a landscape architect and a landscape designer is that a landscape architect is required to hold a college degree and a state license (in most states). Architects generally work on commercial and complex residential projects, whereas landscape designers work on small-scale residential projects. Landscape architects and landscape designers may have similar backgrounds and perform some of the same functions, so it’s easy to confuse the two.
Here are some of the main benefits of hiring a landscape designer:
A designer can help clarify your design and hone in on elements you may not know you want.
A designer can give you advice on which plants are native, where to plant trees in relation to your house, and how to create a colorful garden design that makes the most of your property’s features.
An immaculate, professionally designed landscape can help boost curb appeal and increase your property value.
A landscape designer will know which plants are considered harmful to the local environment.
When searching for a professional landscape designer, proof of credibility is at the top of the list. Designers can become certified or accredited through various organizations. Ask about the designer’s credentials, and ask to see their portfolio and a client list. A designer with a long career, first-rate portfolio, and good recommendations will certainly cost more, but it’s almost always worth it. Above all else, make sure you look at examples of past work to make sure the designer matches your style.