How much does Landscape design cost?

Professional landscape design can transform a yard into a beautiful and practical extension of your home. Building decks and pergolas, adding fire pits and gazebos, creating outdoor kitchens, and planting gardens and trees—when done properly, all add curb appeal, increase a home’s value, and expand functional living areas.

But before you can enjoy these backyard amenities, it pays to have a landscape designer create a plan. A professional designer will work with you to design a landscape plan (with a drawing or 3-D rendering) that lays out elements for your yard. It may include softscapes (plants and trees), hardscapes (physical elements such as patios, pavers, and water features), and infrastructure (retaining walls, plumbing, and electric power). 

“I can tell in an instant when I walk up to a house whether the landscape design was done professionally,” says Terry Morrill, CEO of Pacific Outdoor Living in Sun Valley, California. “It has curb appeal. You know by how the plants are placed, how they grow, how they’re arranged, and their sizes.”

This guide explains the cost of professional design for popular types of landscaping projects, as well as the consultation fees charged by different types of landscape design pros. Cost data in is based on project quote estimates provided to Yelp users by landscaping design businesses on Yelp, along with industry sources. Learn more about how we calculate these costs in the methodology section at the end of the guide.

The typical cost of a landscape design project is $1,150, with a nationwide range of $591–4,250, according to Yelp data. Specific costs for a given project depend on the amount of time required, extent of work involved in the design process, and the designer’s rate. 

These numbers represent the design cost of small-scale projects done by pros hired through Yelp, such as designing a simple deck or patio that incorporates plantings and a water feature. Larger, more complex projects, such as creating a detailed plan for a high-end front yard with an irrigation system, pergola, native plants, and extensive plantings, can cost more—as much as $7,000+ (especially when done by highly experienced designers). 

The cost of developing a professional garden design or landscaping plan for a residential project depends upon how much time it will take to create the design (including revisions), and what designers will charge for their time.

Different types of professionals perform landscape design work: landscape architects, landscape designers, and design/build landscape contractors or landscaping companies with a designer on staff.

Whichever type you choose, always ask for an initial consultation to discuss rates and request a cost estimate for your project’s design. This is often free, but some landscape designers charge a fee of $100–300—typically deducted from the final cost if they’re hired for the project.

Landscape architects generally charge $70–200 per hour, or potentially more for a firm’s principal landscape architect. These are the most expensive and most experienced landscape design pros. They’re licensed by the state and hold degrees in landscape architecture. If a landscape architect is also certified by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards (CLARB), it can signal an extra level of professionalism. 

Landscape architects tend to work on more complex, artistic plans that require major changes to the property. They’re often the best choice for designing landscaping projects that involve structures such as retaining walls, decks, gazebos, or pergolas. They can plan yard grading, drainage systems, and more. 

Some landscape architects stick to design work, while others will manage the entire landscaping project, including overseeing construction (and supervising the building contractor). The more you ask a landscape architect to do, the greater the overall cost. In situations where landscape architects oversee a landscaping project, their fee may be based on a percentage—typically 10–20%—of the project’s total cost.

Design/build landscape contractors tend to charge $70–150 per hour for landscape design services. They may employ designers on staff or work with freelance designers. If you like the work of a particular landscape contractor, having the design done by their firm is a good way to fold landscape design costs into the total installation cost. The contractor works hand-in-hand with the designer to develop your landscape design plan, then goes on to implement the design.

Because design is figured into the installation bid with this method, it may be harder to single out design costs. But this is often the most affordable route to designing and building a landscape project, because the builder knows how to utilize money-saving strategies in the design.

Rates for landscape designers usually range from $50–100 per hour, but can run as high as $150 per hour. The first hour of consultation may cost $200; after that, the regular hourly rate kicks in for design work, site visits, and revisions. Landscape designers do the same basic work as landscape architects, but without state licensing and, in some cases, with less training. Because they’re more affordable than landscape architects, they’re a good option when you don’t need a higher-level skill set for planning structures, drainage issues, and dealing with complex sites. It’s a sign of professionalism if a landscape designer is certified by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) and has a degree in landscape architecture or horticulture. 

Lawn care professionals and gardeners charge $58–127 per hour. They often have skills that go well beyond maintenance tasks such as mowing and distributing mulch. For a very basic landscaping plan, they may be able to help with suggesting native plants, xeriscaping (low-water plants), walkways, landscape curbing, and other landscaping features.

The design typically starts with a site plan—that is, a scale drawing of the property that includes measurements of all of the existing elements such as the house, driveway, walkways, patio, major trees, and perimeter fences. 

The landscape design pro generally handles all measuring and fact-gathering for the base plan. In some cases, an apprentice may handle some of the data collection—such as taking photographs—at a lower hourly rate. “That takes about 4 hours,” says Terry Morrill of Pacific Outdoor Living.

That information is then programmed into computer-aided design (CAD) software, which helps develop a site plan to meet the homeowner’s goals. The homeowner may also meet with the staff designer to review a printout of the basic site plan, as the designer sketches out ideas. 

“We keep the homeowner [informed] of the budget as we go,” Morrill notes. “If they say they want a pergola of a certain size, we’ll say, ‘Okay, that will add about $20,000.’ We make sure they can keep track of how much they’re spending.”

If the homeowner likes what they see, they can contract for a complete design. A simple 1-sheet plan for a small yard might cost less than $600. A complicated design involving 6–8 pages of plans and details can cost $3,000–4,000 or more.

These additional issues can affect your landscape design expenses.

The greater the square footage of the area needing new landscape planning is needed, the more design time will be required—so fees will be higher.

Old-school, hand-drawn plans tend to be most affordable for very simple projects. Planning that requires computer work, such as computer-aided drawings (CAD) and 3-D modeling, costs more—but once plans are loaded into computer programs, modifications are far easier. In addition, 3-D models make your dream landscape easier to visualize. 

The more design elements you request, the more expensive the planning. Boulders, pathways, water features, a variety of plantings—these all take time to plan, integrate, and select. Uneven ground, such as a yard that slopes, may require designs for retaining walls. Obstructions like outdoor sheds, drainage problems, heavy winds, or the need for screening out unwanted views all add to the complexity of the design. And soil testing may be required before building or planting begins—this can cost up to $500. Custom structures like decks and pergolas generally require detailed construction drawings, which can cost $1,000–3,000. 

Landscape design pros have portfolios of their work to show potential customers—online or as photos. As a rule, those with stunning designs command higher rates. “It’s like art,” says Terry Morrill. “One artist charges more than another. They both use the same canvas and paint, but you’re willing to pay more for what you see as talent and artistic creativity.”

Permits are required for certain types of landscaping projects, including swimming pools, pergolas and patio covers, retaining walls, and outdoor kitchens that involve electrical and gas lines. The fees for permits may come in 2 parts: an initial application-review fee of $300–500, and, for major projects, a fee of $600–800 for plan-check (the building department’s review of plans), approval, and inspection of the finished landscape. If engineering is required to plan the structure of a deck or pergola, for example, the 2nd part of the permitting process could cost $1,000–1,500.

With landscape design, time is money. Visits to the site for consultations, studies, or inspections all take time, as do revisions to plans. The more these types of activities are required, the higher the total landscape design cost will be at the designer’s hourly rate.

Because of varying economic conditions and cost-of-living differences, landscape designers’ rates are often higher in big cities and more affluent areas than in small towns. 

Here are some potential ways to reduce your costs.

It’s a good idea to interview multiple landscape designers or landscape architects and view their portfolios before choosing the one for your project. Be sure to check their ratings and reviews—you can also ask neighbors for recommendations. By getting multiple quotes, you’re likely to land on the right design for your budget. Consider working with a design/build landscaping contractor—they have an incentive to design a project that will land within your budget, and can give you a firm bid for the total project. 

In preparation for your first designer meeting, assemble a list of your wants and ideas. Once your designer starts work, ask for feedback—sketches, progress plans, and sample photos—after every few hours of design work to make sure design work stays on your intended course. 

Ask your designer to suggest plants, materials, and design elements that provide the results you want while minimizing overall cost. A collaborative relationship with your landscape designer leads to a successful project. 

Plan to take advantage of off-season pricing by hiring your landscape designer in the winter, when business is slow. By doing so, you’re likely to get favorable pricing and good availability. Then, when spring arrives, you’ll be ready to launch into the landscape installation.  

If you have a green thumb and enjoy gardening, you certainly can handle a fair amount of landscaping that involves gardens, plants, and the like. But landscaping designs that involve hardscaping, problematic soils, xeriscaping (low-water gardens), water features such as fountains, or other complex issues call for a professional’s training, tools, guidance, software, and understanding of how plants thrive in your local climate.

How much should I pay a landscape designer?

Most landscape designers charge $50–150 per hour. If they’re more experienced, sought-after, hold additional credentials (such as a masters degree in horticulture), or are licensed landscape architects, they may charge up to $200 per hour, according to Yelp data. 

Should I hire a landscape designer?

Building or updating your home’s outdoor areas can easily cost $3,000+, and maintaining the landscaping can cost $100–200 per month—so developing a successful, easy-to-maintain design is a must. A trained landscape designer can create a plan that meets your needs before construction begins. By spending money on good design, you’ll save money on construction and care, and maximize the opportunity of enjoying your yard.

How can I save money on landscape design?

If your landscaping plan is less complex and doesn’t involve building major structures or land improvements, you can work with a less expensive landscape designer (at $50–150 per hour) instead of a licensed landscape architect (at $70–200 per hour). Then stay in the loop during the design process. Make sure you agree with the overall plan before the designer spends time detailing any of the elements, and ask to see updates after every few hours of design work to avoid wasting money on a direction you don’t like.

Find a landscape design professional in your area.

Cost data in this guide is based on project quote estimates provided to Yelp users by licensed professionals and businesses on Yelp (as well as analysis of industry data). Actual project costs may vary depending on location or complexity of the project. Cost data has been reviewed by our industry expert, Don Vandervort, a nationally known home improvement author. Don is the founder of the website HomeTips.com and has written or produced more than 30 home improvement books.