What Is the Average Cost of a Landscape Design?

5 Factors That Affect the Cost of a Landscape Design

Landscape design costs can vary widely, and it’s not just about how big your yard is. Several important factors come together to shape the final price.

Before setting your budget, take a closer look at these five elements that often make the biggest impact on what you’ll spend on the design of your landscape.

Property Size

The size of your property is a key determinant of the overall cost of landscape design. It's simple math: more square footage is equal to more work, more materials, and more time.

If you own a small residential lot, say under 5,000 square feet, your design fees might fall between $1,500 and $3,000. These smaller projects are often quicker to complete and allow for more focused, high-impact features like a cozy patio, pathway lighting, or a curated garden bed.

In contrast, landscape designers charge $3,000 to $7,500 for mid-sized lots of 10,000 to 20,000 square feet. Yes, more space gives you more options — water features, custom lighting, and a large orchid garden — but every choice adds to the bill.

Perhaps you’ve got a sprawling estate. You're looking at $10,000 and upwards for the design phase alone. Large properties like this one require a lot more than visual planning. Your landscape designer must think about grading, drainage, and how each section of the landscape ties into the next.

In some regions, complex soil conditions, local irrigation rules, or zoning regulations mean you’ll need to loop in multiple specialists to meet both environmental and municipal requirements.

Moreover, since these projects often involve phased installations, heavy equipment, and specialized crews, your landscape designer also might need to coordinate with arborists, drainage specialists, or even civil engineers to get everything just right.

In other words, the size of your property sets the pace and scale of your project. It tells your landscape designer how much room they have to work with and how much you’ll need to budget to bring your vision to life.

Do NOT jump into the design process yet. First measure your space, write down your must-have features, and talk to your designer about what your square footage realistically allows.

Landscape Style

A clean, modern layout with minimal planting and hardscaping may keep your costs in check. But a lush, Mediterranean garden or a Japanese-inspired retreat would most certainly require a larger budget and more expertise.

If you're leaning toward a simple, functional design, for instance, open lawn, a few trees, and basic lighting, you might stay within a $1,500 to $3,000 design budget. These layouts focus on symmetry, easy upkeep, and straight lines, which make the planning and installation more straightforward.

Add elements like tiered garden beds, natural stone paths, or built-in seating, and your style starts to push toward $5,000 to $8,000 in design fees. Styles like cottage gardens, tropical landscapes, or desert xeriscapes involve more detail and a curated plant palette. Your designer will spend more time customizing the layout and sourcing region-specific elements.

If you’re into high-end styles such as formal European gardens or resort-style backyards with water features, custom lighting plans, and multiple entertaining zones, design costs can start at $10,000 and climb much higher because the complexity of the design makes input from multiple specialists a prerequisite.

Most importantly, whatever style you choose, make sure it reflects your taste, complements the interiors of your property, and doesn’t feel out of place.

Landscape Material Supply

The materials you select for your landscape affect both the appearance of your design and its cost. Be prepared to see prices swinging widely based on what you choose to lay down, build with, or plant across your space.

Start with the basics. Standard turf grass installation runs around $5 to $10 per square foot. Mulch, gravel, or bark chips for beds and pathways cost less, usually $2 to $4 per square foot, but you’ll have to refresh them every 1-2 years.

Artificial turfs come at a price of $10 to $20 per square foot, but they pay off with lower maintenance over time. You won’t need to spend on water, fertilizers, or regular mowing. Plus, you’ll also save money on reseeding, re-sodding, and patching worn-out grass in the long run.

Hardscaping materials are expensive. For instance, concrete patios start around $8 per square foot, whereas natural stone pavers or flagstone can reach $25 to $35 per square foot.

A wooden pergola built to custom specs generally costs $4,000 to $10,000. Stone features or structural elements like walls will raise the overall expense if the land isn’t level or clear.

Sometimes, plants increase your spend too. A single mature tree can cost anywhere from $200 to over $1,000. The price of large shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials differs from place to place. But keep in mind that a well-stocked garden bed will run you $15 to $25 per square foot in plant and soil costs alone.

Material choices drive the style, durability, and maintenance levels of your landscape.

List out what matters most: low upkeep, natural finishes, eco-friendly solutions, etc. Walk your designer through it and agree on a clear material strategy that keeps you on track both visually and financially.

Designer’s Credentials

Your designer’s background is directly proportional to what you pay and what you get. Someone with formal training, technical certifications, and years of hands-on experience won’t charge the same as someone just starting out.

A self-taught designer or recent graduate might charge $50 to $75 per hour. This is a practical choice when your project involves minor upgrades or straightforward layouts. You could complete a smaller design plan within a $500 to $2,000 range, especially if the scope stays simple.

Designers with five to ten years of industry experience often charge between $75 and $125 an hour. These professionals usually come with a degree in landscape architecture or horticulture, along with a portfolio of real-world projects. When your space needs functional zoning, custom planting schemes, or collaboration with contractors, design fees may reach $3,000 to $7,500.

Registered landscape architects or designers with advanced technical skills tend to charge $150 an hour or more. Their work often includes detailed site analysis, permit-ready drawings, and multi-phase plans. Design packages on this level typically start around $10,000 and can exceed $25,000, if the project becomes complex.

Of course, compared to a novice, a highly qualified designer will most certainly spot risks early, build smart solutions into the plan, and reduce costly changes during execution. If your vision includes custom work, climate-specific planting, or a seamless integration with your home’s architecture, choose expertise over cost-cutting to guide you clearly and keep the project on course.

Site Conditions

You can begin the project with a smoother budget when your site is level, accessible, and build-ready. Anything less will obviously cost more money and time.

It’s generally cheaper to design a level, open yard with decent soil and drainage. It gives your designer a clean, workable canvas and saves time on prep.

However, things change rather drastically when the ground slopes, holds water, or shows signs of poor soil structure. Handling water flow issues like poor grading or runoff control often comes in around $2,000 to $6,000. If your soil feels too hard or compacted, you might need to amend or replace it entirely. Either way, you’ll see thousands more in your invoice before planting even begins.

Terrains with steep angles often need retaining walls or stairways to stay functional and safe. These structural elements introduce more work and push the project cost into a higher budget range, sometimes up to $10,000.

If the subsurface holds old stumps, buried debris, or bedrock, you’ll have to foot the bill for excavation costs as well.

Access is another factor that increases or decreases the price of a landscape design. For instance, a backyard with a wide entry allows machinery and crews to move in and out easily. On the other hand, tight city lots or fenced properties slow things down. In some cases, crews carry materials by hand, and that drives up labor costs considerably.

We’d suggest you inspect the site thoroughly prior to starting the landscape design project. Check what’s on the ground and what’s underneath it. Clear out problems early to spare yourself from expensive surprises mid-project.

Example: Low-Cost Fire Pit Landscape Design

To help you visualize the numbers, we’ve outlined a sample cost summary for a simple fire pit landscape design. It’ll give you a better sense of where the money goes!

Property Size

Suppose your yard is about 1,000 square feet. It’s a smaller space, so you'd probably pay $2 per square foot for basic design work. This amounts to $2,000 to cover the layout and planning for your fire pit and surrounding area.

Design Complexity

A simple fire pit setup with a few low-maintenance plants and gravel around it is a great choice for keeping costs down. A basic design like this would likely cost you about $1,500. It’s not elaborate, but it’s functional and inviting.

Material Costs

When it comes to materials, you’ll go for something budget-friendly like affordable stone for the fire pit, gravel for the base, and maybe some mulch and a few plants. Materials for this setup should cost $1,000 only, not more. You can always adjust the materials to fit your budget, but this will get you a solid start.

Site Conditions

If your property is pretty level and doesn’t need a lot of preparation, your site conditions won’t add too much to the overall cost. You’ll spend around $500 for light grading or minor adjustments to make sure everything fits just right.

Designer’s Expertise

If you’re working with a newer designer or one with a few years under their belt, expect to pay about $75 per hour for their services. For a simple project like this, you might need about 5 hours of work, so that’s an extra $375 for design work.

Total Estimate

Now, if you add everything up, here’s what the total looks like:

• Property size: $2,000

• Design complexity: $1,500

• Materials: $1,000

• Site prep: $500

• Designer: $375
  

This brings the total to around $5,375 for a low-cost fire pit landscape design. Of course, this is just an estimate. The final quote will reflect where you live and what materials you choose. But it gives you a good starting point for a basic, practical outdoor fire pit setup.

FAQs

Can I design my landscape myself?

It’s possible, but only if you have knowledge of soil types, plants, colors, shapes, materials, and design principles. If you're confident in your skills, go ahead and create your plan. However, it’s wise to spend $100 to $200 for a professional designer to review your ideas. This step can help avoid making costly mistakes on an impractical design.

What’s the best way to calculate landscape design costs?

Many online calculators estimate landscaping costs based on your location and project size, factoring in materials and installation. To estimate design costs, take 15% to 20% of the total project price. For example, if a project is estimated to cost $30,000, you can anticipate design fees to range from $4,500 to $6,000.

Can designers do landscaping without a license?

Yes, they can. Many designers are self-taught or have informal training. Landscape design doesn't always require a license, but landscape architects do need one. Architects handle more complex tasks like land reshaping, drainage, and irrigation systems.

How much does a landscape design plan cost?

A landscape design plan, which includes drawings, project estimates, and material details, costs between $300 and $1,500, depending on complexity and location.

How long does it take to complete a landscape design?

A landscape design takes about 3 to 4 weeks from initial consultation to the final plan. This timeline includes any necessary revisions, provided communication with the designer is always open, clear, and timely.

What factors affect the cost of landscape design?

Several factors affect landscape design costs, such as property size, design complexity, materials used, and the designer's experience. Although site conditions and location may not appear as a line item on your final quote, they still impact the total cost in less visible ways.

Can I make changes to my landscape design after the project begins?

Yes, but changes made during the project can increase the cost and timeline. It's always best to finalize your design before construction begins. However, a good designer will be flexible and work with you to incorporate any necessary adjustments as the project progresses.