Design costs & hiring

What is a typical designer fee?

A typical landscape designer fee in 2026 is $50 to $150 per hour, or $800 to $3,000 for a complete design plan on an average residential yard. Initial consultations usually run $100 to $300, and many firms credit that toward the full plan if you continue with them.

Licensed landscape architects charge more, commonly $100 to $250 per hour, and design-build companies often price design at 5 to 15 percent of the construction budget. Get the structure in writing, since 'design fee' can mean one concept or three rounds of revisions depending on the firm.

If you mainly want to see options on your own yard before paying anyone, AI renders cost far less; check OutdoorBrite's pricing for what a month of designs runs.

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