How Much Does a Garden Designer Cost?

A garden designer’s fee depends mostly on the size and complexity of your garden, where you live and how experienced the designer is. A one-off consultation is the cheapest way in. A full design for a typical suburban garden usually costs from around a thousand pounds to several thousand. The build costs far more on top.

This guide explains how designers charge and what pushes the price up. It also covers the extras to budget for, and when you might not need a designer. For what actually happens at each stage once you’ve hired someone, see our guide to working with a garden designer.

What does a garden designer do for the fee?

A designer turns how you want to use the garden into a plan a builder can price and build. That takes more work than most people expect.

A full design usually includes:

• A brief that records what you want, your budget and any problems.
• A site survey that measures the garden, levels, drains and existing trees.
• Concept sketches showing one or two layout ideas.
• A detailed plan drawn to scale, with materials and levels marked.
• A planting plan listing every plant, how many and where they go.

Bigger projects may add lighting, irrigation or drawings for a planning application. The more of these you need, the higher the fee.

Going through the plan and material samples together is part of what the fee pays for.

How do garden designers charge?

Most designers use one of these fee models, sometimes mixing them on one project.

Detailed drawings take time, which is why most designers charge a fixed fee for each stage.

Fixed fee in stages is the most common for a full design. You pay for each stage once you’re happy with it, so you can stop if the project changes. Hourly rates suit a consultation, but agree a maximum number of hours for anything bigger. With a percentage fee, agree the figure and a cap up front.

What makes a garden design cost more?

Size, complexity and location push the price up most.

• Garden size. A big garden takes longer to survey, draw and plant up.
• Slopes and levels. Steps, terraces and retaining walls need careful drawings. Our guide to garden steps and retaining walls shows why.
• Hard landscaping. Patios, paths, walls and structures need detailed specifications.
• Location. Designers in London and other expensive areas usually charge more.
• Experience and reputation. Well-known designers and registered members of the Society of Garden Designers often charge more.
• How much you want them to do. Ordering plants, finding contractors and site visits during the build all add to the bill.

A careful site survey picks up levels, drains and problems early, before they get expensive.

What do the different design packages include?

Many designers offer two or three packages. The names vary, but they usually look like this.

Consultation

A visit of a couple of hours with advice on layout, planting and materials. You may get a rough sketch or a written list of ideas. There’s no full drawing, so you plan and manage the work yourself. It suits small gardens or a second opinion on your own plan.

Full design

The full set of stages, from brief to planting plan. You end up with drawings any good landscaper can price from. This suits most gardens being properly redesigned.

Even a small garden benefits from a clear plan, especially where paving, lawn and borders all have to fit together.

Full service

The full design plus extra help, such as lighting design, finding and briefing contractors, sourcing plants and visiting during the build. The designer effectively helps run the project. It suits larger gardens and bigger budgets.

Large projects like this, with paving, a pergola and lots of planting, usually need a full-service package.

What extra costs should you budget for?

The design fee rarely covers everything. Ask which of these are included and budget separately for the rest:

• Travel if the designer is some distance away.
• Specialist surveys, such as a topographic survey on a sloping site or a tree survey.
• Structural engineering for retaining walls or raised terraces.
• Lighting design, sometimes done by a specialist.
• Planning applications for structures that need permission. Check with your council if you’re unsure.
• Site visits during the build.

If a tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or you’re in a conservation area, you’ll need council consent before pruning or felling it. Check early, as it can affect the design.

Some sole-trader designers aren’t VAT-registered, so their prices may not include VAT. Always ask whether a quote includes VAT.

How can you save money on garden design?

Spend on the design, then save on the way it’s built.

Doing the planting yourself from the designer’s plan is an easy way to save money.

Phase the build. Have one full design drawn, then build it in stages over a couple of years. You pay the design fee once and spread the build cost.

Manage the build yourself. Use the designer for the plan only, then hire a landscaper directly. It saves money if you have the time and a good local contractor.

Start with a consultation. If you’re confident about the basics, a consultation may give you enough to plan the rest yourself.

Do some of the planting yourself. Following a good planting plan is very doable for a keen gardener.

Questions to ask before you sign

Ask these at the first meeting. Clear answers are a good sign.

• What exactly does the fee include, stage by stage?
• How many rounds of changes are included, and what does extra work cost?
• Is VAT included?
• Can you share photos of gardens you’ve designed, and references from past clients?
• Do you have professional indemnity insurance?
• Will you visit during the build, and is that extra?
• Who owns the drawings, and can they go to any contractor?

Should you hire a designer or do it yourself?

DIY makes sense when the garden is small, the plan is simple and you enjoy working it out. A designer is usually worth it when there are levels to deal with, lots of new hard landscaping or a big budget at stake.

If you’d like to have a go yourself first, our guide on how to design a garden from scratch walks you through it. On a tight budget, garden design on a budget shows where to spend and where to save.

Common mistakes when hiring a garden designer

Not sharing your budget. A designer can’t design to a budget they don’t know. Tell them a realistic figure for the build at the start.

Comparing quotes that cover different things. One quote may include a planting plan and site visits, another may not. Compare what’s included, not just the price.

Skipping the survey. Problems with levels or drainage are cheap to design around and expensive to fix later.

Changing your mind after the detailed plan. Changes are cheap at the sketch stage and costly later. Speak up early.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a garden designer cost in the UK?

It depends on garden size, location and the designer’s experience. A design-only package for an average garden often costs from several hundred to a few thousand pounds. Full design-and-build projects cost far more, often running into five figures. Ask for a written quote that sets out what each stage includes.

Is a garden designer worth the money?

Often, yes, for larger or more complex projects. These include changes of level, new hard landscaping or a full redesign. A good design helps you avoid costly mistakes, like a patio in the wrong place or plants that outgrow their space. For simple planting changes, a consultation may be enough.

Do garden designers charge a percentage or a fixed fee?

Most UK garden designers charge a fixed fee, split into stages. Typical stages are the brief, site survey, concept design, detailed plan and planting plan. Some charge a percentage of the build cost on larger projects. Extra work outside the agreed scope is usually charged by the hour.

What is the cheapest way to get a professional garden design?

A one-off design consultation is usually the cheapest option. A designer visits for a couple of hours and advises on layout, planting and materials without drawing a full plan. You then do the work yourself. It suits small gardens, or checking your own ideas before you start spending.

Are SGD-registered designers worth the higher fee?

They can be, especially for larger or complex projects. Registered members of the Society of Garden Designers have had their work assessed and keep up professional training. Many unregistered designers do excellent work too. Whoever you choose, check their portfolio, references and insurance first.

Thinking about it as a career instead? Read our guide on how to become a garden designer in the UK, or browse more garden design guides.