Prices & costs of garden design

The prices and costs of my garden design services are detailed below. I like to be upfront, so the prices are listed first rather than buried at the bottom. Every designer sets their own rates depending on experience, location and expertise, so treat these as my honest figures rather than an industry standard, though I’ll cover the wider UK picture too.

How Much Is Garden Design?

Note: the £2,500 figure above is my design fee, covering the plan itself, not the cost of the physical build. See the materials and landscaping cost tables further down this page for what the build itself typically adds on top.

As with all things bespoke, prices may vary depending on the size, complexity, and location of the work. I always discuss this upfront, so there are never any hidden extras or out-of-the-blue costs once a quote has been agreed. Want to talk figures? Great, drop me a message.

Is Garden Design Expensive?

My garden designs start at £2,500 for small designs and increase in cost based on size and complexity. Once a quote has been given, it’s fixed, so no surprises. Even on the tightest budgets, some form of professional garden design can save you real money and help you avoid costly mistakes further down the line.

Some designers like to charge a percentage of the overall build budget, but I prefer to work on time and complexity instead. It often works out cheaper for you than a one-size-fits-all percentage of the total project cost.

Garden design is a considered piece of work and does have a cost. Whether it’s expensive depends entirely on how you look at it. A professional design will cost more than picking up a garden design book and having a go, and with off-the-shelf templates, you’re genuinely tossing a coin as to whether they’ll actually work in your specific garden.

When you commission a garden design, you’re paying for a completely bespoke plan for your garden, aspect and site conditions. It’s one of a kind. It takes the guesswork out of gardening, giving you a plan to create a space that’s fully functional and beautiful at the same time.

How Much Does Landscaping a Garden Cost?

This is another frequently asked question, and it really does depend on the materials used and the skill level required.

These are material and labour costs only, before VAT, and assume reasonably straightforward access and ground conditions. Difficult access, poor drainage, or a garden that needs significant groundwork before anything visible goes in will all push these figures up.

Obviously this depends heavily on the size and type of plants chosen and the materials specified.

With paving, consider both the cost of the paving stone itself and the price of laying it. As a rule of thumb, a good paver can lay between 15 and 20 square metres of paving per day, based on larger 600 to 900mm wide slabs. Brick, block paving and intricate patterns will reduce this significantly, since the more cuts and joints involved, the slower and more expensive the labour becomes.

This is exactly where a designer can help estimate costs and keep your new garden within budget, since costs can quickly run away with themselves without a clear plan to work from.

What Affects the Cost of Garden Design?

Most UK garden designers price their work in one of two ways: a flat or day-rate fee, which is how I work, or a percentage of the total build cost, which is common among larger practices. The percentage model typically runs 10 to 20% of the overall garden rebuild. So on a medium garden costing £16,000 to build, that works out at roughly £1,600 to £3,200 in design fees alone. I prefer charging for my actual time rather than a percentage, since it means a simpler garden with an expensive material choice doesn’t automatically cost you more in design fees for no extra design work.

Where you live also matters more than people expect. Designers based in London and the South East typically charge more than those in the North of England, Scotland, or rural areas, reflecting both higher costs of living and higher demand. The Society of Garden Designers puts typical UK hourly rates for qualified designers at roughly £60 to £150 an hour, so it’s always worth asking exactly how a quote has been calculated before comparing it against another.

Beyond location and pricing model, the main things that move a quote up or down are:

• The size of the garden and how much of it needs work
• How complex the design is, multiple zones, level changes, or bespoke features cost more than a simple layout
• Material choices, natural stone and composite decking cost considerably more than concrete paving or softwood
• Site access and existing ground conditions, difficult access or poor drainage adds cost before anything visible is built
• Whether you want design only, or design and full project management through to completion

Saving Money Using Garden Design

Garden design can help you avoid a number of pitfalls and save you real money. It also gives you a blueprint, with dimensions, plans and a clear vision, to hand to any contractors you choose for the hard landscaping.

Typically, people get quotes from contractors using a rough guess. Builders are often relieved to work to a proper plan, since many quotes start as broad as “I want a nice garden” while gesturing at the back garden, which is about as helpful for them as “how long is a piece of string.” Vague quotes come with a large contingency built in, meaning they come in high. Having a design removes this awkward step entirely.

Garden design saves money by:

• Providing a scaled design for contractors to quote from
• Allowing easier comparison of quotes, since they’re all based on the same blueprint
• Saving valuable time in getting to your final design
• Giving a clear vision of the garden you’re actually creating
• Removing guesswork on materials and planting through genuine design expertise
• Preventing wasted money on unsuitable plants

Garden Design Templates

Designing a garden isn’t something that happens overnight, and it’s rare that an off-the-shelf design fits your garden perfectly. There are plenty of books out there with ready-made designs that look fantastic on paper, but getting the aspect, soil type and climate genuinely right takes an expert eye.

If your budget is tight and you want to use a template design, it’s worth commissioning a review of the scheme you’re planning instead of the full service. It isn’t as comprehensive as a full design, but a few hours of my time can flag what won’t work and what to change, saving you time and costly mistakes down the line.

Lower Cost Alternatives: Learn Garden Design Yourself

If £2,500 upwards genuinely isn’t in the budget right now, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. I also teach the exact process I use with paying clients through my own online courses, which let you learn to design your own garden for a fraction of the cost of hiring a designer.

None of these replace a bespoke professional design, but they give you a genuinely solid foundation to design your own garden with confidence, at a fraction of the £2,500 starting price for full commissioned work. See the full course comparison if you’d rather browse all the options side by side.

What’s the Difference Between a Landscaper and a Garden Designer?

I always get asked this question, so I thought it best to summarise. There will always be exceptions to the rule, but as a starting point, the common differences are as follows.

Garden Designers:

• A garden designer is usually the creative force behind imagining and then drawing your dream garden to scale. They should, though not always, have a thorough understanding of horticulture, with construction as their secondary skill.
• A garden designer is usually far more plant-focused, with a solid grasp of species, cultivars and suitability for your specific site, providing a more detailed planting arrangement.
• A garden designer may rely on landscapers or builders to carry out the hard landscaping aspects of the garden.

Landscapers:

• A landscaper is usually the building force behind your new dream garden. They’re mostly from a construction background and focus more on hard landscaping, with design as their secondary skill.
• A landscaper is usually less horticultural, and designs may feature more general, easy-care planting alongside more landscaping features, such as terracing, patios and walls.
• Landscapers may rely on garden designers to design the gardens they go on to install.

Help With Garden Design via Online Video Consultations

Alternatively, if you just need garden design advice rather than a full commission, why not use my online garden consultancy service? You can book a video call with me for an hour to get advice and guidance on improving your garden space.

Why not get in touch to get your dream garden started today? You can also find me on Facebook or Instagram, or follow me on YouTube, where I’ve got plenty of garden guide videos to get you started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Design Costs

How much does a garden designer cost?

My own garden design service starts from £2,500 for a typical small garden, increasing with size and complexity. UK garden designers generally charge anywhere from around £1,500 to £10,000 or more depending on experience, location and the scope of the project, so it’s always worth getting a fixed quote before committing.

How much does garden design cost per square metre?

Design fees themselves are rarely charged purely per square metre, since a lot of the work is site specific rather than area based. For the build itself, budget £100 to £150 per square metre for hard landscaping like paving, and £30 to £50 per square metre for planting-only schemes.

How much does landscaping cost in the UK?

Landscaping costs vary enormously depending on materials and complexity, but as a rough guide, hard landscaping such as paving or patios runs £100 to £150 per square metre including labour, while planting-only work is typically £30 to £50 per square metre. A skilled paver can usually lay 15 to 20 square metres a day with larger slabs, though intricate patterns and smaller units slow this down considerably.

Is it cheaper to design my own garden?

Yes, upfront, but not always in the long run. A DIY design avoids the design fee entirely, but mistakes in plant choice, layout or materials can end up costing more than the fee would have. If budget is the main barrier, my online courses from £29 teach the same process I use professionally, at a fraction of the cost of a full commission.

Do garden designers charge for consultations?

Most do, myself included. My online video consultation is £250 per hour, which is far more affordable than a full design commission if you just need expert advice on a specific problem or plan you’re already working on.

Do garden designers charge a percentage of the build cost?

Some do, typically 10 to 20% of the total build cost, so a £16,000 garden might mean £1,600 to £3,200 in design fees. I charge for my actual time instead, which I think gives a fairer result since it doesn’t penalise you for choosing more expensive materials.

Happy Gardening.

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Lee Burkhill

Lee Burkhill, known as the Garden Ninja, is an award-winning garden designer and horticulturist with over 30 years of gardening experience and 15 years as a professional garden designer. A qualified RHS professional, Lee specialises in sustainable garden design and practical horticultural advice. He designs and presents on BBC1’s Garden Rescue and in leading gardening publications.

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