How much does professional landscape design cost?

amd326

I'm wondering if anyone has hired a professional landscape designer recently. I am trying to find an approximate cost range but designers I've contacted won't give me a ballpark figure until they come see the property. I don't need a precise estimate, just an idea of the cost. I realize it differs depending on where you live, how big the property is, how extensive you want the property landscaped and how many costly obstacles might be in the way.

 Can anyone tell me what they were quoted by design professionals and the scope of the project they were estimating? Thanks.

hayleydeee

?

Ourfriends (in San Jose/ Silicon Valley, CA) just paid $30,000 for someone todesign their front and back yards. He figured out every detail and drew up blueprints for hardscape surfaces and landscape. Labor and supplies were not partof that cost.?

My veryrough guess is that it was about 1000 square feet of space. It seemed like alot of money to me, but they do live in an expensive area and wanted to incorporate a variety ofhigh-end hardscape materials.?

aprilandshane

I got a few free quotes from landscapers about putting in a patio and some basic plantings.  Just call a couple places and ask for a free consultation.  You won't get super detailed drawings, but will get price estimates, recommendations for space planning, and an idea of if you like the different companies.  We were quoted $13,000 for a small patio and flower bed, including labor and materials, in IL.  The guy we liked best said that they charge 40% of the price of the plants to deliver and install them.  We decided to do a lot of it ourselves, but at least we'd had advice about which plants to use.

Dr.Loretta

They should be coming out and giving you a free estimate. All of ours did.

I had a newly-minted landscape designer who came out to my house in 2001 and charge by the hour for her design. It cost me $50.

We had an established landscape designer come to our house 2 years ago to give us a design. He charged $500, and everyone we talked to said it was a ripoff. The average range around here is about $200. However, we then had a design in hand and could bring out other designers to tell how much it would cost to do the actual job.

Dr.Loretta

Sorry, I read the question wrong. We had about .4 acres of rocky, weed strewn land in our front yard, on both sides of our driveway. We wanted a new sidewalk, an 80' retaining wall, topsoil, mulch, and at least the larger trees installed. The first quote was $40K, the second quote was $15K, and the third quote (which we went with) was $20K.

UWKim&Matt

I don't know what you're looking for exactly, but we brought some pictures in to our local nursery and paid the designer there $50 to put together a plan.  Then we got 20% any plants we bought from them.  That's if you're interested in the DIY route but still want a plan.

dirtyred

The landscape architect we hired came out and spent about 45 minutes looking at the areas we wanted work done on and discussing what we wanted.

He charged $50 an hour to draw up the plans--the best $150 we ever spent.

Having the work done and getting the plants, stone, etc. is another story.

mrs.rescue4

We paid our designer $160 for design and full plans. 

j+k

About 5 years ago in Colorado, when i was with my ex, we found a guy who did ours for free if we gave him the job. We did and spent $8000 on his work and plants. I think he would have charged us about $200 otherwise for the design, but I already kind of had something sketched out and drawn so it was easy for him. 

notblushing

Most CPLD's charge $40-$85 per hour. Designers DESIGN, so this fee is for drawing the plans. I don't know of any who give free consultations, consulting is a huge and lucrative business for us. Unless, of course, they work for a nursery, and are trying to sell stuff from the nursery. I work for myself; when I drive to a clients house I am at WORK and they pay for my time and expertise. Installations (materials and labor) are separate because a lot of people want to DIY. It takes me 6-10 hrs to draw a typical residential plan.

LandscapeArchitect

There is a common misconception about the differences between a licensed landscape architect and a landscape designer. A licensed landscape architect has the legal credentials to precisely draw hardscape, retaining walls, stormwater drainage, and design drawings and plans. The going rate for a licensed LA is about $100 per hour. Landscape architects also do large scale work like city plazas and public parks. A landscape designer is an unlicensed person who usually has horticulture expertise and typically only does residential design- yards, garden beds, etc. A landscape designer rate is around $50 per hour. I hope that helps your search. 

Erikan73

UWKim&Matt said:

I don't know what you're looking for exactly, but we brought some pictures in to our local nursery and paid the designer there $50 to put together a plan.  Then we got 20% any plants we bought from them.  That's if you're interested in the DIY route but still want a plan.

This is what we are planning on doing. We found a local nursery that also does design work. We want helping picking out plants that fit the area & the look we are going for but something we can diy over a few years because we won't have all the money to do it in one year.

JoanE2012

This thread is 5.5 years old!  Zombie!