How Much Does Garden Design Cost?

One of the first questions homeowners understandably ask when considering a professionally designed garden is:

How much does garden design cost?

There is no single price that applies to every project.

A relatively straightforward garden may require:

• An initial consultation

• A concept plan

• A planting scheme.

A substantial garden transformation may require:

• Detailed site survey information

• Concept design

• Developed plans

• Levels

• Construction detailing

• Material specification

• Planting design

• Lighting coordination

• Ongoing involvement during construction.

The cost of garden design therefore depends much more on the scope and complexity of the work than simply the size of the garden.

As a broad UK guide in 2026, published market guides place professional garden design anywhere from several hundred pounds for relatively simple design work to several thousand pounds for detailed schemes, with substantially higher fees possible for large, complex or high-value landscapes.

For clients planning a significant garden transformation, the more useful question is often not simply:

“How much will the drawings cost?”

but:

“What level of design is appropriate for the landscape investment we are about to make?”

Typical Garden Design Costs in the UK

Published UK cost guides vary considerably because they are describing very different levels of service.

A basic consultation or simple concept may cost hundreds of pounds.

More comprehensive professional garden design commonly runs into the thousands.

As a broad guide, you may encounter:

• Initial consultation or professional advice: from a few hundred pounds

• Simple concept or garden layout: several hundred pounds upwards

• Full professional garden design: often £1,500–£5,000+

• Larger, technically detailed or high-value projects: several thousand pounds and potentially substantially more

• Full design, technical detailing and ongoing project involvement: sometimes priced as a proportion of the overall landscape investment.

These are market indicators rather than Kirman Design quotations.

The actual fee depends on exactly what needs to be designed and documented.

Why Do Published Garden Design Prices Vary So Much?

Because “garden design” can mean very different things.

At one end of the market, someone may provide:

• A consultation

• A sketch

• Basic planting suggestions.

At the other end, a professional designer may produce a comprehensive set of information covering:

• Masterplan

• Levels

• Hard landscaping

• Planting

• Lighting

• Drainage

• Structures

• Construction details

• Material specification.

Comparing those two services purely by price is therefore misleading.

Garden Design Cost Versus Landscaping Cost

These are two separate costs.

Garden design cost pays for developing and documenting the solution.

Landscaping cost pays for physically constructing the garden.

For information about the construction side, see our How Much Does Landscaping Cost? guide.

If you are still deciding what the overall project budget should be, our How to Set a Budget for Garden Landscaping page provides a broader framework.

Why Pay for Garden Design Before Landscaping?

Because landscaping can involve a substantial financial investment.

Before spending money on:

• Excavation

• Drainage

• Paving

• Walls

• Steps

• Lighting

• Trees

• Planting

it makes sense to establish exactly what is being built.

Professional design can help resolve important decisions before construction begins.

Good Design Can Prevent Expensive Changes

Some of the most expensive landscaping mistakes happen because important decisions are made after construction has already started.

Examples include:

• Patio too small

• Steps in wrong location

• Incorrect garden levels

• Poor drainage

• Outdoor kitchen badly positioned

• Insufficient privacy

• Trees planted in unsuitable locations.

Changing these decisions afterwards may involve:

• Demolition

• New materials

• Additional labour.

Good design aims to resolve them beforehand.

What Affects the Cost of Garden Design?

The main factors include:

• Garden size

• Site complexity

• Level changes

• Amount of hard landscaping

• Number of garden features

• Design detail required

• Planting complexity

• Existing survey information

• Whether technical drawings are required

• Designer experience.

Let's look at these individually.

1. Garden Size

Size obviously matters.

A small courtyard generally takes less time to survey and document than a multi-acre garden.

But size is not the only factor.

A complicated 100m² garden may require more design work than a simple 500m² garden.

For compact spaces, our Small Garden Design page explores the particular design challenges involved.

For larger properties, see Large Gardens.

2. Garden Complexity

Complexity can influence design fees significantly.

A flat rectangular garden with:

• Patio

• Lawn

• Planting

is relatively straightforward.

A garden containing:

• Multiple levels

• Retaining walls

• Outdoor kitchen

• Pergola

• Lighting

• Water feature

• Complex drainage

requires considerably more coordination.

3. Sloping Gardens

Sloping sites frequently require more design work.

Our Sloping Gardens page explores how slopes affect:

• Levels

• Steps

• Retaining

• Drainage.

These elements need to work together.

4. Steep Gardens

More extreme gradients can require substantial landscape intervention.

Our Landscaping a Steep Garden page explores the additional complexity associated with steep sites.

5. Garden Levels

Levels can fundamentally affect the design.

They influence:

• Steps

• Drainage

• Retaining walls

• Patio heights

• Accessibility.

This becomes particularly important around newly extended houses.

Our Garden Levels After an Extension page explores this in more detail.

6. Retaining Walls

Where a garden needs structural retaining, the design becomes more detailed.

Our Garden Retaining Walls page explores their role within landscape construction.

7. Garden Drainage

Drainage can affect:

• Levels

• Paving

• Lawns

• Planting

• Retaining walls.

Our Garden Drainage page explores broader drainage problems.

A good design should identify drainage requirements early rather than treating them as an afterthought.

8. Clay Soil

Heavy clay can affect:

• Drainage

• Plant establishment

• Construction.

Our Clay Soil Gardens page explores how clay can influence the wider garden design.

9. Existing Site Survey

A professional design requires reliable information about the garden.

This may include:

• Boundaries

• Existing buildings

• Trees

• Drainage

• Levels.

Some projects may therefore require a professional site survey before detailed design begins.

10. The Amount of Hard Landscaping

A heavily landscaped design generally requires more detailed information than a planting-led scheme.

Hard landscaping may include:

• Patios

• Paths

• Steps

• Walls

• Raised planters.

Each requires consideration of:

• Dimensions

• Levels

• Materials

• Construction.

Patio Design

The main terrace has a major influence on many gardens.

Our Garden Patio Ideas page explores how:

• Size

• Position

• Shape

• Material

can affect the design.

Garden Paths

Paths influence how people move through the garden.

Our Garden Path Ideas page explores different approaches to circulation.

Garden Steps

Our Garden Steps page explores how steps need to coordinate with:

• Levels

• Paths

• Terraces.

Garden Walls

Our Garden Wall Ideas page explores the visual role of walls.

They may also have important structural functions.

Groundworks

Some designs depend heavily on what happens below the finished surface.

Our Garden Groundworks page explores:

• Excavation

• Preparation

• Levels

• Drainage.

Garden Excavation

Our Garden Excavation and Preparation page explores the early construction stages that may be required to create the designed levels.

Garden Levelling

Our Garden Levelling page explores how existing ground levels may need to be altered.

11. Garden Planting Design

Planting design can be a substantial professional service in its own right.

A planting plan may consider:

• Soil

• Light

• Moisture

• Mature size

• Colour

• Texture

• Seasonal interest

• Plant quantities

• Spacing.

It should not simply be a list of plants.

Garden Planting Ideas

Our Garden Planting Ideas page explores broader planting approaches.

Naturalistic Planting

A Naturalistic Garden can require sophisticated planting design despite looking deliberately relaxed.

The designer may need to consider:

• Plant communities

• Repetition

• Competition

• Seasonal succession.

Prairie Planting

Likewise, our Prairie Gardens page explores the complexity behind apparently informal planting.

A prairie scheme can require a substantial number of plants and careful planning.

Formal Planting

Our Formal Gardens page explores more structured planting.

Formal schemes may rely on:

• Repetition

• Hedging

• Tree alignment

• Accurate geometry.

12. Trees and Specimen Planting

Trees should normally be considered at the design stage.

They may be used for:

• Privacy

• Scale

• Framing views

• Shade

• Seasonal interest.

Large or specimen trees may also affect:

• Access

• Planting method

• Construction sequencing.

13. Garden Lighting Design

Lighting may require additional design coordination.

Our Garden Lighting Ideas page explores how lighting can emphasise:

• Trees

• Steps

• Walls

• Planting.

The positions are best considered while the garden itself is being designed.

How Much Does Garden Lighting Cost?

For the separate cost implications, see How Much Does Garden Lighting Cost?.

14. Water Features

Water features can range from:

• Simple self-contained features

to:

• Bespoke rills

• Pools

• Cascades

• Ponds.

Our Garden Water Feature Ideas page explores the design possibilities.

More complicated water features may require additional technical consideration.

How Much Does a Water Feature Cost?

Our How Much Does a Water Feature Cost? page explores the separate construction cost.

15. Outdoor Kitchens

Outdoor kitchens introduce additional requirements.

These may include:

• Space planning

• Circulation

• Services

• Dining

• Shelter.

Our Garden Design Around an Outdoor Kitchen page explores how they can be integrated.

How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost?

Our How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost? page explores the construction side.

16. Pergolas

Pergolas may need to be integrated with:

• Patio

• Furniture

• Privacy

• Planting

• Lighting.

Our Pergola Ideas page explores design options.

For budgeting, see How Much Does a Pergola Cost?.

17. Fire Pits and Fire Features

Fire features need to be considered within the seating layout rather than simply added afterwards.

Our Garden Design Around a Fire Pit page explores the wider design considerations.

18. Hot Tubs

A hot tub may affect:

• Access

• Privacy

• Structural base

• Circulation

• Screening.

Our Garden Design Around a Hot Tub page explores how these elements can be integrated.

19. Swimming Pools

Pools can substantially increase the complexity of a garden design.

Our Garden Design Around a Swimming Pool page explores how:

• Pool

• Terrace

• Planting

• Outdoor living

can be considered as one landscape.

20. Privacy and Screening

Overlooking can influence the entire design.

Our Garden Privacy page explores how privacy can be created with:

• Trees

• Planting

• Screens

• Pergolas.

Overlooked Gardens

Our Overlooked Garden page explores the problem from the homeowner's perspective.

Where sightlines are complex, screening needs to be designed carefully.

Garden Screening

Our Garden Screening Ideas page explores different methods.

The best solution may involve several complementary elements rather than one tall boundary.

21. Accessibility

Accessible gardens can require additional consideration of:

• Levels

• Gradients

• Path widths

• Turning areas

• Thresholds

• Seating.

Our Accessible Garden Design page explores inclusive garden planning.

Wheelchair Accessible Garden Design

Our Wheelchair Accessible Garden Design page explores more specific wheelchair requirements.

Level Access

Our Level Access from House to Garden page explores how access, paving and drainage can be coordinated at the property threshold.

22. The Style of Garden

Different design styles can involve different levels of detail.

A Modern Garden may require especially precise:

• Lines

• Levels

• Material transitions.

A Formal Garden may depend on:

• Accurate geometry

• Axes

• Symmetry.

A Naturalistic Garden may require more sophisticated planting design.

A Japanese Garden may rely heavily on:

• Composition

• Stone placement

• Plant form

• Water.

The apparent simplicity of a garden does not necessarily mean it is simple to design.

What Is Usually Included in Professional Garden Design?

This varies between designers.

A comprehensive garden design service may include several stages.

Initial Garden Design Consultation

The consultation is normally where the designer begins to understand:

• The site

• The client's requirements

• Problems

• Aspirations

• Style

• Budget.

Our What Happens at a Garden Design Consultation? page explores this stage in more detail.

Preparing for Your Consultation

You can make the meeting more productive by thinking about:

• Priorities

• Budget

• How you use the garden

• Styles you like.

Our How to Prepare for a Garden Design Consultation page provides further guidance.

What Information Does the Designer Need?

Our What Information Does a Garden Designer Need? page explores the information that may be useful before design begins.

This may include:

• House drawings

• Site plans

• Photographs

• Inspiration images

• Budget information.

Site Survey

Detailed design normally needs accurate site information.

The survey may record:

• Boundaries

• Buildings

• Existing features

• Trees

• Levels.

A larger or complicated site may require professional surveying.

Concept Design

The concept stage establishes the overall idea.

It may show:

• Main patio

• Lawn

• Paths

• Planting

• Trees

• Features.

This is where the major spatial decisions are made.

Developed Garden Design

Once the concept is agreed, the design may be developed in more detail.

This could include:

• Dimensions

• Materials

• Levels

• Planting areas

• Structures.

Construction Drawings

Some gardens require detailed drawings that enable the landscaper to understand exactly what is intended.

These may cover:

• Walls

• Steps

• Levels

• Paving

• Bespoke features.

For a wider explanation, see Do I Need Drawings for My Garden?.

Planting Plans

Planting plans can specify:

• Species

• Cultivars

• Quantities

• Locations.

They help ensure that the planting is installed according to the overall design.

Lighting Plans

A lighting layout may identify:

• Fitting positions

• Lighting effects

• Features to illuminate.

Material Specification

The designer may specify:

• Paving

• Wall finishes

• Gravel

• Timber

• Edging.

This helps create a coherent palette.

How Do Garden Designers Charge?

There are several common approaches.

Fixed Garden Design Fee

Many designers quote a fixed fee for an agreed scope.

The advantage is that both parties know what the design service covers.

Hourly Rate

Hourly rates may be appropriate for:

• Consultations

• Advice

• Smaller pieces of work.

Recent 2026 UK cost guides commonly put professional garden designer hourly charges within a broad range of roughly £50–£200 per hour, depending on experience, location and scope.

Percentage of Project Cost

Some design practices charge certain services as a proportion of the eventual construction value.

Current UK guides often cite figures around 10–20% of project value for combinations of design and wider project involvement, although the precise structure differs considerably between practices.

Stage Fees

Design can also be divided into separate stages.

For example:

• Consultation

• Concept

• Detailed design

• Planting

• Construction information.

This allows the client to understand what they are paying for at each point.

Does Garden Design Cost More for a Large Garden?

Usually, but not necessarily in direct proportion to area.

Our Large Gardens page explores the design of substantial plots.

A large garden may require:

• Masterplanning

• Multiple garden rooms

• Tree strategy

• Wider path network

• Phasing.

But large areas may also remain:

• Lawn

• Meadow

• Woodland.

So complexity matters as much as square metreage.

How Much Does a Large Garden Cost to Landscape?

For the construction question, see How Much Does a Large Garden Cost to Landscape?.

Does a Small Garden Cost Less to Design?

Often, but small gardens can be deceptively difficult.

There is little room for:

• Poor proportion

• Awkward circulation

• Oversized features.

Our Small Garden Design page explores these issues.

Courtyard Garden Design

A Courtyard Garden can require considerable detail despite its small area.

Every:

• Paving cut

• Wall

• Tree

• Light fitting

may be highly visible.

Garden Design Cost for a New-Build Property

New-build gardens may initially appear straightforward.

But they can involve:

• Compacted soil

• Poor drainage

• Overlooking

• Basic developer levels.

Our New-Build Gardens page explores these challenges.

For a more property-specific design approach, see Garden Design for New Build Homes.

Garden Design Cost After a House Extension

An extension can dramatically change how the garden relates to the house.

New:

• Bifold doors

• Sliding doors

• Levels

• Views

may require the garden to be redesigned.

Our Garden Design After House Extension page explores the wider process.

Landscaping After Building Work

If the existing garden has been affected by construction, our Landscaping After Building Work page explores the reconstruction process.

Garden Design Around Bifold Doors

Our Garden Design Around Bifold Doors page explores how:

• Patio

• Levels

• Views

• Planting

can respond to large openings.

Sliding Doors

Our Garden Design Around Sliding Doors page explores similar considerations.

Indoor-Outdoor Living

Our Garden Design for Indoor-Outdoor Living page explores the wider relationship between house and landscape.

How Much Does a Complete Garden Transformation Cost?

This is different from garden design cost.

The design fee is one part of the total investment.

Our Garden Transformation Cost page explores the wider costs involved in completely transforming a garden.

You may also find How Much Does It Cost to Completely Landscape a Garden? useful.

Is Garden Design Worth the Cost?

For a substantial landscaping project, professional design can represent a relatively small part of the total investment while influencing almost every part of the finished garden.

A designer can help coordinate:

• Layout

• Levels

• Drainage

• Materials

• Planting

• Lighting

• Privacy

• Outdoor living.

Our Is a Garden Designer Worth It? page explores this question directly.

When Is a Garden Designer Worth Hiring?

Professional design becomes increasingly useful when the project involves:

• Significant expenditure

• Several landscape elements

• Difficult levels

• Major drainage

• Large gardens

• Complex planting.

Our When Should I Hire a Garden Designer? page explores this in greater detail.

Do I Need a Garden Designer?

Not every garden requires a complete professional design service.

Our Do I Need a Garden Designer? page explores when professional input may be appropriate.

A client who only needs:

• Plant advice

• A consultation

• Help resolving one area

may not need the same level of service as someone undertaking a full garden transformation.

What Does a Garden Designer Do?

Understanding what you are buying helps make sense of the fee.

Our What Does a Garden Designer Do? page explores the profession in detail.

Garden designers may be involved with:

• Spatial design

• Planting

• Materials

• Construction detailing

• Coordination.

How Much Does a Garden Designer Charge?

This overlaps with overall design cost but focuses specifically on professional fees.

Our How Much Does a Garden Designer Charge? page explores the different ways individual designers may structure their charges.

This page, by contrast, should remain the broader guide to the overall cost of getting a garden professionally designed.

Garden Designer Versus Landscaper

These roles are different.

A designer principally determines:

what should be created.

A landscaper principally determines:

how it will be constructed and then builds it.

Our Landscape Architect vs Garden Designer page explores one professional distinction.

Our What Does a Landscaper Do? page explores the construction role.

Design-Only or Design and Build?

Some clients want:

• Professional design

and then arrange construction separately.

Others prefer one coordinated process.

Our Garden Design Only Service page explores design-only arrangements.

For a joined-up approach, see Complete Garden Design and Build.

Why Design and Construction Coordination Matters

A drawing may contain a beautiful idea.

But that idea still needs to become:

• Correct levels

• Accurate paving

• Proper drainage

• Well-built walls

• Successful planting.

Our Garden Designer and Landscaper page explores the benefits of connecting the two disciplines.

Can Garden Design Be Done in Stages?

Yes.

Larger projects may be developed through:

1. Initial consultation

2. Concept design

3. Developed design

4. Technical information

5. Planting design

6. Construction.

This means the total fee does not necessarily need to represent one single piece of work.

Can the Garden Be Built in Stages?

Yes.

This can be particularly useful where the overall project is substantial.

However, the whole garden should ideally be designed first.

Otherwise phase one may create problems for phase two.

Plan Once, Build in Phases

A masterplan can establish:

• Levels

• Drainage

• Services

• Main paths

• Trees.

Construction can then potentially be phased around it.

Should I Reduce the Design Fee to Protect My Landscaping Budget?

Usually, the better question is whether the scope of design is appropriate for the project.

Removing essential design information to save a relatively small amount can be false economy where the build itself is substantial.

For example, saving money by avoiding proper level planning may become very expensive if:

• Drainage is wrong

• Steps need rebuilding

• Patio heights need changing.

A £50,000 Garden and a £5,000 Garden Should Not Necessarily Have the Same Design Process

The greater the landscape investment, the more important it becomes to coordinate the decisions.

A garden involving:

• Significant hard landscaping

• Bespoke features

• Mature trees

• Lighting

• Drainage

may justify substantially more design work than a simple garden refresh.

Our Garden Design £50,000–£100,000 Budget page explores design considerations for substantial landscape projects.

For larger projects, see Garden Design £100,000+ Projects.

Should I Tell My Garden Designer My Budget?

Yes.

Budget is design information.

Without it, the designer may produce something that cannot realistically be built within the client's intended investment.

That wastes:

• Client time

• Designer time.

Our How to Set a Budget for Garden Landscaping page explains how to approach this before design begins.

What If I Do Not Know My Garden Budget?

That is common.

You do not necessarily need to know the exact figure.

But it helps to understand the approximate level of investment you are comfortable with.

A designer can then help ensure that the design ambition and financial ambition are reasonably aligned.

Should I Get Three Garden Design Quotes?

Comparing designers can be sensible.

But compare more than the bottom-line price.

Check whether each quotation includes the same:

• Survey

• Drawings

• Revisions

• Planting

• Construction information

• Site involvement.

One designer may appear significantly cheaper because they are providing a much narrower service.

How to Compare Garden Design Quotes

Ask:

• What exactly is included?

• How many meetings are included?

• Are amendments included?

• Is planting design separate?

• Is the site survey included?

• Are technical drawings included?

• Is VAT included where applicable?

Only then are you comparing like with like.

Choosing a Garden Designer

Our How to Choose a Garden Designer page explores what to look for beyond price.

Consider:

• Portfolio

• Experience

• Design approach

• Plant knowledge

• Construction understanding.

Questions to Ask a Garden Designer

Our Questions to Ask a Garden Designer page provides a detailed checklist.

Relevant questions about fees include:

• What does your quotation include?

• What is charged separately?

• How are changes handled?

• What happens after the design is complete?

• Can you remain involved during construction?

Cheapest Garden Designer Versus Best Value

The cheapest quotation is not necessarily the best value.

Likewise, the highest fee does not automatically guarantee the best garden.

Value depends on:

• Quality of thinking

• Relevant experience

• Detail

• Communication

• Final outcome.

Garden Design Is Not Just About Making a Garden Look Attractive

Professional design should address practical questions.

For example:

Where does water go?

How high should the patio be?

Can people move comfortably around the furniture?

How will a wheelchair reach the seating area?

What happens to the overlooking window?

Where should the outdoor kitchen sit?

Which trees will eventually become too large?

These decisions are part of the value of the design.

Garden Design Can Control Landscaping Cost

Design does not necessarily make a garden cheaper.

But it can help control how the available budget is used.

For example, a designer may decide that:

• Less paving

• More planting

• One strong tree

creates a better result than spreading the budget over many features.

Design Can Identify Where Not to Spend Money

This is often overlooked.

Professional design is partly about editing.

A good designer may recommend removing:

• Unnecessary walls

• Redundant paths

• Oversized patios

• Decorative features.

That can redirect expenditure towards the areas that matter more.

Do Expensive Materials Make a Better Garden?

No.

A garden can contain extremely expensive materials and still have:

• Poor proportion

• Weak planting

• Bad layout.

Design determines how materials are used.

Should I Spend More on Design or Materials?

These are not directly interchangeable.

The better objective is to establish:

• Appropriate design

• Appropriate specification.

A well-designed garden does not require every material to be the most expensive option.

Luxury Garden Design Cost

Higher-end garden projects may involve:

• Bespoke structures

• Mature trees

• Significant lighting

• Outdoor kitchens

• Water

• Pools

• Complex groundworks.

Our Luxury Garden Ideas page explores this type of garden.

For the wider financial question, see How Much Does a Luxury Garden Cost?.

Design Cost for Different Garden Styles

Style itself does not determine price, but complexity can.

Modern Gardens

Our Modern Gardens page explores designs where:

• Geometry

• Alignment

• Material detailing

can be particularly important.

Contemporary Gardens

Our Contemporary Gardens page explores contemporary landscape design.

Country Gardens

Our Country Gardens page explores gardens that may involve:

• Large sites

• Trees

• Meadows

• Masterplanning.

Formal Gardens

Our Formal Gardens page explores structured designs where:

• Symmetry

• Repetition

• Geometry

require careful coordination.

Courtyard Gardens

Our Courtyard Gardens page explores smaller spaces where every detail is highly visible.

How Far in Advance Should I Book a Garden Designer?

Good designers can become busy considerably before the intended construction date.

Our How Far in Advance Should I Book a Garden Designer? page explores timing.

Design should ideally happen before you need the landscaper on site.

When Should I Book a Landscaper?

Once the design is sufficiently developed, construction availability becomes the next consideration.

Our How Far in Advance Should I Book a Landscaper? page explores this.

Garden Design Costs in North West England

Garden design costs across Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the Ribble Valley can vary according to:

• Project size

• Complexity

• Designer

• Scope.

The location itself is only one factor.

The design of a:

• Small Manchester courtyard

• Large Cheshire garden

• Sloping Ribble Valley property

can involve very different levels of work.

Garden Design Costs in Lancashire

Lancashire gardens may involve challenges such as:

• Clay

• Rainfall

• Sloping sites

• Rural plots.

Understanding these conditions should be part of the design process.

Garden Design Costs in Cheshire

Larger Cheshire projects may involve:

• Outdoor living

• Mature trees

• Pergolas

• Outdoor kitchens

• Pools.

The design fee should reflect the level of detail required rather than simply the postcode.

Garden Design Costs in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester projects may involve:

• Urban privacy

• New extensions

• Smaller plots

• Restricted access.

The design may therefore need to maximise limited space very carefully.

Garden Design Costs in Merseyside

Some Merseyside gardens may be affected by:

• Exposure

• Coastal conditions

• Wind.

Planting and materials should reflect the actual site.

Garden Design Costs in the Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley gardens may include:

• Larger plots

• Rural properties

• Slopes

• Long views

• Existing mature trees.

These can require masterplanning beyond the immediate terrace.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does garden design cost in the UK?

Professional garden design can range from hundreds of pounds for relatively simple advice or concepts to several thousand pounds or more for comprehensive design work. Complexity and scope matter more than any single national average.

What is the average garden designer fee?

There is no particularly useful universal average because different designers provide different services. Current UK market guides commonly show hourly professional fees around £50–£200 and comprehensive design packages ranging from roughly £1,500 into several thousand pounds.

Is garden design included in landscaping?

Not necessarily.

Some landscapers provide basic design input, while professional garden design is often commissioned as a separate service.

Always establish exactly what is included.

Does a garden designer charge by the hour?

Some do.

Others charge:

• Fixed fees

• Stage fees

• Percentage-based fees.

Does garden size affect design cost?

Yes, although complexity is equally important.

Does a sloping garden cost more to design?

It can, because more detailed work may be required around:

• Levels

• Steps

• Retaining

• Drainage.

Does a planting plan cost extra?

Sometimes.

It depends on the scope quoted by the designer.

Is a site survey included?

Not always.

A professional survey may be quoted separately on some projects.

Are 3D visuals included?

This depends on the designer and service package.

Always check the quotation.

Are construction drawings included?

Not necessarily.

Ask what level of information will be provided to the landscaper.

Does the garden design fee include plants?

Normally the design fee relates to professional design services rather than the physical supply of plants.

Check the quotation carefully.

Does garden design include lighting?

It can, but detailed lighting design may be an additional service.

Does garden design include drainage?

A designer should consider drainage where it affects the design, although specialist drainage assessment or engineering may sometimes be required.

Should I tell the designer my landscaping budget?

Yes.

It helps ensure the design is appropriate for the likely project investment.

Is it worth paying for professional garden design?

For substantial landscaping projects, good design can help coordinate important decisions before expensive construction begins. See Is a Garden Designer Worth It?.

Can I pay for garden design only?

Yes. See our Garden Design Only Service page.

Can Kirman Design design and build the garden?

Yes. Our Complete Garden Design and Build page explains how the two stages can be integrated.

How much should I budget for the garden itself?

The construction budget is separate from the garden design fee. See How to Set a Budget for Garden Landscaping and How Much Does Landscaping Cost?.

Garden Design Cost Should Be Considered Against the Cost of Getting the Garden Wrong

When comparing garden design fees, it is easy to focus on the cost of the drawings.

But the drawings are not the garden.

The greater financial commitment usually comes afterwards:

• Groundworks

• Paving

• Walls

• Drainage

• Lighting

• Trees

• Planting

• Labour.

The more useful questions are:

What decisions need to be resolved before construction?

How complicated is the site?

How much money will eventually be invested in the landscape?

Does the design provide enough information to build accurately?

Has drainage been considered?

Have levels been resolved?

Is the planting properly designed?

Does the garden genuinely work for the people using it?

And could spending appropriately on design prevent substantially more expensive changes later?

Professional garden design should not be viewed simply as another cost to add to the project.

It is the stage where the major decisions about how the landscape investment will be spent are made.

The goal should therefore be:

the right level of design for the right level of project.

If you are considering a professionally designed garden in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Ribble Valley or elsewhere across North West England, contact Kirman Design to discuss your garden, your priorities and the appropriate level of design service for your project.