The Short Answer
On our estimates, a garden designer charges about £1,500 to £5,000 for a full design with a planting plan for an average garden, or £600 to £1,500 for a simple layout plan. A one-off consultation is £150 to £400, and hourly rates run £50 to £200.
The design fee is small next to the build (£8,000 to £20,000 for a 100 to 200m² makeover), and getting the design right first saves costly changes on site. The Society of Garden and Landscape Designers advises being honest about your budget from the start and clear on what's included and when you pay.
Garden design fees
| Service | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Consultation visit with advice | £150 to £400 |
| Layout (concept) plan | £600 to £1,500 |
| Full design: layout, details and planting plan | £1,500 to £5,000 |
| Hourly rate | £50 to £200 |
What a design includes
The Society of Garden and Landscape Designers lists a typical design process:
- an initial consultation about your brief;
- a site survey and analysis;
- a presentation plan showing the layout and the design intent;
- a planting plan;
- construction drawings and specifications where needed;
- consultation and monitoring of the work on site;
- advice on aftercare.
Check which of these a quote covers: a simple fee may stop at the layout plan.
What to agree before you start
- Your budget, honestly: the Society of Garden and Landscape Designers advises being clear about it from the start, so the design is one you can afford to build.
- What the fee covers: which drawings, whether a planting plan is included, and whether the designer monitors the work on site, all stages the Society lists.
- When you pay: the Society also advises being clear on costs and payment stages.
- Who builds it: I'd ask whether the designer will recommend landscapers or expect you to find your own, and get two or three prices either way.
Rules a design has to work within
- Fences, walls and gates can be up to 2m high without planning permission, or 1m next to a road used by vehicles; anything at a listed building needs consent. More on our fencing page.
- Decking, terraces and raised patios more than 30cm above the ground counts as a raised platform, which needs planning permission. See decking.
- Trees with a preservation order need the council's consent before work, and in a conservation area you must give 6 weeks' notice. See protected trees.
Choosing a designer
The Society suggests looking at a designer's past projects, asking for references from previous clients, and bringing pictures of gardens you like to the first meeting. Once you have a design, get two or three landscapers to quote from it, so the prices are comparable. See landscaping costs for what each part costs.
Get garden design quotes
Designers price by the size of the garden and how much detail you want.
Free, no obligation. We're paid by MyJobQuote when a tradesperson buys your job, never by you.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay for a garden design?
On our estimates, about £1,500 to £5,000 for a full design with a planting plan, or £600 to £1,500 for a layout plan.
Is it worth getting a garden designer?
For anything beyond a simple patio and lawn, I think so: the fee is a small share of the build, and getting the design right up front avoids expensive changes on site, especially on sloping or awkward plots.
What percentage of the build is a garden design fee?
About a tenth of the build cost on a medium makeover, on our estimates. The share is higher on a small garden.
Do I need planning permission for a garden design?
Usually not for the garden itself, but tall fences and walls, raised decking or terraces, and work near protected trees each have their own rules.
How much does a garden designer charge per hour?
About £50 to £200 an hour, on our estimates.
How much does a garden design consultation cost?
About £150 to £400 for a visit with advice.
How we priced thisView sources (4, 3 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- IndustryWorking with a designer, Society of Garden and Landscape Designers. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 2 (gates, fences, walls; means of access), legislation.gov.uk. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialThe Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2 Part 1, legislation.gov.uk. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialTree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas, GOV.UK. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
