How Much Does a Garden Designer Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)

Understanding how much a garden designer costs in the UK is essential if you’re planning anything from a simple planting refresh to a full landscape redesign. Pricing varies widely depending on garden size, complexity, and the designer you choose, so having a clear picture of what to expect helps you budget properly and avoid surprises.
This guide breaks down garden designer costs across different pricing models, explains what influences the final price, and covers what’s included in House Designer’s garden design packages.

How Much Does a Garden Designer Cost in the UK?

A garden designer in the UK typically costs between £60 and £200 per hour, with an average of around £125, or a fixed fee from around £500 for a small garden concept up to £5,000 or more for a comprehensive design. The exact price depends on your garden size, the complexity of the design, and where you are in the country.

Here’s what you can typically expect to pay in 2026.

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According to industry data, the average cost of a garden design package in the UK is around £1,950. A detailed concept design can range from £600 to £4,500 depending on the level of complexity. Some well known garden designers reportedly do not take on projects under £20,000, which can leave many homeowners unsure where to turn.

How Do Garden Designers Charge?

Garden designers usually charge in one of three ways: an hourly rate, a fixed fee for the whole design, or a percentage of the total project cost. Fixed fee is the clearest for most homeowners, because you know the full cost before the work begins.

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The model that works best for you depends on how much cost certainty matters.
Hourly rates – common among professional garden designers, ranging from £60 to £200 per hour, with £125 about average, depending on experience and location. This can suit smaller advisory sessions, but the total cost is difficult to predict for larger projects.

Fixed fee pricing – gives you a clear cost upfront. You know what you’re paying and what you’ll receive before the project begins. This is the model House Designer uses for all of our garden design services, making professional garden planning accessible without the uncertainty of open ended billing.

Percentage of project cost – some designers charge a percentage of the total construction budget, typically around 10 percent for design only, or up to 20 percent if they handle both the design and the build. This ties the design fee to the scale of the build rather than the design work itself.

Design Only or Design and Build: Which Do You Need?

Design only means you receive the full plans, planting scheme and specifications, then hand them to a landscaper of your choice to build. Design and build means one company handles both the design and the construction. Design only usually costs less upfront and gives you freedom to get competitive quotes from landscapers, which is the route House Designer’s packages are built around. Our deliverables are ready to hand to any contractor, so you stay in control of the build and the budget.

Garden Design Cost Per Square Metre

Design fees are not usually charged by the square metre, but the build that follows often is. As a current benchmark, a professionally landscaped garden costs roughly £80 to £250 per square metre for labour and materials, depending on the finish, with porcelain patios, retaining walls and drainage pushing towards the upper end. A medium garden makeover of 100 to 200 square metres averages around £16,000 all in, with the design fee usually about 10 percent of that. Keeping the design and the build costs separate in your budget, as covered in the cost of building a garden, makes the whole project easier to plan.

How Much Should You Spend on a Garden?

A useful rule of thumb is to budget 5 to 15 percent of your home’s value for a full garden project, leaning higher if the garden is large relative to the house or a major selling point. Within that, the design fee itself is usually around 10 percent of the build budget, the smallest part of the spend, but the part that shapes how well the rest of the money is used. Setting the total budget first, then ringfencing the design within it, is the simplest way to keep a project on track.

Why Hire a Garden Designer?

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A professional garden designer brings expertise in planting schemes, spatial layouts, and landscaping solutions that help you avoid costly mistakes and create a garden that works for how you live. Whether you want a low maintenance space, a plant filled retreat, or a garden for entertaining, professional input makes sure the result is both beautiful and practical.

The growing interest in garden design has been fuelled by programmes like Your Garden Made Perfect and Love Your Garden, which have shown homeowners what’s achievable with expert guidance. As well as the look of the space, professional garden design can support sustainability through eco friendly materials, wildlife friendly planting, and water efficient solutions.

How Long Does a Garden Design Project Take?

Most garden design projects take between four and eight weeks from the initial consultation to the finished plans, depending on the size of the garden and how many rounds of revisions are needed. Building the garden afterwards is separate and depends on your landscaper’s schedule and the scope of work, but the design stage itself is usually the quicker part. Your designer will give you a clear timeline at the start so you know what to expect at each stage.

Do You Need Permission to Landscape Your Garden?

For most ordinary garden work, planting, borders, patios, decking and fencing at standard heights, you will not need planning permission. It tends to come into play only in specific cases: significant changes to ground levels, boundary walls or fences above the permitted height (generally 2 metres, or 1 metre next to a road), paving a front garden with non-permeable materials without providing drainage, and any work if you live in a conservation area or a listed property. A good designer flags anything that might need consent at the start, so it is planned for rather than discovered halfway through.

House Designer’s Garden Design Packages

Our garden design packages are structured with clear pricing and defined deliverables at every level. No hidden costs, no open ended billing.

Factors That Affect Garden Design Costs

Several elements influence what you’ll pay for a garden designer. Understanding these helps you set a realistic budget and have more productive conversations with designers.

Garden size – larger gardens need more planning, more detailed planting schemes, and more time, all of which increase the cost.

Design complexity – features such as patios, water elements, custom planting, level changes, or built in seating add to the scope and the final price.

Sustainability requirements – eco friendly features like rain gardens, native planting, and composting areas can influence pricing, though they often reduce long term maintenance costs.

Designer’s experience – well established garden designers typically command higher fees, reflecting their portfolio and reputation.

Location – London based garden designers tend to charge more due to higher demand and operating costs.

Does a Garden Designer Add Value to Your Home?

Yes. Research indicates that a well landscaped garden can add up to 20 percent to a property’s value, and a survey by the Society of Garden Designers found that 74 percent of homeowners would pay more for a home with an attractive garden. Professional garden design is one of the stronger returns on investment in home improvement.

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Features that tend to have the biggest impact on value include professional planting schemes, well constructed patios and decking, mature and well maintained lawns, privacy enhancing boundaries, and wellbeing focused outdoor spaces designed for relaxation and entertaining.

Garden Design for Wellbeing and Sustainability

Modern garden design is about more than how a space looks. More homeowners are investing in outdoor spaces that actively support their mental health, encourage biodiversity, and reduce environmental impact.
Sensory gardens – use fragrant plants, textured foliage, and calming water elements to create a space that engages all the senses. These are particularly popular in urban settings where outdoor space is limited and every element needs to earn its place.
Wildlife friendly gardens – encourage biodiversity through native planting, pollinator friendly flowers, and habitat features like log piles and bird boxes. A well designed wildlife garden can feel abundant and characterful while needing less maintenance than a traditional formal layout.
Sustainable gardens – use drought resistant planting, reclaimed materials, and rainwater harvesting systems to reduce both water usage and ongoing upkeep. With the increasing frequency of UK hosepipe bans and rising water costs, sustainable design is becoming a practical consideration as much as an environmental one.

Exterior Design: Completing the Picture

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A garden redesign often prompts homeowners to look at their home’s exterior as well. A well designed facade improves kerb appeal and creates a clear visual connection between your home and its outdoor space. If you’re considering upgrading both, explore our Exterior Design Services to create a result that ties house and garden together.

How to Choose the Right Garden Designer

Finding the right garden designer is about more than just price. Here’s what to focus on.

Review their portfolio carefully – look at past projects to assess whether their style, scale of work, and planting approach align with what you’re looking for. A designer who specialises in large country gardens may not be the best fit for a compact London terrace, and vice versa. Looking through different garden design styles first can help you brief them on the look you are after.

Read client reviews – testimonials and case studies give real insight into how the designer communicates, manages timelines, and handles revisions. Look for patterns in feedback rather than isolated comments.

Be upfront about your budget – a good designer will work within your parameters rather than pushing you past them. Clear financial boundaries from the outset lead to better outcomes and fewer surprises.

Understand exactly what’s included – some designers quote for concept work only, while others include detailed planting plans, material specifications, and contractor liaison. Make sure you’re comparing like for like before committing.

Start Your Garden Transformation

Whether you need a focused planting plan or a comprehensive garden redesign, professional guidance can help you create an outdoor space that works beautifully for how you actually use it. With packages starting from £399, House Designer makes expert garden design accessible and straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions