You may have a collection of ideas for your yard, but need help deciding which ones belong together. Professional design can turn those possibilities into a plan that suits your home and how you spend time outdoors. Before investing in that guidance, though, you want to know: How much does landscape design cost?
At Westside Grounds, we bring over 25 years of landscaping experience to that conversation. Locally owned and operated in Lakewood since 1999, we help Denver and Lakewood homeowners plan outdoor spaces around their needs and preferences.
Tell us what you would love to change about your yard. Contact Westside Grounds for a free quote and help explore the possibilities for your property.
How Much Does Landscape Design Cost?
Professional landscape design typically costs $400–$5,000, with an average cost of $2,500. These Denver figures provide a starting point for budgeting, rather than a set price for every property. And they only account for design, not installation or the materials.
At Westside Grounds, you can start with a free quote and a conversation about the changes you have in mind for your Denver or Lakewood yard.
How Do Denver and Lakewood Conditions Affect Your Budget?
Local site conditions can add design time that would not be needed on an easier property. A plan that accounts for the following conditions early gives you a more realistic picture of the finished project’s price:
- Clay soils and drainage. Some Colorado soils expand when wet, potentially damaging paved surfaces. Evaluating soil conditions to determine how to direct water appropriately may require additional investigation.
- Slopes and changes in elevation. Turning a hillside into usable outdoor space can involve retaining walls, steps, or terraced areas. Those features require more design planning than adding planting beds to a level yard.
- Planting and irrigation needs. Colorado State University Extension recommends selecting plants suited to the site and grouping those with similar water needs. Reworking irrigation to serve the new layout adds design expense, but supports the landscape you are paying to create.
At Westside Grounds, our services include retaining walls, irrigation, patios, and sod installation. We can discuss these needs together rather than treating the drawing and the work on your property as unrelated purchases.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Landscape Design?
Design fees reflect the time and expertise required to develop your plan, so two similarly sized yards can receive different quotes based on:
- Project size. Planning improvements for one part of your yard generally costs less than redesigning the entire property. A larger area takes more time to measure, evaluate, and organize into a complete plan.
- Design complexity. A straightforward planting plan requires less coordination than a design combining several outdoor features.
- Location. Professional design rates generally run higher in urban and suburban areas than in rural communities.
- Landscaping features. Incorporating a pond, gazebo, or outdoor entertaining area can require more planning and design time. Working out the dimensions, placement, and connections between those features adds time and can increase the fee.
- Property conditions. Slopes, irregular boundaries, and drainage concerns can require additional evaluation and more detailed drawings. These conditions give the designer more to resolve than a level yard with a simple shape.
- Designer experience. Professionals with extensive experience, specialized training, and established portfolios often charge higher fees. Their knowledge can be particularly valuable when your property presents challenges that require a more technical design.
At Westside Grounds, we take the time to understand what you want to change about your yard. That conversation helps us shape the proposed work around your priorities and the property itself.
Landscape Design Pricing FAQs
How Much Does a Landscape Design Consultation Cost?
A paid consultation commonly costs $100–$200, with longer or more detailed sessions costing more.
Westside Grounds offers free project quotes. You can start by discussing your proposed improvements and asking what further design work would involve.
Is the Landscape Design Fee Included in the Total Project Cost or Charged Separately?
Either arrangement is possible. Independent design services are generally billed separately, while some design-build companies include planning in their proposal or credit a design fee toward installation. The written agreement should explain the arrangement.
What Is the Average Cost of a Landscape Design and Build Project?
Landscape design and build projects can range from $1,000 to over $50,000, depending on the size of your yard and the scope of the work.
A modest update to one area falls toward the lower end, while a complete yard transformation with patios, retaining walls, fire pits, irrigation, and extensive planting requires a larger budget. Starting from scratch can also cost more than redesigning around existing features you want to keep.
At Westside Grounds, we can discuss your priorities and help you explore what is possible within the amount you are comfortable investing.
How Much Do Landscape Designers Charge by Hour vs. by Project?
Angi’s national design-pricing guide lists rates of $50–$150 per hour and $400–$5,000 per project.
An hourly fee reflects the time spent developing your plan, while a project fee covers an agreed scope of design work for a set price. The size and complexity of your plan, along with the designer’s experience, help determine where your quote falls within those ranges.
What Affects the Cost of Landscape Design the Most?
The scope and complexity of your plan generally have the greatest influence on the design fee. Designing a single planting area takes less time than planning a yard where patios, retaining walls, drainage, and irrigation all need to work together. As the plan becomes more involved, the additional drawings, revisions, and coordination can increase your fee.
Put a Realistic Budget Behind the Cost of Your Landscape Design
The landscape design cost for your project should buy a plan you can use, with a clear connection between your priorities and the proposed work. Bring us your ideas, the parts of your yard you would like to keep, and the amount you are comfortable spending.
Westside Grounds pairs design and installation services with specialized crews, uniformed personnel, and equipment maintained daily. We also offer ongoing landscape maintenance, so caring for the finished yard does not have to claim your free time.
Contact Westside Grounds for a free quote on your Denver or Lakewood project. Let’s work out what belongs in your plan and what it will take to build it.
References Used to Inform This Page
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