How Much Does Landscape Design Cost? A Bucks County Planning Guide
When your yard is bare and gray in December, it is hard to think about plants. But winter is the best time to plan your landscape. If you are a Bucks County homeowner thinking about a new yard for next year, you may be wondering about landscape design cost and what you actually get for it.
This guide covers national fee ranges, how designers charge, what a plan includes, and why planning now pays off in spring. To see how we approach planting and design around pools and patios, visit our landscape design page.
The numbers below are general national ranges from a published cost guide. They are not FS prices.
Average Landscape Design Cost in 2026
According to Angi's 2026 cost data, most homeowners pay between $1,934 and $7,267 for a landscape design. The national average is about $4,588.
Angi notes that design fees can run anywhere from $300 to $15,000, with most plans coming in under $6,000. Yard size, design detail, and the number of features drive the price.
How Designers Charge: Landscape Designer Cost by Fee Type
Landscape designer cost depends a lot on how the designer bills. Angi lists these common methods:
- Hourly: about $50 to $150 per hour
- Flat rate: about $300 to $15,000 per plan
- Consultation fee: about $100 to $3,000, with an average near $300
- Percentage of the project: some firms charge a share of the total project cost
Some design-build companies include the design in the cost of the install. Others charge a separate fee and then credit part of it if you build with them. Always ask how it works before you start.
FS offers a free consultation. How design fees work on your project is a fair question to ask during that design consultation.
Cost by Plan Complexity
Angi breaks the cost of landscape design down by how detailed the plan is:
| Plan type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Basic | $300 to $600 |
| Intermediate | $700 to $3,000 |
| Complex | $3,500 to $10,000+ |
Yard size matters too. Angi's averages run about $2,500 for a small yard (about a quarter acre), $5,000 for a medium yard (half acre to one acre), and $8,000 for a large yard (1.5 to 3 acres). Slopes, odd shapes, and curved edges take more time to measure and plan.
What a Landscape Design Plan Includes
A full plan usually covers more than where the plants go. Depending on the designer and scope, it may include:
- A site review. Sun, shade, slope, drainage, soil, and views.
- A layout. Where patios, walks, beds, lawn, and features will go.
- A planting plan. Which plants, how many, and where. Good plans layer heights, bloom times, and evergreens so the yard looks good all year.
- Hardscape details. Walls, steps, and patio shapes that work with the plants.
- Drawings. A scaled plan, and sometimes 3D views, so you can see the result before work starts.
Our landscape design services page talks about using specimen plants as focal points, grasses for movement, and ground covers to keep weeds down. A good plan pulls those pieces together.
For pool and outdoor living projects, we present a detailed 2D AutoCAD plan for approval before construction begins, and a 3D design option helps you see the completed space before it is built. That plan coordinates pool shape, patios, structures, planting, drainage and lighting in one design. Plant lists and the number of revision rounds typically vary by project, so ask us what your plan will include.
Design Fee vs. Install Cost
It helps to keep two numbers separate:
- The cost of landscape design. The plan itself.
- The cost to build it. Plants, stone, labor, lighting, and more.
The install is usually much bigger than the design fee. A clear plan helps you budget the install, build it in phases if you need to, and avoid costly changes mid-project.
If you are just starting to think about your yard, our post on designing a landscape and where to start is a helpful first read.
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Designer
A short list of questions makes it easy to compare options:
- How do you charge: hourly, flat fee, or included with the install?
- What will I get: a 2D plan, 3D views, a plant list, or all three?
- How many rounds of changes are included?
- Do you also build the design, or will I need a separate installer?
- Can the plan be built in phases?
- Can I see plans and finished yards you have done near me?
Clear answers up front help you avoid surprise costs later.
Why Winter Is the Time to Design
Angi notes that spring and summer are peak season for landscape designers. In the off-peak months, it can be easier to book a designer. Winter planning also helps because:
- You see the bones of your yard. With leaves down, it is easier to spot slopes, drainage problems, and views you want to frame or hide.
- You have time to decide. No rush to pick plants or materials.
- You can plan in phases. Decide what gets built first and what can wait.
- You are ready for planting season. Your plan is done when the ground thaws.
Most Bucks County design-build calendars typically fill for spring during the winter months, so a plan finished in January or February is usually in better shape than one started in April. Ask us about current design and install timing when you reach out.
Start Your Plan This Winter
So, how much does landscape design cost? Nationally, most homeowners pay a few thousand dollars, and the price grows with yard size and detail. What you get is a clear roadmap that saves time, money, and second-guessing when the building starts.
Founded in 1997, FS Landscaping Contractors offers landscape design for homeowners in Doylestown, Furlong, and across Bucks County. Learn more about our landscape design work, then contact us to start your plan before spring.
