Landscape design in Los Angeles costs $50–$150 per hour or $700–$3,000 flat for a standard plan (HomeAdvisor, 2026), with full design-plus-install projects running $10–$25 per square foot. Our full backyard transformations run $60,000–$300,000 — and professional landscaping can lift resale value up to 15% (National Association of Realtors).
How Landscape Designers Charge (2026)
| Pricing method | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $50–$150/hr | Consultations, small projects |
| Flat fee | $700–$3,000 | Standard plans with clear scope |
| Per square foot | $5–$45/sq ft | Larger, easy-to-measure areas |
| Percentage of project | 10–20% | Large or complex projects |
Design vs. Installation: Two Different Costs
Design is the plan: layout, materials, planting, grading, lighting and drainage drawn out before anyone digs. Installation is the build: labor, materials, equipment and permits to make that plan real. The figures in the table above are for design alone. Installation is where most of the budget goes — full design-plus-install projects run $10–$25 per square foot, and full backyard transformations with us run $60,000–$300,000.
Why a Design-Build Contractor Changes the Math
When the designer and the builder are separate, a plan can come back from bidding over budget and need redrawing. As a design-build contractor, we price the design against real construction costs as we go, so the plan you approve is one we can actually build for the number in your proposal.
