TL;DR — Landscape Gardener Cost At A Glance
- Landscape gardeners charge £200 – £400 per person, per day for labour (£300 – £450 in London), while a two-person team runs £320 – £600 a day.
- A garden designer costs £400 – £900 a day, and a design package (survey, concept and detailed plans) typically runs £600 – £4,500 depending on garden size and complexity.
- A full garden build ranges from £2,500 for a modest refresh to £55,000+ for a large, multi-element transformation — scope is the single biggest factor.
- Costs are driven by the balance of hard and soft landscaping, materials quality, ground conditions, access and location.
- Quotes often exclude design fees, waste disposal, drainage and premium materials — confirm what's in and what's extra.
- Decision tip: a well-designed garden can add up to 20% to your property value, so quality landscaping is often an investment, not just a cost.
Planning a garden makeover or full redesign? Explore the Fantastic landscaping service and get a quote or call to talk through your ideas and budget.
How Much Does A Landscape Gardener Cost In 2026?
There's no single answer — landscaping spans everything from laying a small area of turf to designing and building an entire garden from scratch. As a starting point, landscape gardeners charge £200 – £400 per person per day for labour (rising to £300 – £450 in London), and a two-person team costs £320 – £600 a day. If you also want a designed scheme, a garden designer charges £400 – £900 a day, or £600 – £4,500 for a full design package.
For a complete garden build, the deciding factor is scope. A light refresh — new turf, some planting and a simple path — might cost £2,500 – £8,000. A mid-size redesign with a patio, planting and new fencing typically runs £8,000 – £25,000. A large transformation with multiple structures, changes of level and premium materials can reach £45,000 – £55,000 or more, especially in London.
The table below separates the three things you're really paying for — design fees, build day rates, and full-project bands — so you can budget each part:
| Cost element | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Design & planning | ||
| Initial consultation / site visit | £50 – £150 (often redeemable) | £75 – £200 |
| Concept + planting plan (small garden) | £600 – £1,500 | £900 – £2,000 |
| Full design package (survey to detailed plans) | £1,500 – £4,500 | £2,500 – £5,000+ |
| Garden designer day rate | £400 – £900 | £600 – £900 |
| Build day rates (labour) | ||
| Landscaper / installer (per person) | £200 – £400 | £300 – £450 |
| Two-person landscaping team | £320 – £600 | £400 – £700 |
| Full-project bands (supply + build) | ||
| Small refresh (turf, planting, a path) | £2,500 – £8,000 | £4,000 – £12,000 |
| Mid-size redesign (patio, planting, fencing) | £8,000 – £25,000 | £12,000 – £35,000 |
| Large transformation (multi-element, structures) | £25,000 – £45,000+ | £35,000 – £55,000+ |
Figures include VAT and reflect 2026 market rates. Every garden is different — get a tailored quote here.
Landscaping Cost By Project Element
Most full builds are made up of individual elements, each with its own price. Costing them separately helps you see where the money goes — and where you could phase or trim the work. These are typical installed prices for common landscaping elements:
| Landscaping element | Rest of UK | London |
|---|---|---|
| Turfing (real grass) | £300 – £750 | £550 – £850 |
| Artificial grass | £1,100 – £1,950 | £1,300 – £2,150 |
| Garden levelling | £1,900 – £2,600 | £2,400 – £3,200 |
| Patio installation | £1,500 – £3,000 | £2,000 – £4,200 |
| Decking installation | £3,000 – £6,500 | £4,000 – £7,500 |
| Garden fencing | £200 – £500 | £400 – £600 |
| Planting scheme | £300 – £550 | £500 – £750 |
Landscaping splits into hard landscaping (patios, paths, walls, decking, drainage) and soft landscaping (turf, planting, beds). Hard landscaping is where the money goes: on a paved or built-up scheme, materials can be 40–60% of the total, with the rest labour and machinery. Soft landscaping is far more labour-light and is the cheapest way to transform how a garden looks.
What Affects The Cost Of Landscaping A Garden?
1. Scope And Ambition
This is the dominant factor. Re-turfing and planting a small garden is a few thousand pounds; excavating, terracing, paving and building structures across a large plot is a construction project running into the tens of thousands. Decide early how much of the garden you're changing and how far you want to take it.
2. Hard Vs Soft Landscaping
Hard landscaping costs far more per square metre than planting. Patios, retaining walls, decking and drainage need materials, groundworks and skilled labour. A garden that's mostly lawn and beds is much cheaper than one that's mostly paving, walls and steps.
3. Materials And Finish
The same patio can cost wildly different amounts depending on whether you choose budget concrete slabs or premium natural stone or porcelain. Fencing, decking, edging and planting all have budget-to-premium tiers, and your choices here move the total more than almost anything else once the design is set.
4. Ground Conditions And Access
Sloping sites, poor drainage, heavy clay, buried rubble or tree roots all add groundworks. And access matters hugely — if machinery and materials can't reach the garden easily, everything is carried by hand, adding days of labour. A rear garden reachable only through the house is one of the most expensive scenarios.
5. Design Complexity
A simple, open layout is quicker and cheaper to build than an intricate design with curves, multiple levels, bespoke structures and mixed materials. A professional design fee (£600 – £4,500) adds cost up front but usually saves money overall by avoiding mistakes, getting quotes on a like-for-like basis and delivering a garden that works first time.
6. Location
London and the South East run roughly 20–40% above the rest of the UK for landscaping, reflecting higher labour, disposal and materials costs. A build that's £20,000 in the North can be £28,000 – £30,000 for the same specification in London.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in a landscaping quote:
- Labour to prepare the site and build the scheme
- Supply and installation of the agreed elements (paving, turf, fencing, planting, etc.)
- Use of machinery and tools
- Basic site clearance and making good
Usually charged separately:
- Design fees and detailed drawings
- Premium or upgraded materials beyond the standard spec
- Waste removal, spoil disposal and skip hire
- Drainage, electrics (lighting) and water features
- Planning applications or structural engineering where required
Always insist on an itemised, written quote so you can see exactly what each element costs and compare quotes fairly.
Can You Landscape Your Own Garden?
Soft landscaping is very DIY-friendly. Laying turf, planting beds, spreading bark and building raised beds are all achievable for a keen homeowner and save a lot on labour. If you're on a tight budget, doing the planting and turfing yourself while paying a pro for the tricky work is a smart split.
Hard landscaping is where DIY gets risky. Patios, retaining walls, decking, steps, drainage and anything involving levels or load need skill, the right base preparation and often building knowledge. Done poorly, they sink, crack, drain badly or fail — and redoing them costs more than hiring a pro in the first place. For structural work, changes of level, or a whole-garden redesign, a professional landscaper (and often a designer) is the safer investment.
How To Save Money On Landscaping
- Phase the work — build the garden in stages across a couple of seasons to spread the cost, tackling structural elements first.
- Lean on soft landscaping — turf, planting and beds transform a garden for far less than paving and walls.
- Keep what works — retaining a sound patio, wall or lawn area rather than ripping everything out saves thousands.
- Choose materials wisely — mid-range paving and fencing often look great for much less than premium ranges.
- Do the planting yourself — pay the pro for the hard landscaping and handle the soft finishing touches.
- Get 2–3 detailed quotes and compare specifications element by element, not just the bottom line.
- Book off-peak — landscapers are often more available (and flexible on price) in autumn and winter than in the spring rush.
How To Hire A Good Landscape Gardener
Landscaping is a significant investment, so vet carefully. Ask to see a portfolio of completed gardens and, ideally, visit or view photos of recent builds. Confirm they're insured, check reviews and references, and for larger projects ask about relevant memberships (such as the Association of Professional Landscapers or BALI). Get a detailed, itemised written quote and a clear payment schedule tied to stages of the work — never pay the full amount up front. For designed schemes, be clear on who owns the drawings and whether the designer will oversee the build.
With Fantastic Services, you get access to vetted, insured landscaping professionals, transparent pricing and easy online booking — share your ideas and budget to turn them into a plan and a price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does A Landscape Gardener Cost?
In 2026, landscape gardeners charge £200 – £400 per person per day for labour (£300 – £450 in London), and a two-person team costs £320 – £600 a day. A full garden build ranges from £2,500 for a small refresh to £55,000+ for a large transformation, depending on scope, materials and location.
What's The Difference Between A Gardener And A Landscape Gardener?
A gardener maintains an existing garden — mowing, weeding, pruning and general upkeep. A landscape gardener designs and builds gardens, handling hard landscaping (patios, walls, decking), changes of level and full redesigns. Landscaping is project-based and skilled, so it costs more than routine maintenance.
How Much Does Garden Design Cost?
A garden designer charges £400 – £900 a day, or £600 – £4,500 for a design package covering a survey, concept and detailed planting and construction plans. Fees rise with garden size and complexity. Many designers offset an initial consultation fee against the full project if you proceed.
Does Landscaping Add Value To Your Home?
Yes — a well-designed, well-maintained garden can add up to 20% to a property's value and makes homes noticeably more saleable. Usable outdoor space, quality paving and mature planting are particularly attractive to buyers, so good landscaping is often an investment rather than just an expense.
Do You Need Planning Permission To Landscape A Garden?
Most landscaping is permitted development and needs no permission. However, you may need consent for decking or raised platforms over 30 cm high, boundary structures above certain heights, significant changes of level, or work affecting a listed building or conservation area. Also, make sure to check with your local authority before major structural work.
When Is The Best Time Of Year To Landscape A Garden?
Autumn and spring are ideal — the ground is workable, planting establishes well, and landscapers are often more available than in the summer peak. Hard landscaping can be done year-round, but heavy winter rain and frost can slow groundworks and delay planting.
How Long Does Landscaping A Garden Take?
A small refresh might take a few days to a week. A mid-size redesign with a patio and planting typically runs two to four weeks. A large, multi-element transformation can take several weeks to a few months, depending on scope, weather and access.
