How much does it cost to hire a landscaper? 2024 cost guide

If you're looking to hire a landscaper for your next project, we've created a quick guide to help you determine the costs involved.

How much does it cost to hire a landscaper?

The cost of a standard landscaping project is around $50 per hour. Simpler landscaping jobs can cost $40 per hour, while bigger projects can cost you roughly $80 per hour. Rates fluctuate according to the size and complexity of the task. If you’re planning on selling your home, this is one of the ways you can increase the value of your property by up to 15%. 

If you are starting from scratch, landscaping can cost anywhere between 5% to 10% of your home's value. This all depends on the complexity and size of the job — for example, smaller projects (such as lawns and gardens on a level block) will be closer to the 5% mark, whereas a more elaborate larger project may be closer to the 10% mark. 

Types of Landscaping Services

The most common landscaping tasks include:

• Water features
• Outdoor paving
• Retaining walls
• Decorative paving
• Decking
• Mulching
• Turfing
• Fencing

Factors That Affect Landscaping Costs

Landscaping experts can provide you with a standard hourly rate, but it’s difficult to quote an exact price without a detailed description to gauge the total cost of the project. Here are some of the factors to consider when hiring landscaping services:

Landscape Design

How much does landscape design cost?

Rates typically vary depending on the location as there are different levels of demand and supply of the service in each area. In New South Wales and Victoria, the average rate for landscape designers is $55 per hour. Meanwhile, Queensland businesses charge a bit lower at approximately $50/hr. Landscape design and drawing up plans is the first step to determining the cost of the project and help you visualise your project. All these costs still depend on the size of your garden and the complexity of the design you want. If you just need an expert to provide you with a landscape design, you can expect to pay a minimal amount.

Soft Landscaping

How much does soft landscaping cost?

You should expect to pay around $5,000 if you need new plants, lawns and trees, while new garden lighting and natural turf can cost approximately $2,000. This includes choosing plants suitable for your project and knowing which plants to position where. The types and quantity of plants you need dictate how much you’ll spend for this element of your landscape. Horticulture can make your outdoor space look very bright and fresh.

Hard Landscaping

How much does hard landscaping cost?

Hard landscaping can cost anywhere over $10,000 for complex installations and large yard redesigns. Structural landscaping works include brick or concrete paving or adding a deck. These features will amp up the total cost of your landscaping project but can help increase the overall value of the space.

Some of the hardscaping features are stonework installation, outdoor lighting installation, fencing, asphalting, or water features such as fountains, ponds, waterfalls, and other structures. And finally, the construction, material and labour costs of making it all happen. The more plants, rocks, and structures you want, the costlier it gets.

There are factors that may make your project become more expensive. For example, if access to the area is difficult or you wish to add extra features to your plan, this may increase the cost. We would recommend setting a rough budget before requesting quotes to ensure that you are in the best position and can make an informed decision about who you choose to hire.

Questions to Ask Your Landscaper

When you are hiring a landscaper, you'll need to make sure they're right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• What range of services do you provide?
• Do you hold valid insurance?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• How long will my job take?
• Do you have references I can follow up on?

Get three free quotes from local gardeners today and be sure to interview potential candidates thoroughly and view some of their work if possible. At Service.com.au, we verify businesses in order to assist our clients so that they can see which landscaper has been recommended.

When you choose a landscaper, make sure that you do your research — most landscapers will have reviews online, and you can contact previous clients for testimonials. We would always recommend viewing photos of their previous projects. Once you have accessed their background, you can rest assured that you are dealing with a quality and reliable business. 

Cost Guides

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All the costs quoted were sourced at the time this article was written. They are to be used as an AUD cost guide and may vary locally, and are subject to market changes.