How much does garden design cost in Dublin?
Garden design in Dublin with me starts with a €120 site visit, and a full design, with a site survey, 3D drawings and plans, starts at €1,500. The final fee depends on the size of your garden, how complex the design is, and how much help you’d like during the build.
Below I’ve set out exactly what each stage costs, what’s included, and how the design fee relates to the cost of actually building the garden.
My fees at a glance
Site visit: €120. To discuss your brief and advise on how to achieve it (subject to travel distance from Dublin City Centre).
Design: from €1,500. Site survey and/or adapting existing architects’ drawings, plus 3D drawings and plans of the proposed design.
Tender drawings: from €400. Drawings of the agreed design, for contractors to price.
On-site supervision: €65 per hour. Administration and supervision of the build.
Tailored to each project: coordination with a design team on new builds or renovations; plant sourcing, planting supervision and maintenance advice; planning applications for garden works.
Every quotation is based on a consultation with you, so I can understand the scope of the work, the size of the property and the complexity of the design.
What’s included at each stage?
1. The site visit (€120)
We walk the garden together and talk about how you want to use it, what you love, what isn’t working, and your budget. I’ll give you honest advice on what’s achievable, even if you decide not to go further.
2. The design (from €1,500)
I survey the garden, or work from your architect’s drawings if you have them, and create a full design with 3D drawings and plans. It covers the hard landscaping (paving, walls and features) and the soft landscaping (the planting). The 3D drawings let you see exactly how the finished garden will look before anything is built.
[Add an image: one of your 3D design drawings next to a photo of the finished garden]
3. Tender drawings (from €400)
Once you’re happy with the design, I produce detailed drawings that landscaping contractors use to price the work. Because every contractor prices the same drawings, you can compare quotes fairly. You can also use them to build the garden yourself.
4. On site (€65 per hour)
During the build I can act as your representative on site. I make sure the design is followed, on time and to a good standard. I can also source the plants, set them out and supervise the planting.
What affects the cost of a garden design?
Size of the garden. A small city garden takes less survey and drawing time than a large suburban or country garden.
Complexity. Changes in level, steps, water features, lighting and bespoke structures all add design time.
Existing drawings. If your architect has already surveyed the site, I can often work from their drawings.
New builds and renovations. Working alongside an architect and engineer takes extra coordination.
How involved you’d like me to be. Some clients take the design and run with it. Others want me on site until the last plant is in.
Design fee vs build cost: what’s the difference?
The design fee pays for my time designing your garden. Building it is a separate cost, priced by a landscaping contractor and paid to them.
That’s why tender drawings matter. When contractors price the same detailed drawings, you get comparable quotes and fewer surprises. It’s also why it pays to talk about your overall budget at the first visit, so the design fits what you plan to spend on the build.
Is a garden designer worth it?
A garden is a big investment, and the most expensive mistakes are the ones you only notice once it’s built: a terrace that never gets the evening sun, steps in the wrong place, or planting that struggles. A design lets you see and change everything on paper first, when changes cost nothing.
You also get one person on your side who knows what good looks like, from the first sketch to the final planting.
[Add a short example: 2–3 sentences on a project where the design saved the client money or avoided a problem]
Quick questions
Do you charge for the first visit?
Yes, the site visit is €120, depending on travel distance from Dublin City Centre. You’ll come away with practical advice whether or not we go ahead with a design.
Do you build the garden too?
No. I design it and can supervise the build, but the construction is done by a landscaping contractor, chosen through the tender process.
Do you work outside Dublin?
Yes. I work across Dublin and in Wicklow and beyond. Travel distance is reflected in the site visit fee.
How long does the design take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the garden. I’ll give you a timeline at the site visit.
Ready to talk about your garden?
The first step is a site visit. We’ll walk the garden, talk about what you want, and I’ll tell you honestly what it would take.
Written by Ingrid Smyth, garden designer, Dublin. Prices correct as of December 2026.
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