Cost of a landscape architect in Belgium: rates, phases and actual budgets by project size

"How much does it cost for a landscape architect?" This is the first question our clients ask us, in La Hulpe as well as in Uccle. The honest answer starts with a return question: for whom, for what, and what size are you talking about? Because a preliminary project for a flowerbed of 50 m² and a complete plan for a private park of 3,000 m² with elevation, retaining walls and a pool, are two very different worlds — even if the hourly rate of the landscape architect remains quite stable.

This article brings together what we have learned in designing gardens in Walloon Brabant, in Brussels and in Flemish Brabant. No generic prices taken from a comparator: verified ranges, clear distinctions between private individuals and businesses, and above all concrete examples of what can really be done with a budget of €5,000, €15,000, or €50,000.

 

First, an essential distinction: who is the landscape architect for?

The profession of landscape architect covers two very different markets, with pricing logics that have almost nothing in common.

Individuals: residential projects

This is the majority of our missions. Design of a private garden, layout of a terrace, requalification of an outdoor space around a family home, integration of a swimming pool, management of a large park. The pricing structure is clear and the remuneration model is mainly fixed-price.

Businesses and local authorities: commercial or public projects

Layout of a head office, corporate garden, co-ownership, hotel, restaurant, new real estate project. The logic changes: tenders, broader missions (often as a percentage of the cost of works), planning aligned with the overall construction schedule, teamwork with architects and design offices.

On the hourly rate, the two markets are similar — in Belgium, between 50 and 80 € excluding VAT per hour for a landscape architect, and up to 90-120 € for the most established offices. But the structure of the offer is very different : for individuals, we offer transparent and clear packages; for businesses, it is a more complex dialogue, project by project.

This article focuses on residential projects — it is our core business at Umilys and Vert Val. For business projects, please contact us directly, we will discuss the framework before estimating.

 

The phases of a landscape architect's mission

Before discussing prices, let’s understand what we are buying. A complete mission is broken down into six phases, several of which are optional depending on your project.

Phase 1 — The advisory visit or diagnosis

First on-site meeting. We analyse the orientation, the soil, the slope, the sunlight, the constraints (views, party walls, existing vegetation, condition of the land), and we listen to your way of living outdoors. This visit lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. Depending on the providers, it is charged by the hour, included in a pre-project package, or sometimes offered for a simple quote request.

Phase 2 — The pre-project

We translate the visit into a first concept: layout plan, stylistic orientations (contemporary garden? naturalistic? more structured?), inspiration boards and indicative plant palette. This is the most creative and decisive phase — it validates the direction before any heavier investment.

With us, the pre-project exists in two clear formats: remote pre-project (from €790 including VAT) for simple projects or if you live far away, and pre-project with site visit (from €890 including VAT) for projects that require us to see the site with our own eyes. It is our transparent entry point and the best first euro invested.

Phase 3 — The definitive pre-project (DP)

The validated concept is specified: scaled plan, choice of materials, selection of plants with their species names, detailed layout. This is the document that serves as the basis for consulting execution companies and obtaining comparable quotes.

Phase 4 — The execution file

Plans detailed technical plans for workers: earthworks, drainage, coatings, landscape masonry, irrigation, lighting. This phase is necessary for complex projects — large sites, significant elevation changes, retaining walls, swimming pools, advanced architectural integration. For a standard residential garden without heavy constraints, the APD is often sufficient.

Phase 5 — Assistance with the contract award

We help you to select the contracting companies, we analyse the received quotes, and we ensure that what has been designed will indeed be what is realised. This is the most underestimated phase — yet the most useful for preventing a project from deteriorating during construction.

Phase 6 — Site monitoring

Regular visits to check compliance with the plans, answer questions from the craftsmen, validate key stages. Monitoring can be light (2-3 visits) or intensive (weekly presence) depending on the complexity of the project.

 

The three remuneration models

1. The hourly rate

The simplest. In Belgium, the hourly rate of a landscape architect is between 50 and 80 € excluding VAT, on average, and can rise to 90-120 € excluding VAT for the most established firms or projects with a high creative dimension. Our own hourly rate is 70 € excluding VAT, in line with the Belgian market.

Ideal for: a one-off consultation, a diagnosis, the revision of an existing plan, support for purchasing plants, or additional hours on an already defined project.

2. The fixed fee per phase or per mission

This is our main model for design missions. Each phase is billed at a fixed price determined in advance according to the size and complexity of the project. Advantage: total visibility on the fee budget, no unpleasant surprises.

Indicative ranges for a standard residential garden (300-800 m²), all providers combined in Belgium:

Phase	Indicative range (excl. VAT)
Consultation visit or diagnosis	100 – 300 €
Pre-project	500 – 1,500 €
Final pre-project (FPP)	1,000 – 3,000 €
Execution file	1,500 – 4,000 €
Assistance with the awarding of contracts	300 – 800 €
Site supervision (fixed fee)	500 – 2,000 €
Complete design mission	3 000 – 8 000 € excl. VAT

 

3. The percentage of the works

Common for complete missions that include design AND follow-up, or when the same office designs and executes. The fees then represent 8 to 15 % of the total cost of the works. For a project costing 40,000 €, this represents between 3 200 and 6 000 € in fees.

Advantage: the interests of the landscape architect are aligned with the success of the project. Disadvantage: if the works cost more than expected, the fees increase mechanically. Always check if the percentage applies to the initial quote or the final cost.

 

How much does it really cost, a complete garden project?

The design fees are just a part of the overall budget. The major item is the execution. For a clear view of what you are committing to, here are the ranges we observe on our sites in Walloon Brabant, Brussels and Flemish Brabant.

Type of project	Estimated works budget	Design fees
Small city garden (< 100 m²)	€5,000 – €25,000	€800 – €2,000
Average garden (100 – 500 m²)	€15,000 – €50,000	€2,000 – €4,000
Large garden (500 – 2 000 m²)	€40,000 – €150,000	€4,000 – €15,000
Private park (> 2,000 m²)	€100,000 and above	On quote

 

All these work budgets vary greatly depending on material choices. A terrace in Belgian blue stone costs 200 to 350 €/m², a composite terrace 80 to 150 €/m². A natural stone wall 400 to 700 €/linear metre, a gabion wall 150 to 250 €/m. You have 2 to 3 times the range depending on the desired standard.

 

In concrete terms, what can we do with what budget?

The figures in table form are useful — but they remain abstract. Here’s what these ranges really cover, based on cases we regularly handle.

With 5,000 €

This is already a real budget to create beautiful things in a small space. Specifically, we can imagine:

•       A well-designed perennial and grass bed of 30-50 m², with a palette of 8 to 12 species (perennials, grasses, a few structuring shrubs).

•       Proper soil preparation (decompaction, amendment, mulching), clean edging, careful planting.

•       A consultation visit + a detailed planting plan to guide you.

What you cannot do with 5,000 €: no new terrace, no wall, no pool, no earthworks. It’s a budget for enhancement, not transformation.

With 15,000 €

Here we start to be able to transform a space. In a small urban garden of 80-150 m², this budget allows for example:

•       A small terrace in blue stone or composite wood of 20-25 m².

•       Beds of perennials and shrubs in quantity, with edging and mulching.

•       A new evergreen hedge over 15-20 linear metres.

•       A few structuring elements: trellis, simple pergola, basic outdoor lighting.

•       The complete design (preliminary project + execution plan) integrated.

With €30,000 to €50,000

On an average garden of 300-600 m², this budget covers a real transformation: spacious terrace in noble material, well-kept paths, completed plant structure, even a water feature or a simple pool. Specifically:

•       Main terrace 40-60 m² in blue stone or beautiful slab.

•       Access paths in compacted gravel or paving.

•       Structural flower beds throughout the garden, complete evergreen hedges.

•       Small pond or fountain, scenic lighting.

•       Integrated garden furniture (masonry bench, stone table).

With €70,000 to €150,000

This is the budget for a completed garden on a large plot, or for a project with heavy structural elements on an average plot. It is also the time when the intervention of a landscape architect becomes essential, because the financial risk of doing it wrong becomes significant.

•       Significant terrace in premium material, wide paths, green parking.

•       Retaining wall or landscaping of a significant slope.

•       Integrated landscaped pool, pool deck, pool house.

•       Ornamental pond or natural pool.

•       Planting of mature trees (immediate visual impact — a good-sized tree costs €1,500 to €6,000 planted).

•       Complete lighting and irrigation system.

Beyond €150,000

We enter the private park project. What quickly drives up budgets at this stage: heavy structural elements. A retaining wall of 30 metres linear in natural stone easily costs 30,000 to 60,000 € on its own. A landscaped pool with coping and a blue stone beach, 60,000 to 120,000 €. A significant earthworks for a slope, with rainwater management and draining, 20,000 to 50,000 €. These items can multiply the initial budget.

 

Why a garden budget can double — and how to avoid it

We regularly see clients who budgeted their project at 30,000 € and end up at 60,000 €. It’s almost never due to the plants or the furniture. It’s always the same items that blow up the budget.

Earthworks and retaining walls

A sloped site almost always requires either earthworks (excavation, backfill), or retaining walls. It’s invisible once finished, but it can represent 30 to 50% of the total cost of the work. On the clay-loam soils of Brabant Wallon, drainage is often necessary as well.

Rainwater management

For a few years now, Walloon and Brussels regulations require rainwater management at the plot level for new developments. Tanks, planted swales, and retention basins: these are mandatory structural items to be integrated from the design stage. Budget 5,000 to 20,000 € depending on the size of the project.

Planning permissions

For a pool, a pool house, certain elevated terraces, a wall over 2 metres: planning permission is mandatory in Wallonia and Brussels. Architect fees for the application: 1,500 to 5,000 € depending on the complexity. Timelines: 3 to 6 months. This must be absolutely anticipated in the planning.

Mature trees

For an immediate effect, one is often tempted to plant already large trees. A 3-4 m Acer palmatum planted: 2,000-3,500 €. A large pyramidal oak: 3,000-6 000 €. Multiply by the number of desired trees. It's a comfort choice that adds up.

Site unforeseen events

Contaminated soil discovered during excavation, old buried tank, unrecorded networks, poor load-bearing capacity requiring backfill. It is recommended to allow for a contingency of 10 to 15% on the construction budget for unforeseen events.

 

How to optimise your budget intelligently

Saving money is not about cutting back on design — it's precisely the opposite. Here is what we advise our clients who want to control their budget.

•       Invest first in design. A preliminary project costing 600-800 € can save you 5,000 to 10,000 € in execution errors. It's the best cost/benefit ratio of the project.

•       Phase the work. You can very well create a garden in two or three stages. Phase 1: excavation, heavy structures, main terrace. Phase 2: flower beds and plants (over 1 to 2 years). Phase 3: finishes (furniture, lighting, sculpture). This spreads out the investment.

•       Plant young. A tree sold in a 25 L pot (1.50 m) costs 80-150 €. The same tree in a 3.50 m root ball: 1,500-3,000 €. If you have 5 to 10 years ahead of you, plant young — you save 90% and you ultimately get a more vigorous tree.

•       Mix noble and economical materials. Belgian blue stone on the main terrace (where the effect matters most), and compacted gravel or concrete slab on the secondary paths. The cost/visual impact ratio is much better.

•       Get assistance for the selection of companies. The difference between a serious landscaping company and a low-cost subcontractor can represent 20-30% of the budget — and much more hardship if the project goes awry. Our Phase 5 (assistance with the handover) is almost always profitable.

•       Be precise in your initial brief. The clearer you are about your constraints (actual budget, timeline, intended uses, level of maintenance you will accept), the more accurate and comparable the quote will be.

 

Specificities of the Belgian market: Walloon Brabant, Brussels, Flemish Brabant

Our three intervention areas each have their own pricing and technical particularities.

Walloon Brabant (La Hulpe, Lasne, Rixensart, Waterloo, Wavre, Ottignies)

Clay-loam soils, high rainfall, soils often compacted at the edges of sites. Drainage is frequently necessary. The plots are generally larger than in the rest of the country (on average 10 to 30 ares), which broadens the range of projects. Prices are in line with the high Belgian average.

Brussels-Capital Region (Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort, Auderghem, Ixelles, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert)

Small plots (6 to 10 ares on average), tight row houses, site access often difficult (narrow streets, no storage). The structure takes precedence over the area: terraces, screens, potted plants, vertical city gardens. Planning permits are stricter than in Wallonia. Prices are on average 10-15% higher than in Wallonia for the same services, given the access constraints.

Flemish Brabant (Tervuren, Overijse, Hoeilaart, Maleizen, Leuven)

Built heritage often old (manor houses, 1930s villas), medium-sized plots (10 to 25 ares). Specific Flemish regulations for permits. Many gardens on the edge of the Sonian Forest — biodiversity, native plants and remarkable trees are central topics.

 

Frequently asked questions

Is the first visit free?

It depends on the providers. With us, the remote preliminary project starts at €590 including VAT and includes a structured initial exchange. The site visit is integrated into the preliminary project with a visit (from €790 including VAT). For very simple requests or large projects before the framing, a prior orientation call is always possible.

Can we only entrust the design and execute it ourselves?

Yes, and it is even recommended if you are handy and the project does not involve heavy structural elements. A good final preliminary project plan gives you enough information to plant and arrange yourself over several seasons. We also offer hourly support, to guide you without taking care of the execution.

Does VAT apply?

Yes, at 21% in Belgium for landscape architect fees. Always check if the announced rates are excluding VAT or including VAT. On our site, the rates for the preliminary project packages are announced including VAT to simplify comparison.

Are there any aids or grants for landscaping a garden?

In the Walloon Region, several grants exist for ecological component landscaping: biodiversity grants (native hedges, ponds, flower meadows), grants for rainwater management (cisterns, swales), assistance for the planting of local fruit trees. In Brussels, the programme “Green and Blue Network” and the “Biodiversity Energy Grant” can partially cover certain developments. We integrate these measures into our preliminary projects when they apply.

How long does a project take from the quote to delivery?

Preliminary project: 3 to 6 weeks after the initial brief. Final preliminary project: an additional 4 to 8 weeks if you approve. Works: 4 to 16 weeks depending on the scale (a small bed can be done in a few days, a large garden with excavation and a swimming pool takes 3 to 6 months). In total, expect 6 to 12 months between the first contact and the delivery of a medium-sized project.

What happens if I do not approve the preliminary project?

The preliminary project is delivered, you pay for it according to the agreed fee, and you are free. You can use the plan yourself, hand it over to another provider, or simply set it aside. No commitment binds you to the next phase.

How to obtain a reliable quote?

Three elements to provide from the first contact: the approximate area, photos of the site (overview shots, detailed views of problematic areas, aerial photo via Google Maps if possible), and what you wish to entrust (design only, design + follow-up, or complete mission). The more precise you are, the more accurate the quote is — and comparable between several providers.

 

Conclusion: the right investment is one that is visible twenty years later.

The trap, with the price of a landscape architect, is to reason in terms of one-off costs when we are talking about an investment that structures your daily life for 15 to 30 years. A poorly sized terrace, a poorly placed tree, forgotten drainage, a species unsuitable for the soil: these are mistakes that cost 10 to 30 times the initial investment in design fees, either in correction works, or in daily frustration.

Un bon avant-projet à 590 ou 790 € — chez nous comme ailleurs dans la même fourchette — est presque toujours le meilleur euro dépensé sur l'ensemble du projet. C'est le moment où l'on cadre les choix structurants, où l'on évite les mauvaises directions, et où l'on chiffre proprement la suite. Pour la plupart de nos clients en Brabant wallon, à Bruxelles ou en Brabant flamand, c'est aussi par là que démarre la conversation.