A landscape design proposal template, survey through establishment.
This is a free landscape design proposal template with a design-and-install project already itemized: the design work as priced lines (site survey, concept and planting plan, revisions), site prep, planting by the plant, finishes from mulch to lighting, and the establishment care that keeps the plan alive. Load it in the builder, delete what the project doesn't include, and price the rest. Rates start empty, because a fifteen-gallon tree costs what your grower charges.
Design-build proposals fail in one of two ways: the design work is given away to win the install, or the install is a lump sum the client can't see into. In this template, design fees sit at the top as priced lines with a revision count, and the install below is itemized to the plant, so a client cutting budget removes specific items, such as three shrubs or the lighting, instead of negotiating the total down.
What’s in the template
This is the exact checklist that loads in the builder, with each line’s unit already set. Delete what this job doesn’t need.
Design & Planning4 lines
The survey and base map, the concept and planting plan, revisions priced each, and plant and material sourcing.
- Site survey & base mapflat
- Concept & planting planflat
- Design revisionseach
- Material & plant sourcingflat
Site Prep4 lines
Existing landscape out, grading and drainage corrected by the square foot, soil prepped by the cubic yard, and weed barrier down before planting.
- Removal of existing landscapeflat
- Grading & drainage correctionsq ft
- Soil prep & amendmentscu yd
- Weed barrier fabricsq ft
Planting5 lines
Trees, shrubs, perennials, and annual color priced each by container size, with staking where needed.
- Shade & ornamental treeseach
- Shrubseach
- Perennials & groundcovereach
- Annual coloreach
- Staking & tree supporteach
Stock priced each, by container size.
Finishes5 lines
Mulch by the yard, decorative rock by the ton, edging by the linear foot, lighting per fixture, and a drip add-on for the beds.
- Mulchcu yd
- Decorative rockton
- Steel or paver edgingln ft
- Landscape lightingeach
- Drip irrigation add-onflat
Cleanup & Establishment3 lines
Final cleanup and haul-off, the watering-in and establishment care window, and a warranty walkthrough.
- Final cleanup & haul-offflat
- Watering-in & establishment careflat
- Warranty walkthroughflat
Questions
Units, tax, deposits and exports are covered in the Help guide.
What does a landscape design proposal include?
Five sections in project order: design and planning (survey and base map, concept and planting plan, revisions priced each, sourcing), site prep (removal, grading and drainage correction, soil prep, weed barrier), planting (trees, shrubs, perennials, and annual color priced each, plus staking), finishes (mulch, decorative rock, edging, lighting, a drip add-on), and cleanup and establishment. Design fees appear as their own priced lines, so the design work is paid for.
What do landscape design projects go for in 2026?
Standalone design fees typically run $700 to $3,000, with small-garden plans at $300 to $600 and designers billing $50 to $150 an hour. Hiring a designer for a full plan averages around $4,600, commonly $1,900 to $7,300, with estates well past it. Per-plant installs commonly land at $25 to $85 for shrubs and $200 to $700 for trees up to about 10 feet, size and access depending. The ranges are wide, so your proposal prices your plan, plant by plant.
Should I charge for the design or fold it into the install?
Charge for it visibly. A priced design line with a revision count sets the expectation that plans are work; some firms credit part of the design fee against the install when the client proceeds, which this document handles as a visible discount rather than a vanished fee. Folding design invisibly into the install tells the client design is free, and free design invites unlimited revisions.
Is the landscape design proposal template free to use?
Yes. The builder runs without an account, and the free plan includes every estimate export: client PDF, Excel, CSV, an internal budget export, and a read-only share link that carries a client-safe copy inside the link itself. A free account adds one cloud-saved estimate. If the client calls it a landscaping estimate or a quote, send the same document. Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: your branding on client exports, no Estimatery footer, invoice exports, unlimited cloud saves, and a Saved Items catalog of your standard lines.
Cost figures are national ranges compiled from HomeGuide (Dec 23, 2025), HomeAdvisor (updated Jun 19, 2026), Lawn Love (updated Dec 27, 2025), LawnStarter (updated Dec 27, 2025), accessed October 2026. Your market sets the real number.
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General information for pricing your own work. Not legal, tax or accounting advice. Deposit caps, licensing, lien and permit rules vary by state.