How much does graphic design cost?
Graphic design services cost between $100 and $850 on average nationwide, depending on the size of the project, number of revisions, and expertise of the designer.
Many factors affect the cost of graphic design services, so chatting with a few business owners to chat about what you need and price points will probably prove helpful. You may discover they can offer advice on color palettes, website design, and how to use your new design work in your social media as well. Graphic design creates the first impression people have of your business or organization, so it's worth doing well. Remember that a graphic designer doesn't just have a good eye for design. They'll know what you'll need, how to repeat work to save costs, and how to use different programs to get the result you need as well as the different file types you'll need for different design work. This isn't a DIY task unless you have a background in design. Let a pro help!
What's in this cost guide?
What Do Graphic Designers Do?
Graphic designers provide services to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, schools, government organizations, public service groups and more. Customers frequently request brochures, business cards, signs, posters, artwork, logo design and branding, as well as web design and digital artwork. The project scope can be for a one-time job or for ongoing graphic design work and print services.
Graphic Design Hourly Rates
According to BestDraft in Irvine, California, expect to pay around $85 per hour for a graphic designer. Many designers charge by the hour rather than having a fixed price or flat rate per design project, simply because the amount of time needed can vary widely. Some base all pricing on their hourly rate, and others use it as a way to track payment once a set amount of agreed-upon work has been completed and the client still has additional needs.
Graphic design services can be provided by entry-level independent contractors or by boutique creative agencies, and prices vary according to level of experience. A design firm’s or designer’s reputation, experience, background and training also greatly affects the cost of services. Designers early in their careers can generally deliver simple, practical and economical design services, while more experienced professionals and respected agencies can provide more extensive or elaborate design services with a variety of add-ons.
Different levels of experience and reputation will result in different rates being offered, but you mostly get what you pay for. Great design takes time and effort to create so don't choose simply based on low rates. Most graphic designers will work to find a solution or package to suit a client's budget, so being upfront about your budget from the start can be beneficial in the long run.
Logo Design Rates
Graphic designers create logos for individuals, businesses and other organizations seeking a visual representation of their brand. Often, logo designers charge by the hour as logo projects can vary in time required. The number of revisions of the logo design plays a large role in the final cost because each revision requires additional hours of design and outputting of files. The price for logo design can vary, depending on whether it is part of a more extensive design package or purchased individually.
Here are some pricing examples for logo design:
- BestDraft: $800–$1,500
- Ladybugz Interactive Agency in Southborough, Massachusetts: $500–$2,000
Graphic Design Pricing List
Many graphic designers offer package pricing for grouped services, which can be less expensive than purchasing each service individually. Here are some examples of graphic design pricing packages:
- Three logo design options: $870, including three revision cycles
- Six logo design options: $1,380, including three revision cycles.
On both packages above, the $85 hourly rate applies if more than three revision cycles are requested.
- Small business starter kit: $6,000, including a logo, business cards and a custom-designed WordPress website
Website Graphic Design
While some graphic designers are graphic artists offering just design work, you may find some can help you with website design as well. Larger graphic design firms may have separate web designers on staff. . The cost for website design varies greatly. Graphic designers can build websites from scratch, creating a custom site with interactivity and visual presentation according to the client’s budget and needs. Designers can also build a more simple website based on existing templates that will make it easy for clients to keep the site up to date on their own. For example, BestDraft charges $5,000– $7,500 for design of a website with five or six pages, high-quality design and CMS capabilities.
Brochure Graphic Design
Brochures and marketing collateral such as sell sheets and other printed material support the branding and messaging of a client. Some designers charge by the hour for these printed materials, and some charge a package rate, bundling them with other services. Package deals are good for clients who need entirely new branding. Here are some example rates for brochures and other marketing collateral:
- Ladybugz Interactive Agency: $75 per hour for design of marketing collateral materials.
- BestDraft: $1,300–$1,700 for brochure design, such as a trifold pamphlet
Because of the increasing overlap in printed materials (such as brochures) and digital design, the same design techniques and design tools are used to make both—with high-resolution results—which means a brochure design can easily be adapted for a web page. This reuse enables clients to save on overall costs if multiple services are needed.
