Interior Designer Cost Calculator

The AI Room Designer interior designer cost calculator prices your project under every fee model. Most US clients pay $2,000–$12,000, about $5,500 on average; designers charge $50–$450 an hour or 10–30% of the project.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • US national figures
  • Last verified Nov 6, 2026

Your project

Units

Picking a scope fills example sizes and budgets; change them to match your project.

sq ft
USD
USD
Designer level
Service
h

Empty uses 20–50 h per room from unnamed designer guides (low confidence). Enter your designer's estimate if you have one.

Likely fee · Flat fee per room

$3,500

Range $1,000–$6,000 for single room, full design, experienced designer, full service. US national figures.

Why flat fee per room: A full single-room design has a clear deliverable, so many designers quote a flat fee for the room. Hourly billing is the common alternative.

Rooms
1
Area
250 sq ft
Fee as share of budget
23%

Every fee model for this project

  • HourlyAlso common20–50 h per room × $125–$200/h × 1 roomLow confidence: Hours per room come from unnamed designer guides (low confidence). Enter your designer's estimate to replace them.
    Low
    $2,500
    Typical
    $5,250
    High
    $10,000
  • Flat fee per roomUsual for this project$1,000–$6,000 per room × 1 room
    Low
    $1,000
    Typical
    $3,500
    High
    $6,000
  • Percentage of projectLess common10%–30% of $15,000
    Low
    $1,500
    Typical
    $2,250
    High
    $4,500
  • Per square footLess common$5–$17 per sq ft × 250 sq ft
    Low
    $1,250
    Typical
    $2,500
    High
    $4,250
  • Markup on furnishingsAlso common20%–45% on $10,000 of furnishingsUsually charged on top of a design fee, not instead of it.
    Low
    $2,000
    Typical
    $3,000
    High
    $4,500
  • E-design per roomDifferent service$159–$1,099 per room × 1 roomLow confidence: Online design only: no site visits, sourcing or install. The low figure is unverified.
    Low
    $159
    Typical
    $599
    High
    $1,100
  • One consultationDifferent service$50–$500 flat, one visit or call
    Low
    $50
    Typical
    $275
    High
    $500

The headline reads junior designers at the low figure and high-end studios at the high figure; sources give one range for all levels except hourly rates. Estimates only: ask for a written quote.

How does the interior designer cost calculator work?

The calculator prices your project under each fee model designers use, from national US ranges. Each model is a simple product:

  • Hourly: hours per room × hourly rate × rooms. The rate band follows the designer level you pick.
  • Flat per room and e-design: price per room × rooms.
  • Percentage: 10–30% × your project budget.
  • Per square foot: $5–$17 × the area designed.
  • Markup: 20–45% × what you spend on furnishings through the designer.

Each row shows a low, typical and high figure. Sources publish one range for all designers except hourly rates, so the headline reads junior designers at the low figure and high-end studios at the high figure. That reading is our assumption. The headline uses the model designers usually quote for your scope and service; the others are there to compare quotes.

How do interior designers charge?

Most US clients pay $2,000–$12,000 for an interior designer, about $5,500 on average, and large full-service jobs reach $30,000 (Fixr (opens in a new tab)). How you get there depends on the fee model. Many designers combine two: a design fee (hourly, flat or percentage) plus a markup on the furniture they buy for you.

How interior designers charge: US fee ranges by model
Fee modelWhat you pay forUS rangeTypical we useUsually forSource
HourlyTime spent on design, shopping and meetings$50–$450/h$150/hRefreshes, consultations, small or open-ended jobsFixr (opens in a new tab)
Flat fee per roomA set price for each room's design$1,000–$6,000$3,500One to a few rooms with a clear briefFixr (opens in a new tab)
Percentage of projectA share of the total project cost10–30%15%Whole homes, renovations, new buildsFixr (opens in a new tab)
Per square footA rate times the designed floor area$5–$17/sq ft$10/sq ftWhole homes and new buildsFixr (opens in a new tab)
Cost-plus markupA percentage added to the trade price of furnishings20–45%30%On top of a design fee when the designer buys for youFixr (opens in a new tab)
E-designA fixed online package per room$159–$1,099/room$599DIY clients who want a plan and a shopping listDecorilla (opens in a new tab), Havenly (opens in a new tab)*
ConsultationOne visit or call, flat fee$50–$500$275Advice before you commit; a full day costs moreFixr (opens in a new tab)
US national figures. Typical values we derived are midpoints or our choice inside the source range. *Havenly’s $159 figure is from a search excerpt; its site could not be checked. Last verified .

How much do interior designers charge per hour?

US interior designers charge $50–$450 an hour. Experience drives most of that spread: an experienced designer at about $150 an hour is a fair midpoint. The rate is not the designer’s pay. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (opens in a new tab) puts the median interior designer wage at $67,190 a year ($32 an hour, May 2025); the billed rate also covers unbilled hours, software, insurance and the studio.

Interior designer hourly rates by experience
Designer levelHourly rateTypical we use
Junior$50–$100/h$75/h
Experienced$125–$200/h$150/h
High-end$200–$450/h$325/h
Rate bands from Fixr (opens in a new tab) (junior, mid-level and senior designers, updated Jan 31, 2025).

How much does an interior designer cost per room?

A full-scale design for one room costs $1,000–$6,000 for most living spaces, and up to $10,000 for a kitchen or bathroom. Online e-design runs $159–$1,099 per room, and a single consultation $50–$500; a full day on site costs $600–$900.

Interior designer cost per room (full-scale design)
RoomDesign fee
Hallway$500–$2,000
Bedroom$1,000–$3,000
Home office$3,000–$5,000
Living or family room$4,000–$6,000
Bathroom$4,000–$10,000
Kitchen$5,000–$10,000
Source: Fixr (opens in a new tab), updated Jan 31, 2025. Kitchens and bathrooms cost more because the design covers fixtures, cabinetry and trades.

Interior design cost examples

One room, full design, experienced designer

Single room, full design, 1 room, 250 sq ft, a $15,000 budget, experienced designer, full service. A flat fee for the room is the usual quote. Flat fee per room: $1,000–$6,000, about $3,500 ($1,000–$6,000 per room × 1 room). If the designer also buys the furnishings, a markup adds $2,000–$4,500.

A 2,000 sq ft whole-home furnish

Whole home, 7 rooms, 2,000 sq ft, a $100,000 budget, experienced designer, full service. A percentage of the project is usual; per square foot is the main alternative. Percentage of project: $10,000–$30,000, about $15,000 (10%–30% of $100,000). If the designer also buys the furnishings, a markup adds $12,000–$27,000.

Three rooms by e-design

Several rooms, 3 rooms, 750 sq ft, a $40,000 budget, experienced designer, e-design. E-design packages are priced per room. E-design per room: $477–$3,300, about $1,800 ($159–$1,099 per room × 3 rooms).

What affects interior designer cost?

  • Scope. A refresh with your existing furniture takes a fraction of the hours of a full design, and a renovation adds drawings, contractor meetings and site visits.
  • Experience. Senior designers bill up to $450 an hour, junior designers from $50.
  • Service level. Full service covers sourcing, ordering, deliveries and install; e-design and consultations leave those to you.
  • Furniture buying. A markup on furnishings can cost more than the design fee on a furniture-heavy project.
  • Revisions and timeline. Extra concept rounds and long projects add hours.
  • Location. Big-city designers usually charge more, but we found no reliable published regional multiplier, so the calculator uses national figures.

What should you ask an interior designer about fees?

  1. How do you charge: hourly, flat, percentage or per square foot?
  2. What is included: how many concepts, revisions, site visits and meetings?
  3. Do you mark up furniture and decor? By how much, and do I see the trade price?
  4. How much is the retainer, and is it credited against the final bill?
  5. For hourly work, what is your estimate of total hours, and will you cap it?
  6. Is the consultation fee credited if I hire you for the project?
  7. Which costs are extra: travel, shipping, receiving and storage, or install?
  8. What happens to the fee if I pause or cancel the project?

How can you save on interior design?

  • Bring a clear brief. Photos of rooms you like, a budget and a list of what stays cut the hours spent on discovery.
  • Pick the right service. If you will shop and install yourself, a consultation or e-design costs a fraction of full service.
  • Phase the work. Design the rooms you use most first and reuse the plan for the rest.
  • Ask about trade pricing. If the designer passes on part of the trade discount, a markup can still beat retail.
  • Get two or three quotes and compare them in the calculator under the same fee model.

Sources

Sources

Last verified:

  1. Fixr: Interior designer cost (opens in a new tab), Jan 31, 2025
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Interior designers (opens in a new tab), Aug 27, 2026
  3. Decorilla: Online interior design pricing (opens in a new tab), © 2026
  4. Havenly: Best online interior design services (search excerpt, page not reachable) (opens in a new tab), Jul 2026

FAQ

Interior designer cost questions

How much does an interior designer cost?

Most US clients pay $2,000 to $12,000 for an interior designer, and Fixr puts the national average at about $5,500. A large full-service project can reach $30,000 or more. The price depends on the fee model, the number of rooms, the designer's experience and whether you buy furniture through them, which often adds a markup of 20 to 45%.

How much do interior designers charge per hour?

Interior designers charge $50 to $450 an hour in the US, according to Fixr. Junior designers bill about $50 to $100, mid-level designers $125 to $200 and senior designers $200 to $450. Around $150 an hour is a fair midpoint for an experienced designer. Hourly billing suits small or open-ended jobs; ask for an estimate of total hours and a cap.

What percentage do interior designers charge?

Designers who charge a percentage usually take 10 to 30% of the total project cost, per Fixr. It is most common on whole-home projects and renovations, where the design work grows with the budget. On a $100,000 project that is $10,000 to $30,000. Ask what the percentage applies to: furnishings only, or construction too.

How much does an interior designer cost per room?

A full design for one room costs about $1,000 to $6,000, based on Fixr's room prices: $1,000 to $3,000 for a bedroom and $4,000 to $6,000 for a living room. Kitchens and bathrooms run $4,000 to $10,000 because they involve fixtures and trades. Online e-design is cheaper, from a few hundred dollars per room to about $1,100.

How much does an interior designer cost for a whole house?

We found no reliable published average for a whole house, so price it from the fee models. At Fixr's $5 to $17 per square foot, a 2,000 sq ft home costs $10,000 to $34,000 in design fees. At 10 to 30% of a $100,000 project it is $10,000 to $30,000. Furnishing markups come on top of either.

Do interior designers mark up furniture?

Yes, many do. Fixr says a cost-plus markup of about 20 to 45% over the designer's trade price is usual. Designers often buy at a trade discount, so the marked-up price can still land near retail. Ask whether you get the trade price passed on, what the markup is, and whether it applies to every item or only what the designer sources.

How much is an initial consultation with an interior designer?

An initial consultation costs $50 to $500 as a flat fee, according to Fixr, depending on the designer's experience and the length of the visit. An all-day consultation runs about $600 to $900. Some designers credit the consultation fee against the design fee if you hire them, so ask before you book.

What is e-design and how much does it cost?

E-design is interior design done online: you send photos and measurements and get concept boards, a layout and a shopping list. Decorilla's packages cost $599 to $1,099, and Havenly's online package has been listed from about $159 per room. There are no site visits, and you order and place the furniture yourself.

Is it worth hiring an interior designer?

It is usually worth it when the project is large, involves trades, or mistakes would be costly, such as a renovation or a whole-home furnish. For one room, a consultation or e-design package often gives enough direction for less. Designers can also save money through trade discounts and by preventing wrong-size or returned purchases.

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