Interior Designer Cost in 2025: Rates, Pricing Models, and Budget Calculator

Sticker shock is common the first time you ask, “How much do I have to pay an interior designer?” Here’s the short answer: it depends on scope, experience, and how the designer charges. But you can get to a reliable estimate in minutes if you know the levers. I’ll show you the going rates in 2025 (U.S. and Canada), the pricing models, what pushes fees up or down, and a quick way to estimate your project without guesswork.

• TL;DR
• Hourly: USD $100-$250/hr (CAD $135-$335/hr). Senior/high-demand: $250-$400+.
• Flat fee (per room): USD $2,000-$12,000+ (CAD $2,700-$16,000+), depending on room size and finish level.
• Percentage of project: 10%-25% of construction/furnishings budget, plus potential product markup (10%-35%).
• E-design: USD $400-$1,500/room (CAD $550-$2,000/room). Consultation-only: USD $200-$600 (CAD $275-$800).
• Fast estimate rule: Designer fees usually land around 10%-30% of what you plan to spend on the room, higher for custom and luxury.

What interior designers charge in 2025 (and why)

Designers typically price work four ways: hourly, flat fee, percentage-based, or cost-plus (product markup). Some blend them, like a flat fee for design plus hourly for project management. Knowing how each works will help you compare apples to apples and avoid surprise billing.

Typical 2025 ranges (national medians, not entry-level nor luxury-only):

• Hourly rate: USD $100-$250/hr; CAD $135-$335/hr. Top-tier firms or niche experts can run $300-$450+ USD. The American Society of Interior Designers’ 2024 business survey pegs the U.S. median around $150-$175/hr, with high-cost metros notably higher.
• Flat fee per room: USD $2,000-$12,000+. Kitchens, primary baths, and large living rooms push higher because they take more hours, have more technical decisions, and involve trades.
• Percentage of project (construction + furnishings): 10%-25% is common. Renovations lean 12%-20%. Full-service furniture-only rooms often land 15%-30% of the furnishings budget because procurement and logistics take time.
• Cost-plus / markup on product: 10%-35% is typical. This may be instead of, or on top of, a design fee. Clarify in writing to avoid paying twice for the same value.
• E-design: USD $400-$1,500/room; CAD $550-$2,000. Remote concepts, mood boards, a shopping list, but you install/manage yourself.
• Consultation-only: USD $200-$600 for 60-120 minutes. In Canada, CAD $275-$800. Great for layout help, color, or a sanity check before you spend big.

Which model is “best”? It depends on your personality and project. If you like fixed numbers, flat fee feels safer. If your scope is fuzzy, hourly can be fair for both sides. If you’re renovating and the build budget will drive everything, a percentage fee aligns incentives with project size. Whatever you choose, insist on a written scope, assumptions, and a change-order process.

One quick note: when people search for “interior designer cost,” they usually want a single number. Real life won’t give you one. But with a few inputs-room type, finish level, and how much of the work you want the designer to handle-you’ll get a tight range without wasting weeks on quotes.

Canadian context (quick hits): In Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver, you’ll commonly see $125-$225 CAD/hour for independent designers and $175-$325+ at established studios. Many charge GST/HST on services; ask if travel time, sourcing trips, and site meetings are billable. HomeStars’ 2025 snapshots align with those ranges, and kitchen/bath specialists often sit at the higher end due to code and vendor coordination.

What drives the price up or down

Even with the same pricing model, two living rooms can vary by thousands. Here are the levers that matter most, and how to use them.

• Scope depth: Are you moving walls and relocating HVAC, or just furnishing? Construction adds drawings, permits, coordination with trades, and more site visits-more hours, higher fee.
• Room complexity: Kitchens and baths are detail-heavy (clearances, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, millwork). Bedrooms and home offices are lighter on technical decisions.
• Finish level: Retail/stock vs semi-custom vs bespoke. Custom upholstery, built-ins, stone slab, and designer lighting add design time and procurement complexity.
• Decision speed: Fast, decisive clients lower hours. Lots of iterations, “just one more option,” or slow approvals eat the budget. Set revision limits to keep things efficient.
• Project size: Big projects benefit from some economies of scale, but only to a point. Logistics (warehousing, consolidation, delivery day management) still take real time.
• Timeline: Rush jobs increase rates or add a rush fee. “Need it in 4 weeks” usually means paying for overtime, expedited shipping, and fewer vendor options.
• Experience level: Senior designers spot problems early and move faster, which can save on build errors and returns. Their hourly rate is higher, but the total hours may be lower.
• Location: High-cost cities run hotter. Rural projects can add travel time and fewer vendor options, which pushes fees and lead times.
• Procurement model: If the designer purchases for you, they’re also handling warranties, freight damage, backorders, storage, and white-glove delivery. That time shows up as a fee, a markup, or both.
• Site conditions: Historic homes, condos with strict strata/HOA rules, and tight access (elevators, street parking) add planning and day-of labor.

Rule-of-thumb hour counts designers often use internally (helps sanity-check quotes):

• Living room (furnishings only): 25-50 hours
• Primary bedroom (furnishings only): 15-35 hours
• Kitchen (renovation): 60-120+ hours, depending on custom millwork and appliances
• Primary bathroom (renovation): 40-80+ hours
• Whole-home furnishings (2,500-3,500 sq ft): 200-400+ hours

Multiply by the hourly rate you’re quoted to see if the flat fee lines up. If a designer proposes $3,000 flat for a complex kitchen redesign, and their hourly is $175, that implies 17 hours-which is rarely realistic for drawings, specs, vendor coordination, and site time. Ask how they’ll deliver within that time.

Estimate your project in 10 minutes (with examples)

Here’s a quick, no-spreadsheet method to get a tight range before you call anyone.

1. Pick your service level.

• Consultation-only: You want expert input, then you DIY.
• E-design: You install and manage; want a plan and a shopping list.
• Partial service: Designer handles design and key purchases; you handle basic ordering or installs.
• Full-service: Designer manages design, purchasing, logistics, and install; you approve and enjoy.

2. Choose your finish tier.

• Standard retail: Big-box + reputable retail (IKEA, West Elm, CB2). Most cost-effective.
• Mid/high retail + some custom: Retail mix with a few custom pieces or window treatments.
• Custom/luxury: Bespoke millwork, trade-only vendors, designer lighting, custom rugs.

3. Use the room budget bands below to estimate furnishings/materials (excludes construction unless noted).

These ranges reflect typical 2025 retail pricing and contractor rates reported by industry groups like NKBA (kitchen/bath) and Houzz’s annual renovation studies, with Canadian adjustments based on major metros. Your market and house type may nudge them up or down.

4. Apply a fee ratio to your budget.

• Furnishing-only rooms: 10%-30% of the furnishings budget for full-service design and procurement; 5%-15% if you handle ordering and installs.
• Renovations: 12%-20% of the construction budget, sometimes plus 10%-20% of furnishings if the designer also furnishes the room.

Example A: Mid-range living room, full-service. You expect to spend $16k USD on furnishings. Fee estimate at 15%-25%: $2,400-$4,000. Or, if the designer quotes 35 hours at $150/hr = $5,250, ask what’s included (often warehousing, delivery day, and styling).

Example B: Kitchen renovation at $90k USD construction budget. Fee at 12%-18%: $10,800-$16,200. If the firm is senior-level and your timeline is compressed, don’t be shocked by quotes in the $18k-$25k range.

Example C (Canada): Primary bath at $55k CAD build budget. Fee at 15%: ~$8,250 CAD. If the proposal is a flat $10k with two design concept rounds, five site visits, and fixture scheduling, that’s within normal bounds.

5. Decide on a billing structure you can manage.

• Hate open-ended bills? Ask for a fixed fee with a clear scope and a revision cap (e.g., two rounds of changes per phase) plus an hourly rate for out-of-scope items.
• Transparent by nature? Hourly with a weekly time log and a not-to-exceed cap keeps everyone honest.
• Renovation? Percentage-based keeps the design fee aligned with the build cost-but you still want itemized deliverables.

Sanity check with hours: If your designer says your whole-home furnishing project is 250 hours and their rate is $175/hr, that’s $43,750 in design time. If they quote a flat fee of $30k, they’re assuming 170-180 hours-reasonable if you’re decisive and the scope is tight.

Hiring smart: quotes, contracts, red flags, and money-saving tips

Getting multiple quotes is good. Getting comparable quotes is better. Here’s how to do it without wasting time.

How to compare proposals

• Match scope exactly: List rooms, what’s in/out (window treatments, art, styling), number of concepts, number of revisions, site visits.
• Ask for hours assumptions: “What hours are you assuming for design and for project management?” You’ll catch under-scoping fast.
• Clarify procurement: Who orders, who inspects, where items are stored, who schedules delivery and handles damages. If they handle it, expect either a markup, a fee line, or a higher flat fee.
• Define trade coordination: Are they coordinating contractors, electricians, and permits, or just handing off drawings?
• Timeline plan: Draft schedule by phase (concept, design development, ordering, install). Rush fees should be spelled out.
• Payment structure: Retainer amount, milestone billing (e.g., 40/40/20), what triggers each invoice, late payment policy.

Contract must-haves

• Scope and deliverables by phase: concepts, drawings, finish schedules, specs, site meetings, install day.
• Revisions: How many rounds are included; cost for extras.
• Ownership of drawings/specs: Usually licensed for your project only.
• Markup and discounts policy: How trade discounts and markups are handled; whether you get cost transparency.
• Change orders: How scope changes are priced and approved.
• Cancellation and refunds: What happens to the retainer if you pause or cancel.

Red flags

• Vague scope and a too-low flat fee for a complex project.
• No mention of revisions, site visits, or procurement steps.
• Refusal to provide time logs on hourly work.
• Unwilling to share proof of insurance or, on renos, experience with permit drawings and codes.
• “We can start tomorrow” during peak season without a clear reason-might mean overbooking or churn.

Money-saving tactics that don’t gut the design

• Tier your rooms: Go custom where it counts (sofa, millwork), save on accents and secondary spaces.
• Batch decisions: Book a longer working session to decide faster and cut revision rounds.
• Pre-measure and pre-decide: Share accurate floor plans, preferred retailers, and any must-keep items up front to reduce iterations.
• Consolidate deliveries: One warehouse drop to one install day is cheaper than drip shipping to your door.
• Use e-design selectively: Great for kids’ rooms, guest rooms, or spaces without tricky construction.
• Be honest about budget: A real number lets the designer aim right and avoid dead-end concepts.

Checklist: Before you sign

• Do I know the pricing model and the total estimated fee range?
• Are the scope, deliverables, and revision limits in writing?
• Do I understand procurement, markups, and who handles damages/returns?
• Is the timeline realistic and aligned to product lead times?
• Are payment milestones linked to clear deliverables?
• Do I have references or recent projects similar to mine?

Mini-FAQ

Do designers pass along trade discounts? Sometimes. Some keep a portion as part of their compensation, some pass all or part to you, some charge retail and offset the discount against their fee. Ask for the policy in writing.

What’s a normal retainer? Usually $1,000-$10,000 USD (CAD $1,500-$13,500) depending on project size; often credited against the final invoice. For large renos, 10%-20% of the estimated fee is standard.

Is paying a premium worth it? If your project has construction, tricky logistics, or you want a turnkey experience, an experienced designer reduces risk and often saves money by avoiding costly mistakes. On simple furnish-only rooms, a mid-priced designer or e-design can be perfect.

Can I buy retail and skip markups? Yes, but then you own ordering, backorder management, damage claims, and scheduling. If the designer still helps, they’ll likely bill hourly for that support.

How do I avoid scope creep? Freeze floor plans and key specs early, limit revisions, and agree on a change-order process with costs and timeline impacts spelled out.

Do I need a designer or an architect? For structural changes, permit drawings, and exterior changes, you need an architect or licensed professional. Many designers collaborate with architects and builders; ask how they split responsibilities.

Next steps

1. Pick your service tier (consult/e-design/partial/full) and finish level (retail/mix/custom).
2. Use the tables to set a room budget and apply the fee ratio for a ballpark.
3. Shortlist 2-3 designers whose style matches your taste and project type.
4. Request comparable proposals: same scope, same deliverables, same assumptions.
5. Choose the pricing model that fits your risk tolerance, then lock the scope in writing.

Sourcing note for 2025: Lead times are steadier than 2021-2022, but custom upholstery and millwork still run 8-16+ weeks, stone can be longer, and freight disruptions happen. Build some buffer into your schedule and fee expectations. Industry data from NKBA (2024), ASID (2024), and Houzz (2025) reflect these timelines and rate bands, and what I’m seeing on the ground tracks with them.