Interior designer selecting paint colors from a swatch book over blueprints.

Interior designer costs: What to know before hiring in the US

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Price per hour

$50 - $500

low

$50

median

$275

high

$500

Low, median and high bar chart distribuiton

Last Updated on

Key Facts

  • Interior designer costs in the US vary depending on many factors, but they usually range from $50 to $500 per hour.
  • Per room costs vary, with average prices ranging from $499 for a dining room to $1,499 for a kitchen design.
  • Hiring during the off-season or working with early-career designers are great ways to save on costs.


Whether redesigning a single room or planning a full home makeover, working with an interior designer can elevate your space. 

But before diving in, it's important to understand the costs involved. Interior design services can range widely in price, and knowing what to expect helps you plan your budget and avoid unwelcome surprises.

In this guide, we’ll break down the typical costs of hiring an interior designer in the US, including hourly rates and design project types. 

Interior design price list

Disclaimer: Airtasker’s cost estimates come from thorough research on industry and third-party rates. Please only use the listed prices as a benchmark when setting your budget.

On top of the average cost of interior designers, the total price can also be affected by the type of project you're looking to have. The cost of hiring an interior designer can pile up depending on the type of room and the size and scope of the project. The following price list shows how much an interior designer costs per room:

Interior Design Project
Average Price

New dining room

$499 – $899

New bedroom

$539 – $1,299

New living room

$599 – $1,399

New bathroom

$599 – $1,399

New kitchen

$599 – $1,499

 Interior Designer Cost - Creative team planning a design projectDesigners reviewing sketches and samples during a collaborative session. (Source: iStock)

Factors affecting average interior designer costs

In addition to those mentioned above, several things impact how much an interior designer costs. Here are some of them:

Your location

Depending on the city where you live, interior designer prices differ. Major cities like New York, San Francisco, and Boston might have higher costs than other areas.

 Qualifications and experience of the interior designer

A seasoned professional in the field can charge more per hour than someone who has only worked with a few clients. When hiring someone, the level of qualification should be based on the type of space that needs to be professionally designed.

Other services hired

If you have a huge project, you might require other tradespeople, such as carpenters, cabinet makers, and others. Hiring them could increase the total cost. Your interior designer might also offer to plan your space before designing your property, which can also add to the overall cost. Requesting them to design your interior lights to emphasize your property's design and functionality will have the same impact on the fees.

How to save money on interior design costs 

The costs of hiring an interior designer seem overwhelming, but there are ways to save money while still getting high-quality output. Here are some tips:

Leverage your interior designer's resources

Your interior designer can manage the project for you, communicate with tradespeople required for the project, and might be able to negotiate lower rates than if you hired the tradespeople yourself. For you to save money on furniture and other things, many interior designers are willing to extend a trade discount.

Hire during the off-season

Consider using their services in the off-season when they're more available if you want to save money. They will not only be able to give your home or office more attention, but they might also offer reduced costs because of the lower business demand.

Hire a younger interior designer

When renovating your house or business, you'll need to be more flexible with the professional you choose if you have a smaller budget. Hiring an interior designer with less industry experience will save you more money. And if they're talented and have a keen sense of symmetry and asymmetry, they can still offer you high-quality services. To make sure their style is what you need for your space, request to see their portfolio in advance.

Interior Designer Cost - Designer reviewing color options for a project in a modern workspace.Designer evaluating color swatches for an interior concept. (Source: iStock)

Post a task for interior design

You're ready to post a task now that you know how much it costs to hire interior designers! Working with an interior designer can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Post a task, and Taskers in your area will reach out to you. Review their profiles, ratings, and reviews to determine which service is best for you. Here are some details you could include on your list:

  • Your budget

  • Your location

  • Your interior design project

  • Your schedule

Remember, the more information you provide, the easier it will be for your Tasker to give you a price quote. And in no time, you'll have your beautiful interiors designed by a professional!

FAQs

While interior decorating refers to furnishing a place with ornamental materials to achieve a certain aesthetic, interior design is the art and science of comprehending people's behavior to create usable spaces within a building. To put it simply, interior designers can decorate, but decorators don’t design. 

Also, interior decorators don't need any formal degree or licensing, while interior designers are typically expected to have a higher level of education because of the complexity of their job.

While some interior designers actually purchase furniture, others simply make suggestions about what they think looks best for the room or space and leave the actual purchasing to the client or contractor.

A functional space is the most important element of interior design. Since each place has a certain purpose and amount of available space, both the user and the designer must be aware of these details.

According to the rule of three, odd-numbered groupings of objects are more appealing, remembered, and efficient than even-numbered ones.

It usually takes three months to complete a multi-room furniture project. You should anticipate roughly six months for smaller-scale remodeling projects that include furniture (such as a single room with a new floor plan).

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