Journal / Designers
How much does an interior designer cost in Australia?
Words by the Bathroom Edit editor · Updated on 3 October 2026 · 2 min read
Australian interior designers charge in four ways: by the hour, a fixed fee, a percentage of the project, or a mark-up on what they buy for you. Here is what each costs in 2026, with the source on every number.
In 2026 Australian interior designers charge about $200 an hour on average (about $275 in Sydney), around $10,000 on average to design a bathroom, or 10 to 20 per cent of the project cost for full-service work.
The four ways designers charge
| Fee model | Typical 2026 range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $120 to $250 an hour (Builtly); $200 average, $275 Sydney, $210 Melbourne (Bark, ex GST) | Advice, small jobs, a second opinion |
| Fixed fee | $2,000 to $6,000 for a single room (Builtly); about $10,000 average for a bathroom design (Bark) | A defined room or scope |
| Percentage of project | 10 to 20 per cent of the construction and furnishing budget (Bark, Builtly) | Large, evolving projects |
| Mark-up on purchases | 20 to 35 per cent on furniture, fixtures and equipment (Builtly) | Projects where the designer buys for you |
Sydney rates
A Sydney studio, Kaiko Design Interiors, puts senior and principal designers at $250 to $400 an hour excluding GST, and juniors at $150 to $250.
What a bathroom design includes
Bark describes bathroom design as covering spatial planning, fixture selection and tiling layouts. Ask whether documentation for your builder, site visits and changes are in the fee.
What to ask before you sign
- Which fee model, and what exactly does it cover?
- How many design revisions are included?
- Do you mark up products you buy for me, and by how much?
- Who manages the builder and trades on site?
- What is the fee if the scope changes?
Common questions
How much do interior designers charge per hour in Australia?
About $200 an hour on average, according to Bark's 2026 analysis, and $275 in Sydney. Builtly puts most hourly rates at $120 to $250.
Is an interior designer worth it for a bathroom?
For a full renovation, a designer's layout and tile plan can prevent costly mistakes. For a cosmetic refresh, an hourly consultation may be enough.
What does an interior designer do?
See what an interior designer does, and how that differs from a decorator.