How much to charge for a logo design?
Most freelance logo projects land between $300 and $2,500, and where you sit in that range depends mostly on your experience.
A logo job is discovery, a few concepts, revision rounds and the final files. Most briefs also hide lockups, variants and usage rights. That is where the price moves.
Price more for tight deadlines
Complex projects tend to cost more
Price more if you're more experienced
Logo pricing in detail
Rates by level
| Level | Per project | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | $50–300 | $25–50 |
| 1 to 3 years | $300–1,200 | $45–75 |
| 3 to 7 years | $1,200–3,500 | $75–130 |
| 7+ years | $3,500–15,000 | $130–200 |
Under 1 year, the client pays for execution. At 1 to 3, judgement. At 3 to 7, direction. At 7+, certainty. 65% of businesses will only pay up to $500. Only 15% pay over $1,000.
Why the range will not help you
The range is for a logo in the abstract. The client in your inbox wants three concepts, two revision rounds, social variants, and the files by Friday. That is a different price, and it is not on any chart.
A typical brief, priced
“A local brewery asked me for a logo. They want it for cans, taps, merch and signage, plus a couple of variations for their seasonal beers. They said they need it in three weeks. I have been freelancing about a year and a half. I was going to say $600 and I have no idea if that is insane.”
| Discovery and brand direction | $250 |
| Primary logo, 3 concepts | $700 |
| Application lockups (can, tap, signage) | $450 |
| Two seasonal variants | $300 |
| Two revision rounds | $200 |
| Files and handoff pack | $150 |
| Total | $2,050 |
You were going to charge $600. The scope you described is $2,050. You are leaving $1,450 on the table.
What people forget to charge
- Application lockups. A logo is one drawing; a brand needs six.
- Revision rounds, named and capped.
- Seasonal or sub-brand variants mentioned in passing.
- The handoff pack. Files, formats, a usage note.
- Usage rights. Merch resale is not a website header.
- The rush. Three weeks is a constraint, and constraints cost money.
How to say it to the client
“I have broken this into the pieces the brief implies. The logo itself is the smallest part. Most of the cost is making it work on a can, a tap handle and a building, which are three different drawings. Here is what each piece is, and you can drop any of them.”
FAQ
Should I charge hourly or per project?
Per project, once you can estimate scope. Hourly punishes you for getting faster.
What do I charge for my first logo?
The bottom of the under-1-year band, $50 to $300. Price the deliverables, not your confidence.
Is $500 too cheap for a logo?
Not for a single mark. It is too cheap the moment the brief adds cans, signage, variants or a rush.
What if the client says it is too high?
Offer to cut a line, not to discount. A flat discount tells them the first number was invented.
Do I charge extra for merch?
Yes. Merch resale is a different usage licence. Price the rights separately from the design.