Cost of Hiring a UI/UX Design Agency

Design Studio
5 min readDec 31, 2024

--

Cost of Hiring a UI/UX Design Agency

Digital designers are very popular, and their demand would expectedly grow by 8% each year until 2033. If you plan to hire a UI/UX design agency in 2025, be ready to work with some of the most sought-after professionals in the world.

But how much will it cost? Let us look at what UI/UX designers typically earn:

  • Beginner to junior UI/UX designers in the U.S. make around $47,500–$60,000 per year.
  • Mid-level designers earn about $70,000 per year.
  • Experienced designers earn around $90,000 per year on average in the U.S.

To cut costs, you can hire from different economic zones.

  • Hiring a UI/UX designer from European countries like Germany or Poland costs you a salary of approximately $30/hour.
  • Hiring a UI/UX designer from India costs you less than half of that.
  • The average salary of a UI/UX designer in India is approximately ₹7.2 lakhs ($8.8k) per year — that roughly translates to a salary of $5 to $10 per hour.

Now, let us talk about UI/UX design agencies. In the US, the average cost of working with a UI/UX design agency ranges from $50 to $60 per hour spent on the project. This rate varies based on the agency’s location, expertise level, and the scope of services you obtain.

Typically, highly-rated UI/UX design agencies (like IDEO or Work & Co) charge more because their services come with guarantees of quality and reliability.

They can charge upwards of $100k per project. Newer, smaller agencies may charge less, around $10k to $50k per project, but they are less likely to offer specialized design services.

If you work with UI/UX design agencies outside the US (especially from places like India), you can slash your hiring costs by up to 80%.

Factors Affecting UI/UX Design Agency Hiring Costs

The cost of hiring a UI/UX design agency varies widely based on several factors.

Understanding these factors is essential for budgeting effectively and receiving the best returns on your investment:

Project Complexity

The complexity of a project significantly impacts its cost:

Simple Projects

Designing a basic landing page or mobile app with minimal features typically costs between $5k to $10k. These projects require less time and fewer resources.

Complex Projects

A feature-rich app costs $25k to $50k (or more) to design. For example, an eCommerce platform has multiple user flows and intricate design elements. Designing such a platform requires a ton of UX research, UI prototyping, and more.

Project Scope

The scope of work you assign to the agency directly affects the final cost.

Narrow Scope

Smaller projects with limited requirements may only cost between $3k to $7k. We are talking about designing simple websites or simple, 10-page apps.

Extensive Scope

Projects that require detailed UX research, multiple wireframes, and thorough testing can cost upwards of $30k. For instance, a SaaS app that needs robust user research and multiple iterations incurs higher expenses.

Design Revisions

UI/UX design projects are rarely given the go-ahead after one round of prototyping + testing. Projects that require few changes typically remain within budget. Projects that need many revisions can go way beyond budget. We are talking about adding $5000+ to the budget with each iteration.

Design Expertise

A design team’s experience level greatly affects pricing. Junior designers charge between $30 and $60 per hour, while experienced professionals may charge $100 to $150 per hour.

Client Involvement

When clients provide frequent feedback and request changes, it can lead to increased expenses. It could add anywhere from $1k to $5k to the final fee — depending on the extent of changes required. Projects with minimal client interaction stay closer to initial estimates.

Platform Compatibility

Ensuring that designs function across various platforms can incur additional costs. Designing for multiple devices (mobile, tablet, desktop) may increase costs by about 20–30%. Focusing on just one platform will reduce project expenses significantly.

Customization Requirements

Complex features such as custom illustrations or animations can drive costs up by an additional $5k to $15k.

Timeline and Deadlines

Short Deadlines: Projects requiring quick turnaround times often incur rush fees ranging from 10% to 50% extra. Giving UI/UX design agencies longer timelines generally allows for better budgeting and lower overall costs.

Post-Launch Support

Budgeting for post-launch UI/UX design support is something you cannot overlook. Basic support plans start around $1k per year. They cover minor UI/UX design updates and adjustments. More extensive UI/UX design support could cost upwards of $5k per year.

Hiring UI/UX Design Agency: Cost Per Project

Now, let us break down the approximate costs associated with various UI/UX design projects based on current market trends.

For Simple Website Design

Designing a simple website involves integrating standard features and functionalities. These websites typically focus on delivering essential information without complex interactions. The average UI/UX design cost for a simple website is between $2.5k-$5k.

For Mobile App Design

Mobile apps require unique UI/UX designs to stand out. The cost of designing a mobile app ranges from $10k-$50k

For eCommerce Website Design

eCommerce websites demand thoughtful design to facilitate user interactions. UI/UX designers have to create product page layouts, design intricate payment systems, and create engaging user account pages. They also have to create unique, brand-centric shopping experiences. All of that can cost between $15k to $70k. Integrating advanced UI/UX design features like personalized recommendations or multi-currency payment options can take project costs higher than $70k

For Enterprise-Grade App Design

Designing enterprise-level applications is one of the most complex areas in UI/UX design. These projects often require extensive user research and integration of numerous features and systems. The approximate cost for UI/UX design of enterprise-level apps ranges from $50k to $200k.

Hiring a UI/UX Design Agency: Are the Costs Worth It?

Only you can answer that question — depending on what types of UI/UX design services you need. Here are some facts that paint the picture of what types of returns you can expect in return if you do choose to hire a UI/UX design agency.

Potential Cost Savings

Fixing design mistakes after a product release can be 4–5 times more expensive than doing it right initially. Partnering with a UI/UX design agency helps ensure you get it right from the start.

Ability to Attract Paying Users

Approximately 86% of users pay premium prices for top-notch digital experiences. Working with a UI/UX design agency increases your chances of delivering such payment-worthy experiences.

Gaining Access to Expert UI/UX Designers

Forbes calls UI/UX design a high-income skill in the age of AI. Gaining access to such highly skilled workers certainly gives your digital ambitions an edge. For example, if you are designing a website, your UI/UX design partner instantly makes the site meet Google’s Page Experience expectations. This helps your site earn high rankings on Google’s search results.

Conclusion

The best thing about working with an established design agency is that the agency makes everyone in your team focus more on the end users.

Having such a user-centric mindset is vital for securing success in the current digital landscape.

So yes — no matter the cost — if you get the opportunity to work with a top UI/UX design agency — go for it because it is definitely worth it!

--

--

Design Studio
Design Studio

Written by Design Studio

Super-Ideas, Super-Designs, Regular Humans. Any time you want to talk creativity, drop by at designstudiouiux.com

No responses yet