Eluvie Blog
How to price a design service
Learn how to price design services with confidence. Covers hourly rates, project pricing and how to present your value to clients.
Design is one of the most underpriced creative services, not because designers lack skill, but because pricing requires a business confidence that most design education never covers. This guide gives you a framework to price design work that reflects your expertise and supports a sustainable business.
Start with your numbers
Everything above your minimum is your margin. Do not skip this calculation. It is the foundation of every price you quote.
Reference ranges by project type (Brazil, 2026)
| Project type | Junior | Mid | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo and basic identity | R$800 | R$2.500 | R$7.000+ |
| Full brand identity | R$2.000 | R$6.000 | R$15.000+ |
| UI/UX design (per sprint) | R$1.500 | R$4.000 | R$10.000+ |
| Social media design pack (monthly) | R$800 | R$2.000 | R$5.000+ |
| Presentation design | R$400 | R$1.200 | R$3.000+ |
Reference ranges. Your rate should be anchored to your actual costs and experience.
Pricing by project type
Brand identity: price as a fixed project. Scope includes logo, color system, typography and usage guidelines. Split payment in at least two milestones: 50% upfront and 50% on final delivery.
UI/UX design: price by sprint or phase. Discovery, wireframes and high-fidelity screens are natural billing milestones. Avoid pricing the entire project upfront when the scope may evolve.
Ongoing design support: retainer model. Define monthly hours or output clearly, for example 20 hours or 15 social media assets per month. Ambiguous retainers always end in scope disputes.
The biggest pricing mistake designers make
Pricing based on what you think the client can afford, instead of what the project is worth and what you need to earn. This leads to resentment, rushed work and clients who do not value the process.
How Eluvie helps
Once a project is closed, Eluvie helps you manage the financial side: active clients, linked contracts, cash flow and project metrics organized in one place.
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