Aug 29
How Many Hours Does It Take to Design a Logo

How Many Hours Does it Take to Design a Logo?

If you’ve ever started a business or led a rebrand, you’ve probably asked this: How many hours does it take to design a logo?

Spoiler alert: it’s not a five-minute task pulled from clip art or Canva templates.

Designing logos—real ones that last and actually mean something—takes intention, skill, and time.

On average, it takes 10 to 30 hours to professionally design a logo.

But that’s not just drawing.

It’s discovery, strategy, design rounds, revisions, and final production.

The kind of thoughtful work that shapes how your brand is perceived from day one.

Let’s unpack what really goes into those hours and why the best logos aren’t just fast—they’re built to endure.

What Impacts the Time It Takes to Design a Logo?

Not all logos are created—or timed—equally.

Here are the key factors that impact the total hours spent:

  • Complexity of the Logo: A typographic logo will take less time than a multi-element symbol with custom illustration and motion considerations.
  • Client Feedback & Involvement: Quick approvals move things along. Endless rounds of vague feedback? Not so much.
  • Design Experience: A seasoned designer will move faster—but they’ll also go deeper, which can even extend the process.
  • Revisions: One round or three? Revision cycles are where hours either balloon or tighten up.
  • Deliverables: Final file prep for different applications—web, print, packaging, social—adds real time.
  • Brand Discovery Process: If your brand positioning isn’t defined yet, the designer may need to help with discovery and clarification. That takes time—but often saves you from a disconnected design.

How Long Does It Take to Design a Brand Logo?

Designing a logo is one thing.

Designing a brand logo is another.

When a logo has to represent more than a product—when it carries the weight of a company, a culture, and a vision—it can take several days to a few weeks from kickoff to delivery.

Expect anywhere from 10 to 30 hours of active work, often spread across phases that include research, meetings, revisions, and presentation.

And if you’re wondering what goes into that time, here’s a breakdown you can count on.

Logo Design Process: Step-by-Step Timeline

Understanding where the hours go helps you see the value behind the price tag—and gives you the context to work better with your design partner.

Here’s the six-stage process most professional designers follow.

1. Research and Discovery (2–5 hours)

No great design starts without listening.

This phase is all about uncovering your brand’s DNA—your voice, your industry, your competition, and your audience.

A designer will ask sharp questions, review your brand materials (if you have them), and analyze the current landscape.

This step shapes the direction of every decision that follows.

2. Concept Development (4–10 hours)

This is where the creative exploration begins.

Your designer will sketch ideas, experiment with shapes and typography, and build visual concepts that align with the strategy.

These aren’t final designs—think of them as strong drafts built to explore different visual interpretations of your brand.

Expect to see 2–4 polished concepts if you’re working with a pro.

You’ll review them, give feedback, and align on a direction.

3. Design Refinement (4–8 hours)

Once a direction is chosen, the selected logo concept is refined.

This phase is all about precision.

Designers fine-tune spacing, alignment, iconography, colors, typography, and balance.

The goal is to move from a good concept to a great logo—one that feels confident, cohesive, and brand-right.

Here’s where your feedback is most important.

Clear communication can keep revisions efficient and prevent unnecessary hours from piling on.

4. Finalization and Delivery (2–4 hours)

After final approval, the logo is finalized and prepped for every medium where it’ll live.

That includes:

  • Print files (CMYK PDFs, EPS)
  • Web files (PNG, SVG, JPEG)
  • Social icons
  • Favicon
  • Black-and-white versions
  • Color variations

Designers may also include a mini brand guide explaining usage, spacing, and colors.

It’s not just a bonus—it’s insurance for your brand’s future consistency.

5. Client Feedback and Revisions (1–4 hours)

Revisions can be smooth or… not.

It depends on how well expectations were set.

Ideally, you’ve agreed on the number of revision rounds upfront.

But occasionally, a client will come back post-approval with last-minute changes.

That’s okay—it happens.

Just know that any added requests will require more time (and possibly added cost).

Set boundaries early and encourage open communication to keep this stage under control.

6. Presentation and Handover (1 hour)

Here’s where the work becomes real.

You’ll receive all final files, with clarity on what’s included and how to use each asset.

Some designers walk through the deliverables with a final presentation, while others hand off with documentation.

Either way, you should leave with confidence that your brand’s visual identity is in good shape—and ready for the world.

What Kind of Logo Should You Choose?

Not all businesses need a flashy emblem.

Some need simplicity.

Others need flexibility.

Knowing the type of logo that best suits your brand (and your budget) helps save time—and get better results.

Here are the most common types:

  • Wordmarks – Logos based on your name in a stylized font. Think Google.
  • Lettermarks – Initials used as the logo. IBM, HBO, etc.
  • Pictorial Marks – A simple icon or symbol. Think Apple.
  • Abstract Logos – Shapes that don’t depict anything literal but are still memorable.
  • Combination Marks – A mix of icon and wordmark. Nike. Burger King.
  • Emblems – Text within a symbol or badge. Think Starbucks or the NFL.

Choosing your type of logo upfront speeds up the process—and ensures alignment between brand and visual expression.

Real-World Time Estimates

Here’s a rough timeline showing total active hours depending on project scale:

Project Type  Design Hours  Time Frame
Solo Designer, Simple Logo   8–12 hours   3–5 days
Small Brand with Creative Brief   12–20 hours   5–10 days
Mid-Sized Business Rebrand   20–30 hours   2–4 weeks
Enterprise-Level Brand System   40+ hours   4–6+ weeks

These are just benchmarks.

Actual timelines can vary based on project scope, designer availability, and the level of involvement from your side.

Designing a Logo That Works

Here’s the thing: designing a logo isn’t just about creating something “cool.”

It’s about solving a communication problem.

Your logo is a symbol of trust, quality, and identity.

It’s shorthand for everything your brand stands for—and it needs to work across dozens of use cases.

And it’s why MOCK, the agency brings strategy and creative together to deliver logos that aren’t just pretty—they’re purposeful.

At The End Of The Day

Designing a logo is more than pushing pixels.

It’s the visual handshake between you and the world.

Whether you’re launching your first startup or reimagining a decades-old brand, the hours spent designing your logo are an investment in clarity, consistency, and first impressions that last.

MOCK, the agency doesn’t just design logos—we build brand tools that work.

With direct access to the creatives doing the work, fast turnaround times, and real partnership (not vendor talk), we help make your marketing life easier.

Let’s make you look good—and your brand unforgettable.

Ready to Design a Logo With Purpose?

Let’s build something great together.

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