Setting the right revision limit is a balancing act. Include too few and clients feel nickeled-and-dimed. Include too many and you're working for free. Here's how to find the sweet spot.
Industry benchmarks
Logo design: 2–3 rounds. Web design (per page): 2 rounds. Copywriting: 2 rounds. Illustration: 2–3 rounds. Development: typically no "revisions" — instead, use a bug-fix period.
The golden rule
Most projects need exactly 2 rounds of revisions. Round 1 addresses the client's major feedback. Round 2 handles the polish. If a project regularly needs a 3rd round, the issue isn't the revision count — it's the briefing process.
How to track revisions
Manual tracking via email threads is unreliable and creates disputes. Use a tool like ScopePilot that counts revisions per deliverable automatically and alerts both you and the client when the limit is approaching.
What happens at the limit
When revisions are exhausted, the system should make the next step obvious: a priced change order for additional rounds. This is not a confrontation — it's a professional process that was agreed upon before the project started.