Key takeaways
- Running costs are predictable: a domain, hosting and any premium themes, plugins or software.
- Build costs depend on the number of page templates, custom features, integrations and content.
- Template-based sites cost far less than custom designs; web applications cost more than websites.
- Content — copy, photography and video — is often the most underestimated cost.
- Budget for maintenance from the start; an unmaintained site gets slower and less secure.
"How much does a website cost?" is like asking how much a building costs: a garden shed and an office block are both buildings. The useful answer breaks the cost into parts, so you can see what drives the price and what you actually need.
Running costs
- Domain name: A yearly renewal, typically modest for common domain endings.
- Hosting: From inexpensive shared hosting to managed or cloud hosting for busy sites. See managed vs shared hosting.
- SSL certificate: Usually free today through your host or services such as Let's Encrypt.
- Business email: Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, priced per user.
- Premium software: Paid themes, plugins, form tools or a hosted CMS subscription, where you use them.
Build costs: what drives the price
- Number of templates: A site with five page types costs much less than one with twenty, however many pages use them.
- Design approach: A customised theme is quicker and cheaper; a custom design is built around your brand and goals.
- Custom features: Calculators, booking, member areas, multilingual content and search all add development time.
- Integrations: Connecting a CRM, payment provider, ERP or marketing tools adds effort and testing.
- Content and migration: Writing, photography and moving content from an old site take real time.
- Platform: WordPress, Shopify, Next.js and custom builds have different starting points and trade-offs.
Typical types of website
- Template-based site: A quality theme set up for your brand. Fastest and most affordable, with limited design freedom.
- Custom website: A bespoke design and theme, built for your content and goals. The most common choice for established businesses.
- Ecommerce store: Adds products, payments, shipping and tax. See how much a Shopify website costs.
- Web application: Accounts, dashboards and workflows, priced as software. See web application development.
Costs people forget
- Copywriting and professional photography.
- Accessibility and performance testing.
- SEO setup: metadata, redirects from an old site and analytics.
- Training your team to edit the site.
- Maintenance after launch — see website maintenance cost.
How to get an accurate quote
- List your goals: What should the site achieve: enquiries, sales, bookings, recruitment?
- Map the pages: Sketch the main page types and any special features.
- Gather examples: Share sites you like and why.
- Ask for a fixed, itemised quote: So you can see where the money goes and adjust scope.
Frequently asked questions
Why do website quotes vary so much?
Quotes cover different scopes: templates versus custom design, content included or not, integrations and maintenance. Compare itemised quotes, not totals.
Is a cheap website worth it?
For a simple online presence, it can be. For a site that must generate leads or sales, cutting corners usually costs more in lost business and rebuilds.
How long does it take to build a website?
A template-based site can take a few weeks; a custom design and build usually takes six to ten weeks, depending on content and features.
Our website design team sends a fixed, itemised quote after a short call, so you know the full cost before work starts.
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Jay Patel