Are you curious about how much website design pricing varies, or how much a website costs in general? You’ve come to the right place! A website is essential for any business today, large or small. It’s much more than just an online brochure; it’s a representation of who you are and what you do, communicated in the blink of an eye. If you send the same web design proposal to 4 different companies, you will likely receive 4 very different quotes - often with a very wide range in price. As you might have noticed already, web design costs can be tricky to predict. Because of this, the question shouldn’t be “how much does a website cost?”. Rather, you should ask yourself the question, “what should my expectations be for the budget I have?”
Different types of websites come with different website costs. The cost to build a website can range from free to over $100,000, depending on factors like the type of website you need, how long you need it, maintenance and update frequency, website hosting, and other ongoing fees. It's important to align your goals and budget with the right solution for you. In this article, we'll give you an overview of what you can expect to spend on a new website. We'll also provide some suggestions and solutions that might fit your budget.
When determining how much to pay for a website, you'll need to consider your goals, budget, and level of involvement.
Find out why so many businesses
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Find out why so many businesses trust us with their new websites!
If you're looking for a free option, there are plenty of DIY website builders and WordPress themes available. However, most free options come with limited features and templates. If you're willing to invest some time and money into your website, you can get a more customized website.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your goals and budget.
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Yourself
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Online Website Builder
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Template / Pre-made
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Page Count - N/A
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Page Template Count - N/A
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# of Revisions - N/A
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SEO - N/A
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Responsive Design - N/A
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Social Media Integration - N/A
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Affordable
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Quick to Setup
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Generic template design
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Web builder branding on site
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Very little customization
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Lack of SEO
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Looks unprofessional
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Personal website
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Small group or club
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First-time blogger
Check out some of the better website builders available today:
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There are a few different options available to you if you're looking to build a website on a budget. If you're willing to spend a little bit of money, you can use platforms like Squarespace or Godaddy's website builder.
Alternatively, you can purchase premium WordPress themes from sites like Themeforest and upload them to your self-hosted WordPress site. Keep in mind that if you go with the WordPress option, it will require more technical skill and your time to implement. However, you will be saving money in the long run.
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Yourself
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Wordpress
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Template / Pre-made
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Page Count - N/A
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Page Template Count - N/A
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# of Revisions - N/A
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SEO - N/A
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Responsive Design - Possibly
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Social Media Integration - N/A
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A 1-800 number to call for help with development of your website
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Communication difficulty
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Slow & difficult to manage your project
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Inconsistent (and often unable) results
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Individuals and small companies with a very limited budget who are comfortable managing their website project.
Check out some of the better website builders available today:
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Find out why so many businesses trust us with their new websites!
Find out why so many businesses
trust us with their new websites!
When you're working with a budget of up to $2,500, you'll probably be hiring a local freelance website designer to help you modify a premium theme. This price range usually pays for a 'semi-custom' or 'customized' design.
However, some freelance web designers at this price range don't fully disclose that they're selling 'template' websites. Therefore, if you're only paying $2k-$3k for a website, it's almost certainly not a custom website.
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Solo Designer, usually local
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Wordpress
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Joomla
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CSS / HTML / Java
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These designers typically advertise custom websites, but then use pre-made templates.
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Page Count - up to 10
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Page Template Count - 2 to 3
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# of Revisions - 2 to 3
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SEO - N/A
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Responsive Design - Possibly
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Social Media Integration - Limited
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Someone local to communicate with
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Decent to good quality
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99% of the time, the end design is not high enough quality for what medium and small businesses need
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Typically uses pre-made templates
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Usually overbooked due to low prices, and rarely delivers on time
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An individual selling their personal services and is on a limited budget
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A very small startup business that needs a basic web presence until they can afford an actual website
The best places to find local freelance web designers are Yelp, Facebook, and Instagram. They typically are posting frequently on social media to attract business from their community.
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When you're looking at web design services in the $5k-$10k range, you're going to get a lot more for your money. For starters, you'll be working with legitimate website builders. Second, you'll be getting a truly custom design. And third, you won't just be getting a web designer and a web developer—you'll also have a dedicated project manager. Plus, your project manager will help to organize and manage the entire design and website development process, making your life a whole lot easier.
However, beware—some web design agencies at this price range will still try to sell you a "semi-custom" premium theme template without letting you know. So be sure to do your due diligence before hiring a website builder.
In summary, at this price point you are getting a "real" website for a "real" business.
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Agency
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Project Manager
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Web Designer
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Web Developer
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WordPress
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Joomla
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Drupal
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Custom Design
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Layered Photoshop Design
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Page Count - Up to 50
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Page Template Count - 3 to 7
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# of Revisions - 3 to 6
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SEO - On-page
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Responsive Design - Yes
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Social Media Integration - Yes
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Typically professional quality
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Significantly better design
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Hands-on project management
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Noticeably higher quality development
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More expensive
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Small or medium-sized businesses needing a refresh for their website design. Be sure to do your research… quality will still vary depending on who you choose as your web designer.
Find out why so many businesses
trust us with their new websites!
Find out why so many businesses trust us with their new websites!
The price of web design in the $10-$25k range is affected by a variety of factors. As a first step, it is imperative to consider the type of agency you work with when choosing a website builder. The next thing you need to consider is the scope of your web design project, the additional features, and the functionality of the site. An example of a $20k project could be a 4-5 page microsite from a large web design agency for a pharmaceutical company, or it could be a 300-page brochure-type website from a local company.
In summary, at this price point, you are paying for the reputation of the website builder firm and more concerned with the quality of work and the completion of a successful project.
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Agency
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Project Manager
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Web Designer
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Web Developer
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Copywriter
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WordPress
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Joomla
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Drupal
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Magento (for e-commerce websites)
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Proprietary CMS
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Custom Design
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Layered Photoshop Design
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Page Count - 50-300
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Page Template Count - 8-12
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# of Revisions - 7-12
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SEO - Yes
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Responsive Design - Yes
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Social Media Integration - Yes
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Custom front-end features and functionality
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Extensive management of backend database
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Professional development
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Professional design
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Project management
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Content writer
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Dedicated support
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Custom functionality
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More expensive
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Medium-sized businesses in need of a new 100+ page website design
Find out why so many businesses
trust us with their new websites!
Find out why so many businesses trust us with their new websites!
If you're looking for a website that falls in the +$25k price range, you're probably looking for something specific. It could be a high-functioning e-commerce site, a web application, a big website with thousands of pages, or a flashy business site with a unique interface.
In any case, you'll probably be dealing with larger web design firms.
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Agency
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Project Manager
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Web Designer
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Web Developer
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Copywriter
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Custom application development
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Social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, are not websites. They are web applications.
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At this price point, you will be getting a web application with very sophisticated functionality
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Custom Design
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Layered Photoshop Design
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Page Count - 50-300
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Page Template Count - 8-12
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# of Revisions - 7-12
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SEO - Yes
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Responsive Design - Yes
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Social Media Integration - Yes
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Custom front-end features and functionality
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Extensive management of backend database
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Professional development
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Professional design
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Project management
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Content writer
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Dedicated support
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Custom functionality
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Large agency cost
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Work typically handled by junior staff
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Expect delays and expensive overages
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Large businesses with 1000+ employees and high-security requirements.
Find out why so many businesses
trust us with their new websites!
Find out why so many businesses trust us with their new websites!
When it comes to website design pricing, E-Commerce company websites are at the higher end of the spectrum.
This is because there are many additional factors to consider such as payment processing, security, fulfillment, inventory, and product input. Typically, an E-Commerce website is far more expensive and complex than a regular business website.
However, there are some affordable options available if you're looking to open an online store. Shopify is one example of a turnkey solution for setting up an eCommerce store.
Another great option is X-Cart, which has a one-time setup fee and is otherwise Open Source. This can save you money in the long run, as there are no per-transaction fees.
When working with a reputable web design and development firm, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10,000-$50,000 for an E-Commerce website.
When making any kind of business decision, it's important to understand opportunity cost. This is the idea that there are trade-offs for every decision you make.
So, when choosing a web designer, the most important question to ask is not "How much does a website cost?" but "Which website will produce the most value for my business to succeed online?"
A "free" website might seem like a better deal at first, but if it doesn't produce results, it's not worth as much as a website that costs money but gets results.
The "free" website might have cost the business $100,000 in lost business, while the $5,000 website might have generated more site visitors, more leads, and more business.
As you can see, the cost of website building can vary greatly depending on the skills needed to create a custom website. In addition to coding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, a responsive design must also be created for mobile devices. The site must also be optimized for search engines so that people can find it.
Once the site is built, you can't expect traffic to simply start flowing in… You will need to generate traffic to it through various marketing channels such as search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, or paid advertising.
There are a few things to keep in mind when searching for a web designer. First, consider your goals for the project and the value of your time. Next, put together a budget that works for you and that you can afford. Finally, search for a solution that works with your given budget and goals. It may not be the perfect solution, but it could be the perfect solution for your situation right now.
A great web design can make all the difference, so it's important to do your homework before you hire a web designer.
If you have a website project you need help with and you think our pricing may be a fit for you based on this article, contact us to get a free website design quote. We'll be happy to provide an in-depth quote of your new website.
Find out why so many businesses
trust us with their new websites!
Find out why so many businesses trust us with their new websites!