It’s my understanding that a lot of agencies & freelancers often won’t tell you how much a website will cost, that is, until you’ve provided them with an in-depth briefing that covers your websites requirements. Perhaps there’ll be lot’s of “umming” and “ahing” or phrases like “how long is a piece of string”.
This post aims to demystify the currency values assigned to pixels and lines of code, based on examples of projects that the majority of clients will fall under.
How much does a website cost in 2023?
Generally you can expect to pay somewhere between £1,500 – £5,000 for a bespoke website that is built on a Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress. This price will change based on a variety of factors, such as; advanced animations, custom functionality or third-party API integrations.
Can’t I just build my website for free?
Of course, it is possible to build your own website. There are an abundance of options out there to help you build your site for free. Some popular site builders are Wix and Squarespace, but even some hosting companies offer their own builders too.
So why would I pay someone, if I can just build it myself?
That’s the crux of the matter, can you really build it yourself? These website builders are marketed as easy to use, making claims about how quickly they can help you to setup a website… but as often is the case, there’s a learning curve.
Do you really have not only the time, but also the energy and resources necessary to step away from running your business in order to learn these new skills and then create a website that’s actually going to perform well, benefit your business and generate leads?
In my experience, for most people the answer is no. On top of that these builders aren’t entirely free, there’s always additional costs that you’ll need to pay for access to advanced features and other extras such as web hosting.
What different types of websites are there?
The type of website that’s best for you will depend on your needs, generally these can be broken down into: static sites; CMS (Content Management System) sites; eCommerce sites; and intranet sites.
How do I know what type of site is best for me?
It’s dependent on your individual requirements, but it’s mostly pretty straight forward.
If you only need a basic website and you don’t need to be able to update the content yourself, then a static site will suffice.
If you would like to be able to login, add or edit website content and to create blog posts, then you’ll need a CMS (Content Management System) like WordPress.
If you are looking to primarily sell products online then an eCommerce site setup is best.
Last of all, if you require a site that is for solely for internal purposes, then you need an intranet site.
How much do the different types of websites cost?
The below price ranges are based on a good quality, skilled freelance web designer building the site for you, though if you’re looking at web agencies you can expect the prices to be at least double what’s shown here (if they are any good). The price ranges shown are split between simple websites with fewer pages & basic functionality, and more advanced sites that are content heavy, boasting advanced animations or functionality.
| Static Websites | £750 – £4,500 |
| CMS Websites | £1,500 – £8,000 |
| eCommerce Websites | £3,000 – £20,000 |
How long does it take to design & build a website?
This is totally dependent on the size and scope of the work. Let’s say a typical bespoke website will take somewhere between 4 – 8 weeks to complete. Of course, this can be either quicker or longer based on factors such as if the designs require multiple iterations, or if there’s scope creep.
| Static Websites | 2 – 4 Weeks |
| CMS Websites | 4 – 8 Weeks |
| eCommerce Websites | 8 – 24 Weeks |
I hope that the above has provided you with a bit of an insight into how much you should be paying for your website design. If you have a project that you would like to discuss with me, then feel free to email me, or use my contact form to get an estimate now.