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2026 Pricing Guide

How Much Does Website Design Cost?

Web design and development pricing from freelancers to full-service agencies in 2026.

View Pricing Tiers Get a Custom Quote
$5,000 - $150,000+
Project Cost Range
8-16 Weeks
Average Development Timeline
38%
Users Leave Poorly Designed Sites
$200-$500/mo
Ongoing Maintenance

Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business, and its design directly impacts credibility, engagement, and conversion rates. Research shows that 38% of users will leave a poorly designed website, making professional web design a critical business investment rather than an optional expense.

Website design costs vary enormously based on complexity, functionality, and who builds it. A simple brochure site from a freelancer might cost $5,000, while a custom enterprise platform with headless CMS architecture, multi-language support, and complex integrations can exceed $150,000. Understanding what drives these costs helps you budget appropriately.

Beyond the initial build, websites require ongoing maintenance, hosting, security updates, and content management. These recurring costs range from $200 to $2,000+ per month and are frequently overlooked when budgeting for a new website. Planning for both one-time and ongoing costs ensures your site remains performant and secure.

This 2026 pricing guide covers the full spectrum of website design costs, from simple small business sites to complex enterprise platforms. We break down what affects pricing, compare service tiers, and help you determine the right investment level for your business goals and growth trajectory.

Typical Marketing Agency Pricing

Below are some pricing tier examples

Small Business Website

$5,000 - $15,000 (one-time)

Best for: Small businesses needing professional web presence

Professional website for small businesses needing a polished online presence. Includes custom design, mobile responsiveness, and essential integrations on a proven CMS platform.

  • 5-10 page custom design
  • Mobile-responsive layout
  • CMS integration (WordPress/Squarespace)
  • Contact forms
  • Basic SEO setup
  • Social media integration
  • 30-day post-launch support
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Growth Website

$15,000 - $50,000 (one-time)

Best for: Growing businesses needing conversion-optimized sites

Conversion-optimized website for growing businesses with advanced CMS, e-commerce capabilities, and sophisticated integrations designed to support business growth and lead generation.

  • 15-30 page custom design
  • Advanced CMS with content strategy
  • E-commerce integration
  • Custom animations/interactions
  • SEO-optimized architecture
  • Blog/content hub
  • Analytics integration
  • CRM integration
  • 90-day post-launch support
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Enterprise Website

$50,000 - $150,000+ (one-time)

Best for: Large organizations with complex web requirements

Fully custom enterprise web platform with headless CMS architecture, multi-language support, advanced accessibility compliance, and bespoke integrations for complex organizational needs.

  • Full custom design & development
  • Headless CMS architecture
  • Multi-language support
  • Advanced search functionality
  • Custom integrations & APIs
  • Performance optimization
  • ADA/WCAG accessibility compliance
  • Security hardening
  • Dedicated project manager
  • 6-month post-launch support
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Factors That Affect Website Design Costs

Number of Pages
Every additional page requires design, development, and content creation time. A 5-page brochure site costs significantly less than a 50-page resource hub with multiple templates. Plan your site architecture carefully to include only pages that serve your business goals and user needs.
Design Complexity
Standard layouts using proven design patterns keep costs manageable. Custom illustrations, advanced animations, video backgrounds, parallax scrolling, and unique interactive elements increase costs but create more memorable user experiences that differentiate your brand from competitors.
Custom Functionality
Built-in CMS features cover most needs affordably. Custom calculators, configurators, booking systems, member portals, and proprietary tools require significant development time and increase project costs substantially. Each custom feature should be justified by clear business value.
CMS Platform Choice
WordPress sites are generally most affordable due to the extensive plugin ecosystem. Headless CMS platforms like Sanity or Contentful offer superior flexibility but require custom frontend development. Enterprise platforms like Adobe Experience Manager carry licensing fees of $50,000+ annually on top of development costs.
Integration Requirements
Simple contact form and analytics integrations are minimal cost additions. Connecting to CRM systems, payment gateways, inventory management, marketing automation platforms, and third-party APIs requires custom development work and ongoing maintenance, adding $5,000-$25,000+ to project costs.
Content Migration Needs
Migrating content from an existing website involves transferring text, images, metadata, URL redirects, and preserving SEO equity. Simple migrations may cost $1,000-$3,000 while complex migrations from legacy systems with hundreds of pages and database records can add $10,000-$25,000+ to a project.

What's Included at Each Level

Feature Small Business WebsiteGrowth WebsiteEnterprise Website
Custom Page Design 5-10 pages 15-30 pages Unlimited
Mobile Responsiveness
CMS Integration WordPress/Squarespace Advanced CMS Headless CMS
E-commerce Capability Advanced
Custom Animations Basic Advanced Fully custom
SEO Optimization Basic setup Full architecture Enterprise SEO
Accessibility Compliance Basic WCAG AA Full ADA/WCAG AAA
Ongoing Maintenance 30 days 90 days 6 months
"Our website redesign increased conversion rates by 180% in the first quarter. The investment in professional design paid for itself within months."
CEO , Professional Services Firm

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a website cost in 2026?
Website costs range from $5,000 for a simple small business site to $150,000+ for complex enterprise platforms. Most businesses invest $15,000-$50,000 for a professional, conversion-optimized website with CMS integration, responsive design, and essential business functionality.
How much does a WordPress website cost versus a custom-built site?
WordPress websites typically cost $5,000-$25,000 due to the extensive theme and plugin ecosystem that reduces development time. Fully custom-built websites using frameworks like React or Next.js cost $15,000-$100,000+ but offer unlimited flexibility, better performance, and unique design possibilities.
How much does an e-commerce website cost?
Basic e-commerce sites using Shopify or WooCommerce cost $10,000-$30,000 for setup and customization. Custom e-commerce platforms with advanced product configurators, subscription management, and multi-channel selling cost $30,000-$100,000+. Platform subscription fees ($29-$299/mo) are additional ongoing costs.
Should I redesign my existing website or build a new one from scratch?
Redesign your existing site if the CMS and infrastructure are solid but the design feels outdated. This saves 30-50% versus a new build. Build from scratch if your current platform limits functionality, has performance issues, or cannot support your growth plans. Most sites over 5 years old benefit from a complete rebuild.
How much does website maintenance cost per month?
Basic website maintenance (hosting, security updates, backups) costs $200-$500/mo. Comprehensive maintenance including content updates, performance monitoring, and technical support runs $500-$2,000/mo. E-commerce sites with higher security requirements and frequent product updates tend toward the higher end.
How long does it take to design and build a website?
Simple websites take 4-8 weeks from start to launch. Mid-complexity sites with custom features and CMS integration require 8-16 weeks. Enterprise projects with complex integrations, multi-language support, and extensive content migration can take 4-8 months. Rush timelines are possible at premium rates.
Should I hire a web design agency or a freelancer?
Agencies offer teams with specialized skills (design, development, SEO, content) and project management, making them ideal for complex projects. Freelancers are more affordable for simple sites but may lack breadth of skills. Budget $5,000-$15,000 for a freelancer versus $15,000-$100,000+ for an agency.
What are the ongoing costs after a website launch?
Expect ongoing costs of $200-$2,000/mo for hosting ($20-$200), domain renewal ($12-$50/yr), SSL certificate (usually included with hosting), maintenance and updates ($100-$1,000/mo), content updates ($200-$1,000/mo), and security monitoring ($50-$300/mo). Budget for these before committing to a build.
How much does an SEO-friendly website design cost?
Basic SEO setup (meta tags, sitemaps, clean URLs) is typically included in professional web design. Comprehensive SEO architecture with keyword-mapped pages, schema markup, performance optimization, and content strategy adds $2,000-$10,000 to the project cost but provides significant long-term value.
How much does responsive mobile design add to website costs?
Responsive design is standard practice in 2026 and included in any professional website quote. If a designer quotes you extra for mobile responsiveness, that is a red flag. All modern websites must work flawlessly on phones, tablets, and desktops by default.
How much does content migration cost when redesigning?
Simple content migration (copying text, images, and basic formatting) costs $1,000-$3,000. Complex migrations involving database restructuring, URL redirect mapping, SEO preservation, and format conversion from legacy systems can cost $5,000-$25,000+ depending on the volume and complexity of existing content.
What are domain and hosting costs?
Domain registration costs $12-$50 per year for standard extensions like .com. Premium domains can cost hundreds or thousands. Hosting ranges from $20/mo for shared hosting to $200-$500/mo for managed dedicated servers. Enterprise CDN and cloud hosting on AWS or Google Cloud can run $500-$2,000+/mo.
How do different CMS platforms compare in cost?
WordPress is free software with paid hosting ($20-$200/mo) and premium plugins ($0-$500/yr). Squarespace costs $16-$49/mo with hosting included. Shopify costs $29-$299/mo. Headless CMS platforms like Sanity cost $0-$499/mo but require custom frontend development. Enterprise CMS platforms like Sitecore or AEM carry $50,000+ annual licenses.
How much does a portfolio or branding website cost?
Portfolio and branding websites focused on visual impact typically cost $5,000-$20,000 for custom design with image galleries, smooth animations, and brand storytelling. Creative agencies and professionals in design, photography, or architecture should budget toward the higher end for sites that truly showcase their work quality.

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