"How much does a website cost?" is one of the most common—and frustratingly vague—questions in digital services. The honest answer is: it depends. A simple landing page might run $500; a custom enterprise web application can exceed $200,000. Understanding the factors that drive website costs, the types of projects available, and how pricing differs between agencies, freelancers, and DIY approaches will help you budget realistically and avoid costly surprises.
Key Takeaways:
- Website costs range from $500 (landing page) to $200,000+ (custom web application)
- Freelancers typically cost 40–60% less than agencies but carry single-point-of-failure risk
- Hidden costs like content, integrations, and maintenance add 15–30% to most projects
- Always get written scope with defined deliverables, revision limits, and payment milestones
This guide breaks down website costs across every major category, with actionable advice for both buyers and sellers.
Types of Websites and Their Price Ranges
Website costs correlate strongly with complexity. Here's a high-level overview of what to expect by project type.
| Website Type | Typical Price Range | Best For | |--------------|---------------------|----------| | Landing page (1–3 pages) | $500–$3,000 | Campaigns, product launches, lead capture | | Small business website (5–10 pages) | $2,500–$10,000 | Local businesses, professional services | | Medium business website (10–25 pages) | $8,000–$25,000 | Growing brands, multi-location businesses | | Large business/corporate site (25+ pages) | $20,000–$75,000 | Enterprise, multi-division brands | | E-commerce (small, <50 products) | $5,000–$15,000 | Boutiques, niche retailers | | E-commerce (medium, 50–500 products) | $15,000–$50,000 | Mid-market retailers | | E-commerce (large, 500+ products) | $40,000–$150,000+ | Major retailers, complex catalogs | | Custom web application | $50,000–$200,000+ | SaaS, portals, marketplaces, bespoke tools |
Landing Pages
Landing pages are single-purpose sites focused on conversion—signups, downloads, or purchases. They typically include a hero section, benefits, social proof, and a CTA form.
Freelancer: $500–$1,500
Agency: $1,500–$3,000
Factors that push costs up: custom design, A/B testing setup, integrations (CRM, analytics), copywriting, high-fidelity animation.
Small Business Websites
These are brochure-style sites with 5–10 pages: Home, About, Services, Contact, maybe a blog. Often built on WordPress, Webflow, or similar platforms.
Freelancer: $2,000–$6,000
Agency: $5,000–$12,000
What increases cost: custom design, animations, form integrations, CMS training, SEO basics.
E-Commerce Websites
E-commerce costs scale with product count, payment complexity, and integrations (inventory, shipping, taxes, loyalty, subscriptions).
| Store Size | Products | Freelancer Range | Agency Range | |------------|----------|------------------|--------------| | Starter | <50 | $3,000–$8,000 | $8,000–$18,000 | | Growth | 50–200 | $10,000–$25,000 | $25,000–$50,000 | | Enterprise | 200+ | $25,000–$80,000 | $60,000–$200,000+ |
Platform choice matters: Shopify and WooCommerce are common; BigCommerce, custom builds, or headless setups cost more but offer more flexibility.
Custom Web Applications
Custom apps—portals, dashboards, marketplaces, SaaS products—require architecture, security, and ongoing development. These projects are rarely under $50,000 and often exceed $100,000 for first versions, according to GoodFirms research on software development costs.
Factors That Affect Website Cost
Design
- Template-based: Fast and cheaper. Good for small budgets and tight timelines. Often $500–$3,000 for basic customization.
- Semi-custom: Designer modifies a base theme significantly. $3,000–$15,000 depending on pages and complexity.
- Fully custom: Original design from scratch. $15,000–$75,000+ for larger sites. Higher for apps and complex interfaces.
Functionality and Features
| Feature | Approximate Add-On Cost | |---------|-------------------------| | Blog/CMS | $500–$3,000 | | Contact forms + integrations | $200–$1,500 | | E-commerce (basic) | $3,000–$15,000+ | | Member/login area | $2,000–$10,000 | | Booking/scheduling | $1,500–$5,000 | | Multi-language | $2,000–$8,000 | | API integrations (CRM, ERP) | $1,500–$10,000 each | | Custom animations | $500–$5,000 |
Content Management System (CMS)
- WordPress: Flexible, widely used. Setup $1,000–$5,000; customization adds cost. Plugin ecosystem reduces custom dev for common features.
- Webflow: Design-driven, no-code builder. $2,000–$15,000 for designed sites. Limited backend logic.
- Headless (e.g., Contentful + React): Best for complex, performance-critical sites. $15,000–$75,000+.
- Proprietary/Custom: Full control but expensive. $30,000–$100,000+.
Hosting and Infrastructure
- Shared hosting: $5–$30/month. Suitable for small sites.
- Managed WordPress/Vercel/Netlify: $20–$100/month. Better performance, SSL, updates.
- Dedicated/VPS: $50–$300+/month. High-traffic or compliance needs.
- Enterprise cloud (AWS, etc.): $500–$5,000+/month. Scalability, security, redundancy.
Hosting is often billed separately from development. Include it in your ongoing budget.
Agency vs. Freelancer vs. DIY Pricing
DIY (Website Builders)
Cost: $0–$300/year for domains and premium plans (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, etc.)
Pros: Low cost, full control, quick to start
Cons: Time investment, limited design/functionality, no custom development, you own all support
Best for: Simple sites, solopreneurs, testing ideas
Freelancers
Cost: Typically 40–60% lower than agencies for comparable scope, per Clutch.co survey data on agency vs. freelancer pricing.
Pros: Lower price, direct communication, flexible
Cons: Single point of failure, variable quality, limited capacity for large projects
Best for: Landing pages, small business sites, startups on lean budgets. Use a freelance rate calculator to validate a freelancer's hourly rate against market norms.
Agencies
Cost: Highest, but with team backup, process, and accountability.
Pros: Broader skills (design, dev, strategy, SEO), project management, warranty/support
Cons: Higher overhead reflected in price, sometimes slower
Best for: Medium to large sites, e-commerce, custom apps, brands that need reliability. See our agency pricing models guide for how agencies typically structure fees.
Hidden Costs to Budget For
| Cost | Typical Range | When It Appears | |------|---------------|-----------------| | Content creation (copy, images) | $500–$10,000 | Often not included in "design + dev" | | Stock photos/videos | $100–$2,000 | Per project or subscription | | SEO setup (technical, meta, structure) | $500–$5,000 | Add-on or separate engagement | | SSL certificate | $0–$200/year | Many hosts include free; enterprise may pay | | Third-party integrations | $200–$5,000 | CRM, email, analytics, payments | | Maintenance/updates | $100–$500/month | Post-launch support | | Hosting | $100–$2,000/year | Ongoing | | Revisions beyond scope | $75–$200/hr | Scope creep; document in contract |
Agencies that use tools like AgencyPro for billing and project tracking can itemize these clearly and reduce invoice surprises—transparent line items help both sides.
Choosing the Right Website Provider
Choose DIY when: You have time, simple needs, and a tight budget. Best for landing pages, side projects, or local businesses that don't need custom functionality.
Choose a freelancer when: You need custom work at a lower cost, have a clear brief, and can provide feedback quickly. Ideal for small business sites, landing pages, and straightforward e-commerce under 50 products.
Choose an agency when: You need reliability, multiple disciplines (design, dev, strategy, SEO), or complex projects. Best for e-commerce, custom apps, and brands where the website is a core revenue driver.
Red flags to avoid: Providers who won't put scope in writing, promise guaranteed rankings, or quote without understanding your needs. Always get a written agreement that defines deliverables, revisions, timeline, and payment terms.
How to Budget for a Website
For Buyers
- Define scope first. List pages, features, and integrations. Ambiguity drives cost and scope creep. Use a project pricing calculator to rough out ranges.
- Get 3–5 quotes. Compare scope, timeline, and post-launch support. Cheapest often excludes hidden work.
- Allocate 15–20% buffer for changes and unexpected needs.
- Plan for ongoing costs: hosting, SSL, maintenance, content updates. Budget $1,500–$5,000/year for a typical small business site.
- Check references and portfolios. Past work in your industry reduces risk.
For Sellers (Agencies and Freelancers)
- Scope everything. Use a clear statement of work. Avoid "we'll figure it out as we go."
- Price based on value and complexity, not just hours. See our agency profit margins guide for margin targets.
- Define revision rounds. Unlimited revisions destroy margins. Specify 2–3 rounds in contract.
- Charge for add-ons. Integrations, extra pages, and content creation should be line items.
- Offer maintenance retainers. Post-launch support is recurring revenue—structure it clearly. Use invoice templates and billing tools to automate retainer invoicing.
When to Invest More vs. Cut Costs
Not every project needs premium pricing. Here's when it makes sense to spend—and when to save.
Invest more when:
- Your website is a primary revenue driver (e-commerce, lead generation, SaaS).
- You need custom functionality that templates can't deliver.
- Brand differentiation and design quality matter to your market.
- You expect high traffic and need performance, security, and scalability.
- Compliance (HIPAA, SOC2, PCI) requires custom architecture.
Cut costs when:
- You're validating an idea and need to launch quickly.
- Your business is local and a simple brochure site suffices.
- Budget is severely limited—a template site or DIY builder gets you online.
- You can iterate later; perfection isn't required at launch.
- Internal teams will handle most content and updates.
Real-World Cost Scenarios
Scenario 1: Local plumber needs a 5-page site
Template-based design, basic contact form, no blog. Freelancer: $1,500–$2,500. Agency: $4,000–$6,000. DIY: $0–$200 (domain + builder).
Scenario 2: B2B SaaS startup, marketing site + blog
Custom design, 12 pages, blog, HubSpot integration, SEO basics. Agency: $12,000–$22,000. Freelancer (senior): $8,000–$15,000.
Scenario 3: DTC brand, 200-SKU Shopify store
Custom theme, subscription products, loyalty program, inventory sync. Agency: $35,000–$65,000. Specialized e-commerce freelancer: $25,000–$45,000.
Scenario 4: Enterprise with 50+ pages, multi-region, member portal
Custom design, CMS, role-based access, integrations. Agency: $75,000–$150,000+. Rarely feasible for solo freelancers.
Red Flags in Website Pricing
- Quotes without written scope – Guaranteed scope creep and disputes.
- "We'll include everything" – Vague inclusions lead to underdelivery or surprise invoices.
- Prices far below market – Often mean cutting corners, template-only work, or hidden fees.
- No contract or payment terms – Protects neither party. Define milestones and payments.
- No post-launch support – Who fixes bugs? Who updates plugins? Clarify before signing.
Website Budget Planning Worksheet
Before requesting quotes, answer these questions to narrow your range:
- Type of site: Landing page / Small business / E-commerce / Custom app?
- Page count: Approximately how many pages or product SKUs?
- Design preference: Template / Semi-custom / Fully custom?
- Key features: Blog, forms, e-commerce, member area, booking, integrations?
- Content: Who creates copy and images? (Often 15–25% of project cost if outsourced.)
- Timeline: Standard (8–16 weeks for typical site) or rush?
- Provider: DIY / Freelancer / Agency?
- Ongoing needs: Maintenance retainer? Hosting? SEO?
Use your answers with the project pricing calculator to estimate. Then add 15–20% for buffer. For agencies, review agency pricing models to understand typical fee structures.
Key Takeaways
- Website costs range from $500 to $200,000+ depending on type, design, functionality, and who builds it.
- Landing pages start around $500–$3,000; small business sites at $2,500–$10,000; e-commerce at $5,000–$150,000+; custom apps at $50,000+.
- Design, features, CMS, and hosting all affect price. Template-based is cheapest; fully custom is most expensive.
- Freelancers cost less than agencies but carry single-point-of-failure risk. DIY is lowest cost but highest time investment.
- Hidden costs—content, integrations, maintenance, hosting—add 15–30% to many projects. Budget for them.
- Clear scope, written contracts, and defined revisions protect both buyers and sellers. Tools like AgencyPro help agencies manage billing and project scope so clients see exactly what they're paying for.
Ready to budget or quote? Use our project pricing calculator and freelance rate calculator to ground your numbers in reality. For agencies, explore agency pricing models and agency profit margins to price websites profitably.
Quick Reference: Website Cost Cheat Sheet
| If you need... | Budget | Provider | Timeline | |----------------|--------|----------|----------| | Landing page for campaign | $500–$2,000 | Freelancer | 1–2 weeks | | 5-page business site | $2,500–$8,000 | Freelancer or agency | 4–8 weeks | | 10-page site + blog | $8,000–$18,000 | Agency | 6–10 weeks | | E-commerce (<50 products) | $5,000–$18,000 | Freelancer or agency | 6–12 weeks | | E-commerce (200+ products) | $40,000–$100,000+ | Agency | 3–6 months | | Custom web app | $50,000–$200,000+ | Agency | 3–12 months |
Ongoing: Hosting $100–$500/year; maintenance $100–$500/month. Content and SEO often add 15–25% to project cost if outsourced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to build a website?
Landing page: 1–3 weeks. Small business site: 4–8 weeks. E-commerce (medium): 8–16 weeks. Custom app: 3–12+ months. Timeline depends on scope, revisions, and provider capacity.
Should I pay upfront or in milestones?
Milestones are standard: deposit (25–50%) to start, progress payment(s) at key phases (e.g., design approval, development complete), final payment on launch. Avoid paying 100% upfront.
What if I need changes after launch?
Define post-launch support in the contract. Many agencies offer 30–90 days of bug fixes included; additional changes billed hourly or via retainer. Maintenance retainers ($100–$500/month) cover updates, backups, and security.
Is a cheap website worth it?
For testing ideas, local presence, or minimal needs—yes. For revenue-critical sites, cheap often means technical debt, poor UX, or hidden costs later. Match investment to business impact.
What payment structure is standard?
Most web projects use milestones: 25–50% deposit to start, 25–50% at design approval or development midpoint, balance on launch. Avoid paying 100% upfront or 100% on delivery—both create risk for one party.
Should I own the code and design files?
Yes. Your contract should grant you full rights to the final design and code for commercial use. Some agencies retain rights to reusable components or charge extra for full source handover—clarify before signing.