In short: How much a website costs in the UK depends on who builds it and what it needs to do. DIY builders are cheapest to start but cost your time. Freelancers usually sit in the middle, and agencies are typically the most expensive. On top of the build, budget for ongoing costs: domain name, hosting, updates and support. Size, features and content drive the price most.
“How much does a website cost?” is the question I get asked most, and the honest answer is “it depends”. That’s frustrating to hear, so in this guide I’ll explain exactly what it depends on.
I won’t throw made-up average prices at you. Prices across the UK vary hugely, from a few hundred pounds for a simple site to many thousands for complex ones, and any single “average” figure hides more than it shows. What is more useful is understanding what you are paying for, so you can compare quotes properly.
The three main ways to get a website
DIY website builders
Website builders such as Wix and Squarespace let you build a site yourself using templates. You pay a monthly subscription, which usually includes hosting.
Good for: very simple sites, tight budgets, and people who enjoy doing it themselves and have the time.
Watch out for: the real cost is your time. Getting a site to look professional, read well and show up in search results takes longer than most people expect. Monthly fees add up over the years, and moving your site to another platform later can be difficult. I’ve written more about the DIY route in Can You Build Your Own WordPress Website?
Freelance web designers
A freelancer is one person who designs and builds your site. Prices vary widely depending on their experience and what’s included, but because freelancers have low overheads, you are mostly paying for the work itself.
Good for: most small businesses needing a professional brochure site or a small to medium online shop, who want to deal directly with the person doing the work.
Watch out for: check what’s included. Some freelancer quotes leave out content, training or support.
Web design agencies
An agency is a company with a team of designers, developers and managers. Agencies are usually the most expensive option, because you’re paying for the team, the office and the project management.
Good for: large or complex projects, organisations that need lots of specialists at once, or tight fixed deadlines.
Watch out for: small projects can end up paying for overheads they don’t really need. For a fuller comparison, see Freelance Web Designer vs Agency.
| Option | Upfront cost | Ongoing cost | Your time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIY builder | Low | Monthly subscription | High | Very simple sites |
| Freelancer | Medium | Hosting and optional care plan | Low to medium | Most small businesses |
| Agency | Higher | Often a support contract | Low | Large, complex projects |
One-off costs vs ongoing costs
A website has two types of cost, and it’s important to budget for both.
One-off costs
- Design and build: the main cost of creating your site
- Content: writing the text and sourcing photos, if you’re not doing it yourself
- Extra features: booking systems, online shop setup, custom forms
- Logo or branding: if you don’t have one already
Ongoing costs
- Domain name: your web address (like yourbusiness.co.uk). It’s renewed every year or every few years, and is usually one of the smallest costs.
- Hosting: the service that stores your website and makes it available online. Costs vary with the quality and speed of the hosting.
- Maintenance: security updates, plugin updates, backups and checks. WordPress sites in particular need regular updates to stay safe.
- Support and changes: help when you need something updated or fixed.
- Platform fees: for example, Shopify charges a monthly fee to run your online shop.
- Email: business email addresses are often a separate service.
If domains and hosting are new to you, Domain Names and Web Hosting Explained covers the basics.
What drives the price of a website?
When I put together a quote, these are the things that make the biggest difference:
- Number of pages. A five-page site is a smaller job than a fifty-page one.
- Custom design or template. A design built around your business takes more work than dropping your logo into a ready-made theme, but it usually fits much better.
- Online shop or not. E-commerce adds product pages, payments, delivery settings and testing. More products and options mean more work.
- Special features. Booking calendars, quote calculators, member areas or links to other software all add time.
- Content. If the designer is writing your text or sorting your photos, that’s extra work.
- SEO set-up. Basic SEO should be built into any decent site. Deeper keyword research or ongoing SEO work is usually separate.
- Number of revisions. More rounds of design changes means more time.
- Moving an old site. Transferring content, setting up redirects from old web addresses and keeping your search presence intact all take care.
Hidden costs to watch out for
These are the costs that catch people out:
- Content not included. A quote may assume you’ll supply every word and photo.
- Paid plugins or themes. Some WordPress add-ons carry yearly licence fees.
- Stock photos. Good images sometimes need to be bought.
- Hosting renewal prices. Cheap introductory hosting deals often go up at renewal.
- VAT. Check whether a quote includes VAT. I’m not VAT registered, so my prices are what you pay.
- Charges for small changes. Find out how much it costs to make a quick update after launch.
- Being locked in. If someone else owns your domain or uses a private system, moving away can cost you. Always make sure the domain is in your name.
Paying for a website in stages
Paying in stages is normal and protects both you and the designer. You’re not handing over everything before you have seen any work, and the designer isn’t doing all the work before being paid anything.
Here is how I do it. My website packages are paid in three stages:
- A small first payment when you place your order
- The main payment when you approve the mockup design
- The final payment before your site goes live
Payments are made securely online by card through Stripe. The optional monthly hosting and care plan only starts once your site is live, and you can cancel it with notice.
What my websites cost
My website packages start from £400. Every package includes a custom design, mobile-friendly build, SEO basics such as page titles, descriptions, structured data and a sitemap, three rounds of revisions, and a one-hour training session so you can edit the site yourself.
You can see exactly what each package includes on my pricing page. I build service websites on WordPress and online shops on Shopify. If your project doesn’t fit neatly into a package, I’m happy to quote for it separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small business website cost in the UK?
It depends on who builds it and what it needs to do. A simple DIY site costs least upfront, a freelancer usually sits in the middle, and agencies tend to cost the most. The number of pages, features and whether you need an online shop make the biggest difference.
What are the ongoing costs of running a website?
The main ongoing costs are your domain name, hosting, maintenance (security updates and backups) and support. Online shops may also have platform fees, and business email is often a separate cost.
Is it cheaper to build a website yourself?
It is usually cheaper in money but more expensive in time. DIY builders have low upfront costs, but you’ll pay a monthly fee and spend many hours getting it right. For some very simple sites, that trade-off is worth it.
Why do website quotes vary so much?
Quotes vary because they include different things. One might include custom design, content writing, training and support, while another is a basic template. Always compare what’s included, not just the total.
Do I have to pay for a website all at once?
Not usually. Many web designers, including me, take payment in stages tied to milestones such as approving the design. Be cautious about paying the full amount before any work has started.
Get a clear price for your website
If you’d like to know what your website would cost, the easiest way is to talk it through. Have a look at how I work to see the process, then get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat and a clear quote.
