How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026?
It's probably the most common question I'm asked, and one I'm always happy to answer honestly. The truthful answer is: it depends. But that's not as unhelpful as it sounds, because the variables that determine cost are worth understanding before you start talking to anyone.
Here's a practical breakdown of what affects website pricing in 2026, based on nearly two decades of building websites for organisations of all kinds.
The short answer
For a small business website in the UK, you're typically looking at somewhere between £1,500 and £8,000 for design and build, depending on complexity. Ongoing costs — hosting, maintenance, and support — are usually separate and billed monthly or annually.
That's a wide range, so let me explain what sits at each end of it.
What makes a website more expensive?
Custom design vs. off-the-shelf templates. A website built to a custom design — where the visual layout is created specifically for your brand — takes significantly more time than adapting an existing template. Custom design produces better results, but it costs more. For most small businesses, a well-adapted template can work perfectly well. For others, a bespoke design is the right investment.
Ecommerce. Selling online adds complexity — product pages, payment processing, inventory management, order notifications, returns handling. Whether you're using Shopify or WooCommerce, ecommerce sites require more setup time and more testing than a standard brochure website.
Custom functionality. A contact form is straightforward. A booking system with availability calendars, payment integration, user accounts, and automated email confirmations is a different proposition. I've built both, and the difference in time — and therefore cost — is significant.
Content. If you need copywriting, photography, or video production alongside the design and build, that adds to the overall project cost. Some clients provide all of their own content; others want me to handle everything. Both are fine, but it affects the budget.
Number of pages. More pages means more time designing, building, and populating with content. A five-page website takes less time than a forty-page one.
What are the ongoing costs?
The one-off design and build cost is only part of the picture. Once your website is live, you'll also need:
- Hosting — typically £10–£30 per month for a well-managed small business website, depending on the provider and your requirements. I offer managed hosting for all the websites I build, which includes regular backups and proactive monitoring.
- Domain name — usually £10–£20 per year.
- Software licences — some plugins, themes, or platforms have annual licence fees.
- Ongoing support and maintenance — WordPress and similar platforms need regular updates to stay secure. Whether you handle this yourself or pay someone to do it, it's a cost worth factoring in.
- SEO — if you want to improve your search rankings over time, that's typically an ongoing monthly investment.
Why you should be wary of very cheap websites
I'm sometimes asked why I don't just offer a website for a few hundred pounds. The honest answer is that I can't do the job properly for that price, and I'd rather not do it at all than do it badly.
Very cheap websites tend to involve one or more of the following: a generic template that dozens of other businesses are using, hosting locked into a platform you don't control, no ongoing support, or a developer who's moved on by the time you need help. I've rebuilt plenty of websites that started life as a cheap job, and the cost of fixing problems almost always exceeds what a well-built site would have cost in the first place.
How to get an accurate quote
The best way to understand what your project will cost is to have a conversation with a developer before committing to anything. I offer a free initial consultation where I'll listen to what you need, ask the right questions, and give you an honest, itemised quote.
There are no hidden fees, and I'll always be clear about what's included and what isn't. If your budget is limited, I'll tell you honestly what's achievable within it and what the trade-offs might be.