Web designBudgeting
How much does a website cost, and how long does it take?
2 July 2026 · 6 min read
"How much for a website?" has the same answer as "how much for a building?". It depends what's inside it. Here's what actually moves the number, and how long each version takes.
What drives the cost
- Page count and how many unique layouts are needed
- Whether copy, photography and video already exist
- Custom design vs. adapting a proven system
- Integrations: CRM, booking, payments, e-commerce, multi-language
- SEO and performance work built in from the start
- Ongoing support after launch
Typical scopes and timelines
| Scope | Typical timeline | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page | 1 day – 1 week | One high-converting page, copy support, analytics |
| Marketing site (4–8 pages) | 1–4 weeks | Custom design, responsive build, SEO basics, forms |
| Multi-page / e-commerce | 4–8 weeks | Catalogue or CMS, payments, integrations, migration |
The single biggest delay is content
Projects almost never slip because of design or code. They slip because copy, product photos or legal approvals are still pending in week three. The fix is simple: agree the content list in week one and assign an owner to each item.
Where the money is best spent
In order of return: clear positioning and messaging, a fast and simple conversion path, real photography and video of your own product, then visual polish. A beautiful site with vague messaging still converts badly.
Week-by-week: how a marketing site runs
- Week 1: discovery, sitemap, messaging, content list, design direction
- Week 2: key page designs, copy finalised, responsive layouts
- Week 3: build, QA, SEO and analytics
- Week 4: review round, launch, handover