As web design professionals, one of the most common questions we hear is, "How much does a website cost?" Our typical response is, "How long is a rope?" Because just like the length of any particular rope, the cost of a website depends on what you need it to do. All riddles aside, even though there's no simple answer to this question, it is pretty straightforward to determine as long as you have the right information.
To help you understand what goes into the cost of a website, we've outlined five of the most important factors below.
Complexity of the Website
The complexity of the website is one of the most significant factors that will impact the cost. A simple website with just a few pages and basic features will typically cost less than a complex website with advanced functionality, custom coding, and integrations with other platforms. When determining the cost, your developer will consider your specific needs and factor in the time and resources required to meet those needs. The variables at play could include the following:
- Total number of pages
- Types of content templates (landing pages, articles, events, bios, case studies, etc.)
- Third-party software integrations (CRMs, ERPs, mailing lists, job boards, etc.)
- User roles and permissions
- Sensitive data handling (personally identifiable information, HIPAA compliance, financial data, etc.)
Custom vs. Template Design
Another factor that can impact the cost of a website is whether it is a custom or template design. A custom design is unique and tailored to your brand, while a template design is pre-made and modified to fit your needs. Custom designs require more time and expertise (and therefore more budget), while template-based designs can look generic and cookie-cutter if not adequately modified. A less established brand can usually get away with a less custom design.
Content Creation
The content on the website is another essential factor that can impact the cost. If you already have all your content created and optimized for the web, you're in the fortunate minority and can save some budget. Unfortunately, content creation is where many web projects stall because getting it all organized, outlined, and written without external assistance is challenging. There's also the rich media to consider, as content is more than just the written word on the page. If you need stock photo acquisition or custom photography, videos, or graphics to augment your text (and you do!), you'll want to include that in the budget.
E-commerce Functionality
The cost typically increases if your website needs e-commerce functionality, such as a shopping cart and payment processing. E-commerce websites require more complex features and integrations to accomplish checkout, payment, discount, and shipping tasks. Even if you're using a more plug-and-play e-commerce platform like Shopify, there's still the issue of the product catalog to consider, which tends to make the content planning and entry process more involved.
Maintenance and Support
Finally, it's essential to consider the website's ongoing maintenance and support costs once it's launched. If you're like most website owners, you'll be using a content management system (43% used WordPress in 2023!) which means you'll need application and plugin updates, security patches, and routine backups in addition to your web hosting costs. More complicated functionality or user needs will also increase hosting and maintenance costs as you have additional bandwidth and security concerns to consider.
So, How Much Does a Website Cost?
As you can see, the cost of a website can vary widely based on several factors. The list above doesn't even address how the hourly rate of the person or company you ultimately hire will affect your bottom line. We've provided ranges below with the costs estimated increasing as you level up in skill, professionalism, and expertise.
Student: $20 – $50/hour
Freelancer: $60 – $120/hour
Consultant: $100 – $300/hour
Agency: $150 – $400/hour
Considering the wide ranges in hourly rates and requirements, an average website could start anywhere from $1,000 – $70,000.
Remember that these are just estimates, and the actual cost depends on your needs. We will happily provide a custom quote for your project if you can share a few details with us.
Budget isn't the only consideration
The "iron triangle of project management" or "project triangle" illustrates the relationship of three project constraints: budget, scope and schedule and their effect on quality (the middle). Depending on different stakeholders' priorities, one constraint may take precedence over the other two, but it's ultimately the balance or tradeoffs within all three that determines the quality of the end product.