How much does a website cost in the UK? A realistic guide for 2026
Quotes for the same website can range from £500 to £25,000. Here is what actually drives the price, what you should expect at each level, and the running costs nobody mentions.
Ask five developers to price the same website and you will get five very different numbers. That is not because four of them are trying to rip you off. It is because “a website” covers everything from a single page on a template to a custom system that runs half the business. This guide sets out what you can realistically expect to pay in the UK, and why.
The short answer
| Type of site | Typical UK price | Usually takes |
|---|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace) | £0 up front, £15–£40 a month | A weekend or two |
| Freelancer using a template | £500–£1,500 | 1–3 weeks |
| Custom small business website | £1,500–£5,000 | 3–6 weeks |
| Online shop | £2,500–£15,000 | 3–10 weeks |
| Website with custom features or integrations | £5,000–£25,000+ | 6–16 weeks |
These are honest ranges, not marketing figures. Larger agencies with account managers and offices in central London will charge more for the same work.
What actually drives the price
1. How much is custom
A template gives you someone else’s layout with your logo on it. A custom design is built around your content and customers. Custom costs more, but it is usually faster, easier to use and better at turning visitors into enquiries.
2. How many different kinds of page there are
Page count matters less than people think. Ten service pages that share a layout are cheaper than three pages that each need a different design. When you ask for a quote, describe the types of page you need rather than the total number.
3. Features that need real development
Booking systems, customer logins, product configurators, calculators and connections to other software are where costs climb. Each is effectively a small piece of software. It is worth asking whether an existing tool could handle it for a monthly fee instead.
4. Who writes the words
Content is the most common cause of delay. If you supply finished text and photos, the project moves quickly. If the developer has to chase, write or rewrite, budget for it and expect it to take longer.
Running costs to budget for
- Hosting: £10–£40 a month for a typical business site on good hosting.
- Domain name: about £10–£20 a year for a .co.uk or .com.
- Email: Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, around £5–£12 per person per month.
- Maintenance: updates, backups and small changes, typically £50–£300 a month depending on the site.
- Paid plugins or apps: especially on WordPress and Shopify, these add up. Ask for a list.
Red flags in a quote
- No breakdown of what is included or excluded.
- The domain or hosting will be registered in the developer’s name.
- Full payment up front for anything more than a small job.
- No mention of what happens after launch.
- A price given before anyone has asked what the site is for.
How to get an accurate quote
Write half a page covering who the site is for, what you want visitors to do, the types of page you need, any features beyond plain pages, examples of sites you like, and your budget range. Sharing a budget feels risky, but it lets a good developer suggest the best approach for that amount instead of guessing.
If you would like a fixed price for your own project, send us a brief and we will reply within a working day.
Need a hand with this?
If this article describes a problem you have, we can probably help. Tell us about it and you will get a straight answer within a working day.
Start a project
