“How much does a website cost” is one of the hardest questions to answer honestly, because the range is genuinely huge — and most of that range comes down to what’s actually included, not just who you ask.
The rough bands
- Under £200: DIY builders (Wix, Squarespace, AI site generators). Fast, but limited control and often generic-looking.
- £500–£2,000: A properly designed small business site, usually on WordPress, built around your actual content and brand.
- £2,000–£8,000: A larger site with e-commerce, custom functionality, or a more complex service structure.
- £8,000+: Bespoke builds, large e-commerce platforms, or sites with heavy custom development.
What actually drives the price
It’s rarely just “how many pages.” The real cost drivers are: how much custom design work is needed, whether there’s e-commerce or booking functionality, how much content needs writing from scratch, and how many rounds of revisions are included.
Cheap isn’t always cheap in the long run
A £150 DIY site that doesn’t convert visitors into enquiries can end up costing far more in lost business than a properly built £1,500 site that actually works. It’s worth thinking about cost per enquiry generated, not just the upfront number.
What to ask before you commit
Whoever you’re talking to, ask exactly what’s included — number of pages, revisions, whether copywriting is included, whether basic SEO foundations are set up, and what happens after launch if something needs changing.
FAQs
Is a cheap website ever a good idea?
For a genuinely early-stage test of an idea, sometimes. For an established business, it usually costs more in lost trust and lost enquiries than it saves.
Do I need to pay monthly, or is it a one-off cost?
Both models exist. A one-off build plus optional ongoing support tends to give the clearest picture of what you’re paying for.
Should I build a website myself first to save money?
Depends on your time and comfort with it — but a professionally built site tends to outperform DIY builds when it comes to converting visitors, which is usually the actual goal.
Want an honest quote for your business? Read more about our website design approach, then message us on WhatsApp or via our enquiry page.