Website Design Cost Planner

Complete our form for a detailed breakdown of your website design costs specific to your requirements.

Overview of Costs

Calculating Website Design Costs in 2024

When figuring out how much a website will cost in 2024, the answer is a bit like, “Well, it depends.” It’s not just about aesthetics but also what you want your website to do. If you’re looking for more than just a pretty face—maybe you need a bespoke quoting system or want your site to link up with other systems through an API— that will factor into the cost.

Click the handy tool above to get an idea of your project cost. It takes you through what our project managers consider when pricing a website. It’s a great way to get a rough idea without directly conversing with a project manager.

And if you’re still in the early stages and want a ballpark figure, we’ve put together a rough guide with different price levels based on functionality. Take a look to get a sense of where your budget might land.

Breakdown

Typical Project Costs

(New) Start-Up Site

Exclusively for start-ups.

Built using a modern, professional template.

Up to 3 pages: Home, About, and Contact.

Mobile-optimised and responsive across all devices.

Includes essential features like contact forms and social media links.

Easily upgradeable in the future as your business grows.

Fast delivery and minimal hassle with a streamlined process.

Estimated: £495 | 1-Week Turnaround

Express Website

Fully customized from a template with brand colours, fonts, and logo integration.

Up to 5 pages: Home, About, Services/Products, Blog, and Contact.

Social media and Google Analytics integration.

Mobile-friendly and optimised for all devices.

Includes simple animations and interactive features to engage visitors.

Estimated: £995 | 5-Day Turnaround*

Bespoke Website

Ideal for small and medium-sized businesses.

Fully bespoke design using colours, fonts and images that match your brand identity.

Includes interactive and engaging effects that react when customers use your site; scroll effects, parallax, and animated video.

Stand out from your competitors with a memorable website experience.

Estimated: £2,000 – £5,000 | 4-6 Week Turnaround

E-Commerce

Includes all the features of bespoke/custom websites, with added e-commerce functionality.

Linked with several payment processing providers, including Stripe & PayPal, to accept credit/debit cards and Apple/Android pay.

Simple or complex shipping solutions based on basket pricing, weight and geographic location.

Built using WooCommerce or Shopify for complete control of your products and inventory.

Ability to upload an unlimited number of products, categories and product variations.

Estimated: £5,000 – £10,000 | 6-10 Week Turnaround

Enterprise

Customised design and development to meet specific enterprise needs and branding guidelines.

Scalable architecture to accommodate multiple locations and handle high traffic volume.

Ability to support multiple languages and seamless integration with systems for businesses with multiple locations.

Advanced security measures and compliance with industry standards for data protection.

Designed for businesses with ambitious growth goals, providing the flexibility and capabilities needed for expansion.

Estimated: £10,000 – £100,000+ | 10+ Week Turnaround

Exploring

Types of Website Development

Overview
Website Builders
Offshore
Freelancers
Agencies

The Basics

Overview

When embarking on website development, there exists a diverse array of options with varying implications for cost, design quality, and client involvement. Visualised on a spectrum, the correlation is clear: higher costs often translate to superior quality and reduced time commitment for the client, and vice versa.

At the lower end of this spectrum, website builders emerge as template-driven tools, empowering individuals to construct their sites without delving into manual coding. This option suits beginners with minimal design knowledge seeking cost-effective solutions, yet the trade-off lies in the potential compromise on achieving a highly distinctive, bespoke website. Alternatively, those with more financial flexibility may opt for a freelance designer, whether local or offshore. Offshore freelancers, leveraging favourable exchange rates, often present a more budget-friendly option.

Ascending to the upper echelon of the scale, established design agencies offer fully bespoke websites meticulously crafted to client specifications. This entails minimal client involvement but commands a premium due to the inclusion of a diverse team of skilled professionals, including project managers, content writers, designers, and developers. This option is particularly attractive for clients where the opportunity cost of building the site themselves outweighs the investment in a comprehensive, expertly curated website.

Small Costs, But Time Consuming

Website Builders

Pros:

The most budget-friendly option as it involves self-design and building, reducing initial startup costs significantly.

It enables instant content edits without additional costs, providing users with direct access to their sites for quick and efficient updates.

Higher quality and more comprehensive templates are available, facilitating the swift creation of visually appealing websites, as seen with platforms like Squarespace.

Utilizes drag-and-drop technology, making it easy for users to upload images and modify text with a simple click and drag, eliminating the need for coding expertise.

Cons:

Building a website independently can be time-consuming without external support for advice, content proofing, or simultaneous business operations.

Template-based rigidity may pose challenges for users seeking specific changes or layouts, potentially requiring assistance from agencies or freelancers.

Concealed monthly expenses may arise, such as additional costs per page, hosting fees, or charges for specific functionalities, potentially surpassing apparent cost-effectiveness.

Limited flexibility for SEO optimization due to rigid functionalities, restricting the incorporation of elements like schema, meta adjustments, and technical optimizations.

Users do not own the website outright, essentially renting its use. This limits the creation of a valuable asset for the business, unlike websites developed by agencies or freelancers, where ownership of the code contributes to the company’s tangible assets and overall value.

Small Costs, But Time Consuming

Offshore

Involving outsourcing website development to individuals abroad, this approach represents a progression from the hands-on nature of building your own site through a website builder.

Pros:

Offers excellent value for money; if you find a skilled developer at a cost-effective rate, you can expect a high-quality website without compromising your budget.

Enables instant content edits without additional costs, providing users with direct access to their sites for quick and efficient updates.

Cons:

Language barriers may pose challenges in expressing precise requirements for your website, potentially leading to misunderstandings and the need for multiple revisions. This can extend project timelines and increase costs.

It involves an inherent risk as the quality of a freelancer’s work remains uncertain until the project is underway. There’s a chance of corners being cut, especially if the freelancer is juggling multiple projects simultaneously. Assessing a portfolio is crucial for gauging both the quality of their work and verifying their legitimacy, as offshore freelancers may carry the risk of potential scams. In essence, while offshore freelancers offer cost savings, carefully considering associated risks is paramount.

Dealing with inevitable time differences when working with freelancers from another country can lead to delays in communication and response times, potentially affecting project timelines.

Variances in cultural perspectives may result in misinterpretations of design or functionality requirements, requiring additional clarification and potentially impacting the overall project flow.

A Great Middle Ground

Freelancers

Bridging the gap between offshore services and agency partnerships, freelancers offer a unique blend of advantages. They address some of the challenges of offshore collaborations, allowing local, face-to-face meetings to discuss project specifications. Positioned as a middle ground, freelancers offer a viable option for those who seek a balance between personalized service and the capabilities of a full-fledged agency, making them an ideal choice for businesses not ready to transition to the agency model.

Pros:

It offers a more budget-friendly option than hiring an agency, making it accessible for businesses with limited financial resources.

Freelancers often boast high availability, and platforms connecting clients with freelancers allow for swift connections, enabling prompt initiation of projects.

Establish a close working relationship as freelancers work one-on-one, fostering a more intimate and collaborative partnership with clients.

Demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness due to a vested interest in client satisfaction. Direct communication lines ensure faster response times, enhancing project agility.

Cons:

Some UK freelancers, particularly in the “boutique” category, may have hourly rates comparable to or higher than agency costs. It’s crucial to weigh the benefits of a freelancer’s specialised expertise against the associated costs.

Freelancers may have a limited scope of skills, requiring clients to hire separate professionals for design and development potentially. However, this can be mitigated by choosing freelancers with complementary skills.

Complex Jobs

Agencies

Pros:

Agencies often house diverse teams with various skills, including designers, developers, project managers, and more, providing comprehensive solutions for complex web development projects.

Agencies typically have structured project management processes, ensuring efficient coordination, timely deliverables, and streamlined communication channels.

Able to handle projects of various scales, agencies possess the resources and expertise to effectively manage large and intricate web development tasks.

Establishing a long-term partnership with an agency allows for continuity, ongoing support, and the ability to scale projects as the business grows.

Cons:

Agencies generally come with higher costs than individual freelancers or offshore options, making them less budget-friendly for smaller businesses or startups.

Larger agencies may allocate multiple projects to different teams, potentially resulting in less personalized attention to each client’s specific needs and nuances.

The structure of agencies may lead to slower decision-making processes, as multiple layers of approval and coordination are involved, potentially affecting project timelines.

The client depends on the agency’s availability and scheduling, which may lead to delays if the agency handles multiple projects simultaneously.

Budgeting for Expenses

Understanding Website Costs

Monthly Costs
Yearly Costs
General Costs

Month by Month

Monthly Costs

Hosting: Monthly hosting fees typically range from £10 to £100, depending on the hosting provider and the level of service required. Choosing a reliable hosting provider is essential to ensure your website stays online and performs optimally.

SEO: Monthly SEO services can range from £200 to £2000 or more, depending on the scope of work and the competitiveness of your industry. Investing in SEO can help improve your website’s visibility in search engine results and drive organic traffic over time.

Newsletters: Email newsletter services like Mailchimp or ConvertKit may cost between £10 to £300 per month, depending on the number of subscribers and features included. Newsletters are a valuable marketing tool for building and nurturing relationships with your audience.

Plugins: The cost of plugins for your website can vary widely, with some being free and others requiring a monthly subscription. Premium plugins typically range from £10 to £100 per month, depending on the functionality they offer and the level of support provided.

Retainers & Care Packages: Monthly retainers for website maintenance and support services can range from £100 to £500 or more, depending on the level of service required. Care packages often include regular updates, security checks, and technical support to keep your website running smoothly.

Social Media Marketing: Monthly fees for social media marketing services can vary depending on the agency or freelancer you choose to work with and the scope of work involved. Prices typically range from £200 to £2000 per month, with additional costs for ad spend on platforms like Facebook or Instagram.

Licenses: Monthly licensing fees for fonts and stock video footage can vary depending on the provider and the usage rights required. Prices typically range from £5 to £50 per month for font subscriptions and £10 to £100 per month for stock video subscriptions.

Annual Commitments

Yearly Costs

Domain Names: The cost of registering a domain name typically ranges from £5 to £20 per year, depending on the domain extension (.com, .co.uk, etc.) and the registrar. It’s essential to renew your domain name annually to maintain ownership and keep your website accessible.

SSL Certificates: SSL certificates provide security for your website by encrypting data transmitted between your site and visitors’ browsers. The cost of an SSL certificate can range from £10 to £200 per year, depending on the level of validation and the certificate authority.

Email Hosting: If you use a professional email hosting service, such as G Suite or Microsoft 365, you’ll need to renew your subscription annually. Prices typically range from £40 to £120 per user per year, depending on the plan and features included.

One-off & Others

General Costs

Image/Video Licenses: Obtaining licenses for images or videos can vary depending on whether you use stock libraries like Adobe Stock or opt for a professional photoshoot. Stock image subscriptions typically range from £10 to £100 per month, while a professional photoshoot can cost £500 to £5000 or more, depending on the photographer’s expertise and the scope of the project. Quality visuals are crucial for engaging website visitors and effectively conveying your brand’s message.

Copywriting: For a standard 5-page website, a good word count can range from 500 to 1500 words in total, depending on the complexity of the content and design. High-quality copy is essential for communicating your brand’s message clearly and persuasively to visitors. Well-crafted copy not only informs but also engages and motivates users to take action, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting your business.

Plugin Licenses: Premium plugin licenses for additional functionality on your website can range from £10 to £100 per year per plugin, depending on the complexity and features offered. Investing in reputable plugins ensures compatibility, security, and ongoing support for your website’s functionality and performance.

Payment Processing Fees: For eCommerce stores, payment processing fees typically range from 1.5% to 3% of each transaction’s total value, plus a fixed fee per transaction (e.g., £0.20 to £0.50). Additionally, if you use a third-party payment gateway like PayPal or Stripe, additional fees may range from 2% to 5% per transaction. It’s essential to factor in these fees when pricing your products and managing your budget for online sales.

Let’s Chat

New Website Design Project?

Do you have an upcoming project and think Pixeljack would be a good fit?

We’d love to discuss your requirements and create a free proposal. Complete the short form below, give us a call or discover our project planner to get started:

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Tel: (+44) 115 678 7989
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