“How much is a website?” is the first question almost everyone asks us, and the honest answer is “it depends”. That isn’t very helpful on its own, so this guide gives real numbers: what websites typically cost in the UK, what you get at each price, the ongoing costs people forget, and what we charge.
Typical website costs in the UK
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | £150 to £500 a year, plus your time | Very simple sites and tight budgets |
| Budget freelancer | £300 to £800 | A basic site where quality isn’t critical |
| Small agency or experienced freelancer | £1,000 to £3,000 | Small businesses that rely on their website for enquiries |
| Larger agency | £5,000 to £20,000+ | Complex sites, larger companies, big custom projects |
Most small businesses land in the third row: a professionally built site designed around the business, without big-agency overheads.
What affects the cost of a website?
- Number of pages. A five-page site costs less than a 30-page one, mainly because of the time spent on layout and content.
- Content. Writing the words and sourcing photos takes time. If you supply them, the price comes down. If you want help writing them, it goes up, but the site usually performs better.
- Design. A template adapted to your brand is quicker than a design built from scratch.
- Features. Online booking, a shop, payments, member areas or links to other systems all add work.
- SEO. Setting up page titles, local SEO and a sensible structure from day one costs a little more but saves fixing it later.
- Who builds it. Experience, support and whether you can reach someone when something goes wrong are all part of the price.
Ongoing costs to budget for
The build is only part of the cost. Every website also needs:
- A domain name, usually £10 to £20 a year.
- Hosting, from about £5 to £30 a month for a small business site on decent hosting.
- Maintenance. WordPress, themes and plugins need regular updates, plus backups and security checks. You can do this yourself or pay for a care plan.
- Email, if you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 rather than email through your hosting.
- Changes and additions as your business grows.
Is a cheap website a false economy?
Not always. If you’re just starting out, a simple site is better than no site. But the cheapest options often cost more in the long run:
- The site looks like a template, so you don’t stand out.
- It’s slow or not set up for Google, so few people find it.
- It doesn’t persuade visitors to get in touch, so it brings in little work.
- You’re locked into a platform, so moving means starting again.
The real question isn’t how much a website costs, but how much work it brings in. A £1,500 site that wins two jobs a month is far cheaper than a £300 one that wins none.
What we charge
We’re open about our prices. All prices are fixed quotes and exclude VAT:
| Package | What’s included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Starter site | 1 to 5 pages, mobile-friendly, contact form, basic SEO setup | from £695 |
| Business site | 5 to 10 pages, help with your wording, local SEO setup, reviews, WhatsApp button, analytics | £1,200 to £2,500 |
| Online shop | WooCommerce shop, products set up, payments and delivery options | £2,500 to £5,000 |
| Custom build | Bookings, member areas, links to other systems | quoted, usually £4,000+ |
Hosting starts at £9.99 a month on annual plans, and our website care plans take care of updates, backups and security if you’d rather not deal with them. Most sites go live in 2 to 6 weeks.
How to get an accurate quote
Before you contact any web designer, it helps to know:
- Roughly how many pages you need.
- Whether you’ll supply the words and photos, or want help.
- Any features you need, such as bookings or a shop.
- A few websites you like, and why.
- Your budget and when you’d like to go live.
Not sure what you need? Our 12-point website checklist covers what a good business website should do, and our guide to website builders explains when a DIY site is enough.
Get a fixed quote
We’re DM Media Solutions, a small web design agency in North Wales working with businesses across the UK. We build fast, mobile-friendly WordPress websites that bring in enquiries. See websites we’ve built.
Message us on WhatsApp at +44 7737 351525 or get in touch. We’ll give you a straight answer and a fixed quote.
