How much does a website cost in 2026?
It depends mostly on who builds it, how many pages it has, whether the design is a template or custom, and which features you need. Typical 2026 ranges for a small business site of about 5–10 pages:
| Who builds it | Typical build cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | $0–$500 plus $17–$39 a month for the plan | Very small budgets, simple sites, people with time to learn |
| Freelancer | $500–$1,500 for a styled template; $1,500–$5,000+ for a custom design | Small businesses that want a professional site at a fair price |
| Small agency / studio | About $5,000–$15,000 | Businesses that want strategy, design and development in one team |
| Established agency | About $15,000–$50,000+ | Larger companies, complex stores and custom features |
US and Western Europe prices from We.Inc, Project Cost Estimator and NewMedia (checked October 2026). Designers in Eastern Europe are often 40–55% cheaper, and in South Asia 60–80% cheaper.
How the calculator works
Instead of a single magic number, the calculator shows the hours behind the price: planning, design, building each page, and each feature you tick (contact form, blog, booking, online store, member area, extra languages, SEO setup, copywriting, logo and accessibility). It multiplies those hours by typical hourly rates — about $50–$120 for experienced freelancers, $100–$175 for small agencies and $150–$250 for established agencies — and adds a little for project management. A rush job adds 25–50%.
Don’t forget the running costs
- Domain name: about $10–$20 a year (renewals are often higher than the first year).
- Hosting: about $10–$30 a month for basic shared hosting, more for busy sites.
- Website builder plan (if you use one): about $17–$39 a month, or $29–$65 with an online store.
- Maintenance: about $50–$200 a month for basic updates and backups, and $200–$500 a month if you also want regular changes.
- Extras: premium plugins, stock photos and email can add a little each year.
How to save money on a website
- Start with the pages you really need — you can add more later.
- A well-styled template often looks as professional as a custom design for a small site.
- Write your own text and supply your own photos where you can.
- Add products to your store yourself after the designer sets it up.
- Give a realistic deadline — rush fees are expensive.
- Get two or three written quotes with the same scope, and use the quote check in the calculator to compare them.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What exactly is included — pages, revisions, content entry, SEO basics, training?
- Will the domain, hosting and website be registered in your name?
- Can you edit the site yourself after launch, and on what platform?
- What does support cost after launch?
If you are a designer pricing your own work, use the design pricing calculator and the freelance rate calculator. For ongoing support pricing, try the retainer fee calculator.