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How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing Guide

Complete guide to website costs. Learn pricing for different types of websites, what affects cost, and how to get the best value for your budget.

Sarah Johnson
January 8, 2025
Updated January 10, 2026
11 min read

# How Much Does a Website Cost in 2026? Complete Pricing Guide

Website costs vary widely based on complexity, features, and requirements. This guide breaks down pricing for different types of websites and what you get for your investment.

For a comprehensive guide to web design, see our web design ultimate guide.

Website Cost Overview

Quick Reference

  • Simple Landing Page: $500-$2,000
  • Small Business Website: $2,000-$10,000
  • E-commerce Website: $10,000-$50,000+
  • Custom Enterprise: $50,000-$200,000+

Factors Affecting Cost

1. Website Type

Landing Page

  • Single page, focused goal
  • Simple design
  • Basic functionality
  • Fast turnaround

Small Business Website

  • 5-10 pages
  • Content management system
  • Contact forms
  • Mobile responsive

E-commerce Website

  • Product catalog
  • Shopping cart
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management

Custom Enterprise

  • Complex functionality
  • Custom integrations
  • Advanced features
  • Scalable architecture

2. Design Complexity

Template-Based

  • Lower cost
  • Faster development
  • Limited customization
  • $500-$5,000

Custom Design

  • Higher cost
  • Unique design
  • Full customization
  • $5,000-$50,000+

3. Features and Functionality

Basic Features:

  • Contact forms
  • Basic navigation
  • Image galleries
  • Blog functionality

Advanced Features:

  • E-commerce
  • User accounts
  • Custom integrations
  • Advanced forms
  • Third-party APIs

4. Content Creation

Who Creates Content?

  • You provide: Lower cost
  • Agency creates: Higher cost
  • Professional copywriting: $500-$2,000/page
  • Photography: $200-$1,000/session

Detailed Pricing Breakdown

Simple Landing Page

Cost: $500-$2,000

Includes:

  • Single page design
  • Mobile responsive
  • Contact form
  • Basic SEO
  • 1-2 weeks timeline

Best For:

  • Product launches
  • Event promotions
  • Lead generation
  • Testing ideas

Small Business Website

Cost: $2,000-$10,000

Includes:

  • 5-10 pages
  • Content management system
  • Mobile responsive design
  • Contact forms
  • Basic SEO
  • 4-8 weeks timeline

Best For:

  • Small businesses
  • Service companies
  • Local businesses
  • Professional services

E-commerce Website

Cost: $10,000-$50,000+

Includes:

  • Product catalog
  • Shopping cart
  • Payment processing
  • Inventory management
  • Order management
  • Customer accounts
  • 8-16 weeks timeline

Best For:

  • Online stores
  • Product sales
  • Multiple products
  • Inventory management

Custom Enterprise Website

Cost: $50,000-$200,000+

Includes:

  • Custom functionality
  • Advanced integrations
  • Scalable architecture
  • Security features
  • Performance optimization
  • 3-6 months timeline

Best For:

  • Large businesses
  • Complex requirements
  • High traffic
  • Custom solutions

Ongoing Costs

Hosting

  • Shared Hosting: $5-$20/month
  • VPS Hosting: $20-$100/month
  • Dedicated Server: $100-$500+/month
  • Cloud Hosting: $50-$500+/month

Domain

  • Registration: $10-$20/year
  • Premium Domains: $100-$10,000+/year

SSL Certificate

  • Free: Let's Encrypt (included)
  • Paid: $50-$500/year

Maintenance

  • Basic: $100-$300/month
  • Standard: $300-$500/month
  • Premium: $500-$1,000+/month

Updates and Changes

  • Content Updates: $50-$200/hour
  • Feature Additions: $100-$300/hour
  • Redesigns: $2,000-$20,000+

Getting the Best Value

1. Define Your Needs

  • List required features
  • Identify nice-to-haves
  • Set realistic budget
  • Prioritize functionality

2. Get Multiple Quotes

  • Compare 3-5 agencies
  • Review portfolios
  • Check references
  • Understand what's included

3. Consider Long-Term Costs

  • Maintenance costs
  • Update costs
  • Hosting costs
  • Feature additions

4. Ask About Included Services

  • SEO optimization
  • Content creation
  • Training
  • Support period

Common Pricing Models

Fixed Price

  • Set price for project
  • Clear scope
  • Predictable cost
  • Good for defined projects

Hourly Rate

  • Pay for time spent
  • Flexible scope
  • Can add up quickly
  • Good for ongoing work

Monthly Retainer

  • Ongoing relationship
  • Regular updates
  • Predictable monthly cost
  • Good for maintenance

Hidden Costs to Watch For

  • Content creation: Often extra
  • Stock photos: $10-$100/image
  • Third-party integrations: $500-$5,000+
  • Training: $200-$1,000
  • Ongoing support: $100-$500/month

DIY vs Professional

DIY Website Builders

Cost: $10-$50/month

Pros:

  • Low cost
  • Quick setup
  • Easy to use
  • Templates available

Cons:

  • Limited customization
  • Generic designs
  • SEO limitations
  • Time investment

Professional Development

Cost: $2,000-$50,000+

Pros:

  • Custom design
  • Professional quality
  • SEO optimized
  • Expert support

Cons:

  • Higher cost
  • Longer timeline
  • Requires planning

Conclusion

Website costs vary based on your needs. A simple landing page costs $500-$2,000, while a custom e-commerce site can cost $50,000+. Consider your goals, budget, and long-term needs when making decisions.

The best investment is a website that achieves your business goals and provides good ROI.

Ready to build a website? Our web design services create professional, fast, and conversion-optimized websites. Contact us for a free quote.

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