Website Design Costs Breakdown for Businesses

Website design costs depend on many different factors like design complexity, industry, functionalities, special features, and the type of web development approach. A good understanding of these costs will enable you to budget effectively.

Our comprehensive guide outlines the different factors and elements that affect web design costs. With the help of our experts, we also break down expenses into three categories: the cost of a DIY website design, freelancer rates, and web design agency pricing. Let's get started.

How Much Does Website Design Cost?

General pricing by web design type ranges from $10/month for subscription-based DIY website builders to $200,000+ for custom enterprise websites for large corporations. By understanding the cost implications of each design type, you can select a web design solution that meets your needs and your budget.

• DIY website builder
• Template-based design
• Custom design
• Enterprise website

1. DIY Website Builder: $10 to $50/month

Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly allow users to create websites using pre-made templates and drag-and-drop tools. These DIY website builders offer limited customization options and lack advanced functionality. They are ideal for freelancers, artists, content creators, and micro businesses needing a simple, cost-effective website with just a few pages.

2. Template-Based Design: $1,000 to $5,000

Content management systems like WordPress offer pre-designed templates that offer a middle ground between affordability and customization. These sites are relatively quick to set up and can accommodate basic business needs. This type of website design is ideal for small businesses, blogs, and simple eCommerce stores seeking to create a professional online presence without a high price tag.

3. Custom Design: $5,000 to $30,000+

Custom-designed websites have a unique, brand-specific look and feel tailored to branding needs. Custom sites often include various features, such as custom branding elements, advanced navigation, and unique layouts, and are built by professional designers and developers. They are best for medium-sized businesses and service providers that want a distinct online identity to differentiate themselves from competitors.

4. Enterprise Website: $50,000 to $200,000+

Enterprise-level sites and custom web applications are highly complex, often requiring advanced features like custom relationship management (CRM) integration, custom application programming interfaces (APIs), and enhanced security measures. They are fully tailored to a company’s specific needs and often involve a longer development timeline.

Enterprise web design is ideal for large corporations, software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, and high-traffic websites that require scalability, security, and custom workflows.

Website Design Costs: At a Glance

With the rising importance of inbound marketing strategies, business websites are getting faster, sleeker, and, overall, more practical. While this is great for consumers, business owners and marketers must emphasize website design and development.

Factors That Influence Website Design Cost

Web design pricing depends on various factors that add a unique layer of complexity and labor to a project, affecting both initial and ongoing costs:

• Type of website: Simple sites like landing pages or personal blogs cost significantly less than eCommerce platforms or custom web applications.
• Industry: Industry-specific needs like secure checkout for eCommerce and high-quality streaming for media incur high costs.
• Customization: As discussed above, using templates is more affordable, while creating a fully custom website is significantly more expensive.
• Design principles: High-quality user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) elements like intuitive navigation, interactive elements, accessibility, and mobile optimization need dedicated designers, which increases cost.
• Website content: Professionals that create search-engine-optimized text, product descriptions, and custom visuals charge based on the quality and quantity of content required for your website.
• Website security: SSL certificates, firewalls, and regular security audits and updates are needed to prevent data breaches. These features add to the initial and ongoing costs of website design.
• Advanced features: CRM integration, chatbots, appointment scheduling, membership portals, custom APIs, and other advanced features add significant costs due to the complexity involved in development and integration.

Additionally, it has become increasingly important to follow the best website design trends and focus on accessibility, page speed, and user experience. All of these factors affect your website design's cost, whether you are building it with a tool, working with a freelancer, or hiring an agency.

The Cost of Different Web Design Elements

Understanding the breakdown of costs for each website component will help you budget accurately and plan a successful website launch. Consider the following key elements:

• Domain name ($10 to $50/year): Prices vary depending on the popularity and demand for the domain. Premium .com domains cost significantly more. Renewal fees apply annually.
• Web hosting ($2 to $300+/month): Basic shared hosting is affordable and suitable for low-traffic sites. Dedicated and cloud hosting cost more and support higher traffic and faster loading speeds.
• SSL certificate (up to $150/year): Many hosting providers offer free Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, but businesses handling sensitive data may opt for premium SSL for enhanced security.
• Website design ($500 to $200,000+): Template-based web designs are more affordable, while fully custom sites built by professionals range higher due to labor and creativity.
• Website maintenance ($500 to $2,000+/year): Regular maintenance keeps your site updated, secure, and functioning well. Updates, backups, and performance checks for complex sites are more expensive.

Additional Costs Associated With Web Design and Development

As your business grows, and users demand more interactivity, additional tools and enhancements are often required. These added elements can significantly impact initial and ongoing website design costs:

• Custom development ($1,000 to $50,000+): Custom workflows, scalable architecture, interactive features, and API integrations improve user experience and add to web design expenses.
• Plugins and add-ons (up to $500+/month): Premium plugins with advanced capabilities (contact forms, social media feeds, booking systems, etc.) and support require ongoing subscription fees.
• Content creation and management ($50 to $5,000/month): Professional content strategists and cutting-edge creation and editing tools ensure your website has engaging, polished, and SEO-friendly content that engages visitors.
• eCommerce features ($2,000 to $20,000+): Shopping carts, payment processing integrations, and other eCommerce functionalities vary in cost depending on customization and scale.
• Search engine optimization ($500 to $5,000+/month): Advanced SEO services like technical audits, competitor analysis, and website health reports can significantly increase organic traffic and conversions. Initial setup and ongoing services can be quite costly.
• Mobile customization (up to $3,000+): Mobile responsive design is often included in design packages, but specific customizations for a streamlined user experience can increase costs.
• Custom visuals (up to $10,000+ for branded videos): Custom images, infographics, and videos involve additional design and production fees.
• Third-party integrations ($100 to $2,000+): Connecting essential business tools like CRMs, payment gateways, and customer support systems enables seamless operations.
• Analytics tools (up to $500+/month): Advanced insights into user behavior, traffic sources, and conversion rates help you improve site design and marketing efforts.

Web Design Cost Breakdown by Industry

Unique requirements per industry drive differences in web design costs. We’ve outlined key features and technical demands that contribute to the price range for each:

The Costs of Designing Your Website on Your Own

Designing or building a website by yourself is the cheapest option. It can range from $100 to $3,000+, but you should also consider the time and effort required. Startups with limited budgets and no web designer often start small, with just a few web pages.

An excellent example of a DIY website builder is Elementor. It has a backend editor that you can simply install on WordPress to create your website. The platform allows users to create content and edit themes through a variety of modules and widgets, each with its unique formatting and styling options.

After installing the framework, you can select a theme that matches the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. When choosing the theme for your website, keep the following factors in mind:

• The customization level you want to achieve
• The ease of updating the website
• The number of out-of-the-box templates you include

The frameworks available on the platform are very affordable and support a mobile-first design. You can use Elementor for as low as $4.92 per month, billed annually. Paid plans offer more robust templates, widgets, and support.

Web Design Cost When Working With Freelancers

Hiring a freelance website designer is the next level up from building your website yourself. Web designers and developers have improved specialized skills and varying levels of direct experience.

Hiring a freelancer for web design typically ranges from $15 to $80 per hour. According to Upwork, the average hourly rate of a web designer is between $15 and $30. Meanwhile, Freshbooks estimates that hiring a freelance web designer generally costs $30 to $80 per hour.

The cost of outsourcing web design to a freelancer can vary depending on several factors that can drive the price up or down:

• Experience
• Complexity of the project (number of pages, custom functionalities, responsive design)
• Geographical location
• Scope of work

Freelancers take your ideas and requirements and create website mockups, then build the one you like the best. They often focus on delivering the aesthetic appeal you convey to them and the necessary website features that enhance user experience.

The risk of working with freelancers is that the project might take longer to complete — they might be working on multiple projects simultaneously. Also, their experience in specific industries may be limited.

Website Design Cost When Working With an Agency

The web design services industry was worth over $42 billion in 2023. Brands are investing in these services to take their online presence to another level, driving competition among agencies. This means you can take advantage of a wide range of pricing options and services.

The cost of outsourcing services to a web design agency ranges from $50 to $500 per hour or from $10,000 to $500,000 per project. These companies can charge on an hourly basis or at a flat rate for each website completed.

Due to the wide range of variables, calculating the exact amount incurred from hiring a web design agency is challenging. The final price often depends on the following factors:

• Agency’s reputation
• The scale and complexity of the project
• The level of ongoing support
• Maintenance required

Compared to DIY website building and hiring a freelancer, the cost of hiring an agency is quite high. However, this takes your website way ahead of templatized, simple solutions.

Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO & Founder of Digital Silk, provides a no-frills explanation: "Hiring an agency is more than a shortcut — it’s an investment in quality. Agencies streamline the design process and optimize resources to deliver a site that meets business goals and enhances user engagement."

Simply put, the strategy that goes into building an effective website sets agencies apart from freelance web designers, as they have whole teams dedicated to removing any obstacle in the user's journey.

"A website isn't just a digital presence but a critical conversion tool. A well-designed site by a skilled agency doesn’t just save costs — it generates revenue by enhancing the brand's effectiveness in reaching and converting customers," says Shaoolian.

If your budget allows, it’s worth sending a proposal to an agency to discuss your options.

Website Design Cost Key Takeaways

Every site comes with its unique set of costs. Strategic planning and a detailed outline of your requirements will help you maximize your budget and create an excellent website that captures, engages, and converts visitors.

Partnering with professional web design companies ensures a high-quality, custom website that reflects your brand and enhances your online presence. With expertise in design, UX, and optimization, your site is sure to be high-quality and competitive.

Website Design Cost FAQs

1. How much will a website cost me?

Web design costs vary depending on the complexity of the site, your design approach, and the features you need to ensure excellent user experience. If you opt for a basic design template from a website builder, shared hosting, and a low-cost domain name, you can create and maintain a website for as low as $20/month.

2. What are the differences between web design and web development?

Web design and web development are two distinct aspects of creating a website. Web design primarily involves visual and UX elements, such as the layout, color schemes, typography, and graphics. Designers ensure websites are visually appealing and easy to navigate.

In contrast, web development focuses on implementing the design into a functional website. Web developers use HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and backend technologies for database management, server configurations, and site security.

3. How much does website maintenance cost?

Website maintenance typically costs between $500 and $2,000 per year, depending on the site’s complexity and the level of support needed. Basic maintenance includes backups, plugin updates, security patches, and minor design tweaks. For eCommerce or high-traffic sites, additional security measures, frequent content updates, and performance optimizations are needed. Consistent support from a web design agency will help prevent costly issues by keeping the site functional, secure, and optimized over time.