Insights · Convert · Website design
How much does a website cost in the UK in 2026?
By Larry O, Website Designer and Developer
Published · 3 minute read
The short answer
A website's cost depends on five things: how many pages it needs, whether the copy is written for you, how custom the design is, which features it includes (such as booking, chat or CRM links) and what support it gets after launch. Rather than comparing prices alone, compare what each option will cost you per enquiry over the next two or three years.
"How much does a website cost?" is like asking how much a house costs. A one-bedroom flat and a five-bedroom house are both houses. The useful question is what you need, and what it will earn. Here is how I would think about it if it were my business.
What are the main options?
| Option | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| A website builder you set up yourself | Templates, a monthly subscription, quick to launch | Your time, generic design, limited SEO and tracking |
| A freelancer | A custom or adapted design, often good value | Copy, SEO and support may not be included |
| An agency | Strategy, copy, design, build, SEO and tracking together | Make sure you own the site and the hosting |
What drives the cost up or down?
- Number of pagesA page for every service and area you want to win is good for SEO, and each one takes planning, writing and design.
- CopywritingWriting the words yourself saves money; having them written for search and for clients usually earns more.
- DesignAdapting a template is cheaper than a design made for your brand, but it looks like everyone else.
- FeaturesOnline booking, AI chat, quote calculators, client portals and CRM integrations each add work.
- MigrationMoving an existing site without losing Google rankings needs every old page redirected.
What are the ongoing costs?
- Domain name renewal each year.
- Hosting, monthly or yearly.
- Security updates, backups and fixes.
- Any paid plugins or software subscriptions.
- New pages and improvements as your business changes.
How to judge a quote
A cheap website that brings in nothing is expensive. A website that produces enquiries pays for itself. Work out roughly what a new client is worth to you, then ask of each quote: how will this site bring in more enquiries than my current one?
- Will each service have its own page, written to rank?
- Is SEO set up properly, including redirects from my old site?
- Are forms, calls and bookings tracked from day one?
- Will it load quickly on a phone?
- Do I own the site, the domain and the hosting account?
About the author
Larry O, Website Designer and Developer. Larry designs and builds our client websites and landing pages: fast, mobile first and built to rank, with every form, call and booking tracked from launch.
Meet the team →