August 17, 2025
5 mins
How Web Design Agencies Price Their Services
Mat Mielnicki
Managing Director
Web Design
Pricing
Key Findings
Website pricing in 2025 ranges from $500 to over $100,000, depending on project complexity, features, and whether you choose DIY platforms, freelancers, or agencies.
Hourly rates vary widely: freelancers charge $20–$100/hour, while reputable agencies in the U.S. charge $100–$200+/hour; the best designers can exceed $300/hour.
Typical project costs: small business websites cost $1,000–$15,000, professional e-commerce websites start at $10,000, and enterprise-level sites can exceed $20,000–$145,000.
Investing in professional web design pays off — companies that redesign their websites see up to 178% higher conversions, with most businesses refreshing their site every 2 years.
Website Pricing Breakdown Table
Website Type | Price Range | Pages | Delivery Time | Who Builds It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Landing Page | $500 - $4,000 | 1 | 1 day - 2 weeks | Freelancers |
Basic Website | $1,500 - $8,000 | 5-15 | 2 - 4 weeks | Freelancers, |
Medium Business Website | $10,000 - $25,000 | 10-100 | 4 - 12 weeks | Small to mid-size agencies |
Enterprise Website | $30,000 - $150,000+ | 1,000+ | 3 - 12 months | Medium & large agencies |
Understanding website pricing
When businesses start thinking about building a new website or redesigning an existing one, the first question that comes to mind is cost. Yet, the truth is that website pricing doesn’t have a fixed number. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars for a DIY solution to well over $100,000 for a highly customized enterprise-level website.
The wide range exists because websites are not just static digital brochures anymore - they’re powerful tools that generate leads, drive conversions, and act as the backbone of a company’s online presence. In this sense, the “price” of a website is better understood as an investment - one that reflects not only the number of design hours but also the strategy, user experience, and potential business growth it supports.
Factors that influence website pricing
Several factors shape the final cost of a website, and understanding these elements helps businesses plan more effectively.
Project Scope
First, project scope and complexity play a major role. A simple brochure-style website with a few pages is much easier - and cheaper - to create than a feature-rich e-commerce platform with dozens of products, payment gateways, and customer accounts. The complexity directly affects how many hours designers and developers need to invest.
Design Approach
Second, the design approach matters. DIY website builders such as Wix or Squarespace can produce a basic site for under $300 per year, but customization is limited. On the other hand, agencies using custom design and development deliver unique branding and user experiences but may charge anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000+, depending on requirements.
Features and Integrations
Third, the features and integrations a business needs will increase costs. Adding online booking systems, multilingual support, advanced SEO, or custom e-commerce tools requires additional development time. This is why an online store usually costs significantly more than a basic portfolio site.
Agency Expertise and Location
Lastly, agency expertise and location affect pricing. Agencies in North America and Western Europe often charge more than agencies in Eastern Europe or South Asia. While lower-cost options exist, businesses often pay more for agencies with strong reputations, proven results, and long-term support.
Common pricing models web agencies use
When it comes to website pricing, one of the most important things to understand is that there’s no universal rule of thumb about which pricing model an agency, freelancer, or in-house team will use. The choice often depends on the project type, the client’s preferences, and how the agency structures its business. In other words, it’s not as simple as saying “freelancers always charge hourly” or “agencies always work on fixed-price contracts.”
Hourly Rate Pricing
In this model, clients pay based on the number of hours worked. It’s a flexible option often favoured when the project scope isn’t clearly defined at the start. While freelancers frequently use hourly rates, many agencies also adopt this model for ongoing support, maintenance, or open-ended development projects. Rates vary widely - freelancers may charge as little as $20 to $100 per hour, while reputable agencies often fall in the $100–$200+ per hour range.
Fixed Project Pricing
Fixed pricing gives the client a clear cost upfront, based on specific deliverables and timelines. This approach is attractive to businesses with well-defined requirements and limited budgets. While larger agencies often rely on this model, many experienced freelancers also use it, particularly when they’ve clearly scoped out the project in advance.
Value-Based Pricing
Here, pricing is tied to the expected return on investment. For example, if a website redesign is projected to boost conversions significantly, the cost may be higher because of the value it delivers to the business. This model is less common but can be used by both boutique freelancers and established agencies, especially when working with clients who prioritize growth over initial costs.
In reality, agencies and freelancers alike often combine models depending on the situation. A freelancer might charge hourly for consulting but use fixed pricing for a full website build. Similarly, a large agency could use fixed pricing for a standard small business site but switch to value-based pricing for a major e-commerce project.
Average website pricing breakdown
Because no two websites are the same, it’s helpful to look at pricing by categories. Each type of website has different goals, features, and levels of complexity — and that’s exactly what drives the cost. From simple landing pages to enterprise-level platforms, here’s what businesses can expect in 2025.
Website Pricing Breakdown Table
Website Type | Price Range | Pages | Delivery Time | Who Builds It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Landing Page | $500 - $4,000 | 1 | 1 day - 2 weeks | Freelancers |
Basic Website | $1,500 - $8,000 | 5-15 | 2 - 4 weeks | Freelancers, |
Medium Business Website | $10,000 - $25,000 | 10-100 | 4 - 12 weeks | Small to mid-size agencies |
Enterprise Website | $30,000 - $150,000+ | 1,000+ | 3 - 12 months | Medium & large agencies |
Landing Pages ($500 - $4,000)
A landing page is a one-page website often used for promotions, events, or lead capture campaigns. These are usually built with simple web-builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress templates. At lower price points, the designs are template-based with minimal customization, but higher-priced landing pages may feature custom visuals and stronger branding. Since the functionality is limited to a basic contact form and no complex integrations, they can often be completed quickly — anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks. Freelancers typically deliver this type of project.
Basic Website ($1,500 – $8,000)
Basic websites are a step up from single-page designs, usually containing 5 to 15 subpages for businesses that want a professional online presence. These are commonly built on platforms like Webflow, WordPress, or Framer, which allow for more customization while still being cost-effective. In this price range, clients can expect SEO basics, mobile optimization, and modest branding customizations. While features are still limited, these websites are more polished and scalable than simple landing pages. Delivery typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, often handled by freelancers or small agencies.
Medium Business Website ($10,000 – $25,000)
Medium business websites are more complex projects, often containing 10 to 100 subpages. This category also covers e-commerce websites with large product catalogs, advanced payment gateways, and robust inventory tools. At this level, agencies invest more effort into custom branding and UX design, ensuring the site not only looks professional but also drives measurable business results. Additional features might include advanced SEO services, analytics dashboards, and A/B testing to optimize conversions. These websites are typically delivered by small to mid-sized agencies over a period of 4 to 12 weeks.
Enterprise Website ($30,000 – $150,000+)
Enterprise-level websites are large-scale digital ecosystems, often exceeding 1,000 subpages. They’re usually built for big corporations, global organizations, or government institutions. At this level, websites demand enterprise-grade performance, scalability, and security. Businesses investing in this range expect advanced custom integrations, technical SEO, multilingual capabilities, data analytics, and full-scale A/B testing frameworks. These projects require a professional team, structured workflows, and months of collaboration, typically taking 3 to 12 months. They’re almost always delivered by medium or large agencies with proven track records.
How to choose the right pricing model
Choosing the right pricing option requires balancing budget, quality, and long-term strategy. While DIY options are appealing for their low cost, they often fall short in customization, scalability, and professionalism. On the other hand, agencies may charge more but usually deliver a better return on investment by building websites that generate leads, sales, and credibility.
It’s also worth considering timing. On average, companies redesign their websites every two years to keep up with technology and customer expectations. A one-time low-cost website might not meet long-term needs, while a well-built professional website can scale with your business and pay for itself over time.
FAQs on website pricing
Why do website prices vary so much?
Prices differ because of the approach, expertise, and project scope involved. If cost is the main factor, hiring a freelancer on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork can be the most affordable choice. But if the goal is a website that generates measurable results, a professional agency is often the better investment.
Can I build a website for under $1,000?
Yes — but usually with DIY platforms or low-cost freelancers. On Fiverr or Upwork, some freelancers build basic websites for as little as $100, though functionality and scalability are limited.
Do agencies include SEO in their prices?
Most agencies include basic on-page SEO (meta tags, title, and description). However, advanced SEO — such as keyword research, blog content, backlinks, and technical SEO — is billed separately, often as a monthly retainer. These retainers typically range from $200 to $4,000 per month, depending on the complexity and hours invested.
How much does website maintenance cost?
Website maintenance is usually billed in two ways:
Hourly rate — agencies charge between $50–$150/hour for updates, fixes, and revisions.
Annual percentage model — larger websites may cost up to 20% of the original build price per year to maintain.
How often should a website be redesigned?
On average, businesses redesign their websites every 2 years to stay competitive. Content updates, however, should happen more frequently — ideally weekly — to keep information fresh and boost SEO performance.
Can you make a website for 100% free?
Yes, but with major limitations. Some web-builders offer free plans, but they typically come with restricted features, no custom domain, limited hosting, and prominent branding from the platform.
Conclusion
Website pricing can feel overwhelming, but it becomes clearer when broken down into factors like complexity, approach, and long-term value. Whether you spend $500 or $50,000, the most important consideration is how well the website supports your business goals.
With data showing that redesigns can boost conversions by up to 178%, it’s clear that investing in a high-quality website is less about cost and more about growth. Businesses that approach website pricing strategically - considering both immediate needs and long-term potential - are the ones that see the greatest returns from their digital presence.
Mat Mielnicki
Managing Director
Web Design
Pricing
