Related: How to Hire a Web Development Agency: A 2026 Checklist
A website can cost $200 or $50,000, and both can be the right price — for different businesses. The number depends on what the site needs to do, not how it looks. This guide gives you honest 2026 ranges by website type, the running costs most quotes leave out, and how to make sure you are paying for value rather than padding.
Key takeaways
- A simple brochure site runs $500–$3,000; a business site with a CMS $2,500–$8,000.
- E-commerce starts around $3,000–$15,000; custom web apps are a separate league entirely.
- Budget for ongoing costs: hosting, domain, maintenance, and content — usually $20–$300/month.
- Price is driven by custom design, functionality, and integrations, not the page count.
- A template done well beats a bespoke build done badly. Spend where it changes the result.
Website cost by type
| Website type | Typical 2026 cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| One-page / brochure site | $500 – $3,000 | 1–2 weeks |
| Business site (multi-page + CMS) | $2,500 – $8,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| E-commerce store | $3,000 – $15,000 | 3–8 weeks |
| Custom web app / platform | $8,000 – $50,000+ | 2–4 months |
If your site mostly needs to explain what you do and capture enquiries, you are in the first two rows. Once people log in, pay, or interact with data, you have crossed from a website into a custom web app, which is priced differently.
What actually drives the price
Custom design vs. template
A polished template tailored to your brand is fast and affordable. A fully bespoke, designed-from-scratch experience costs more because someone is designing every screen. Most businesses do not need the latter to win customers.
Functionality
Contact forms and a blog are cheap. Bookings, memberships, payments, multi-language, and integrations with your other tools each add real work.
Content
Copywriting, photography, and product data take time. If you provide them, you save money; if the agency creates them, budget for it.
The ongoing costs nobody mentions
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Domain name | $10 – $20 / year |
| Hosting | $5 – $50 / month |
| Maintenance & updates | $50 – $250 / month (optional) |
| Email, analytics, plugins | $0 – $50 / month |
A "cheap" site with no maintenance plan often costs more later when something breaks. Decide upfront who keeps it secure and updated.
DIY vs. freelancer vs. agency
A DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) is genuinely the right call for a simple site on a tight budget. A freelancer suits a well-defined project. A studio or agency makes sense when you want strategy, design, build, and support handled by a senior team that is still around after launch. We will tell you honestly when a builder is all you need.
How to get an accurate quote
Share your goals, examples of sites you like, the features you need, and who will provide content. Ask for a fixed quote that lists what is included, the timeline, and what happens after launch. Avoid quotes with no scope attached — they almost always grow.
FAQ
Why is WordPress cheaper than a custom build?
WordPress and similar platforms reuse proven building blocks, so there is less to engineer. Custom builds cost more because the logic is genuinely bespoke. Build vs. buy covers when each is right.
How long does a website take?
A brochure site in 1–2 weeks, a business site in 2–4, e-commerce in 3–8. Clear content and quick feedback are what actually keep projects on time.
Can I update it myself?
Yes — a good build hands you a CMS so you can edit text, images, and posts without a developer.
Working with Apex Logic
We build fast, modern websites and web apps for businesses worldwide — scoped honestly, quoted at a fixed price, and yours to own. If you want a real number for your site, tell us what you need and we will reply, usually within 24 hours.
References
Apex Logic project data (2024–2026) — anonymised website quote and delivery ranges.
Hosting & domain registrar pricing (2026) — current market rates for running costs.
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