Typical prices and what drives them
How Much Does a Website Cost in the UK?
How much does a website cost in the UK? For a business website, anything from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands, plus ongoing costs. That range is unhelpful on its own, so this guide breaks it down: typical prices by type of site and provider, the factors that push the price up or down, figures real UK business owners have shared and the hidden costs people forget.
Typical prices by type of website
These figures are an indicative split of the UK market ranges used in our own calculator, not fixed prices. Timescales depend heavily on how quickly content and decisions are ready.
| Website type | Freelancer | Agency | Typical timescale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple brochure site (1–5 pages) | £500–£1,500 | £2,500–£4,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| Lead-generation site (6–20 pages) | £1,500–£3,000 | £4,000–£8,000 | 4–8 weeks |
| E-commerce site | £2,000–£6,000 | £5,000–£20,000 | 6–12 weeks |
| Custom web application | Quote | Quote | Varies |
What UK business owners say they pay
Figures shared by UK business owners on r/smallbusinessuk illustrate the spread: a £400 build with £30 a month for hosting and SEO; a freelancer charging £2,500 for a full WordPress rebuild; an agency whose typical project averaged around £5,000; and a community society paying roughly £2,000 a year for an e-commerce package including support.
What drives the cost
The number of pages and templates; bespoke versus template design; e-commerce and the number of products; features such as booking, memberships or quote calculators; integrations with CRMs, stock or accounting systems; copywriting and photography; multiple languages; and rushed deadlines. Ongoing marketing, such as SEO, is usually priced separately.
Hidden costs to budget for
Domain renewal, hosting, SSL, premium plugins or apps, security updates, backups and the cost of making changes. On e-commerce sites, add payment processing and platform fees. Ask every provider which of these are included.
Questions to ask when comparing quotes
- How many pages and templates are included?
- Is copywriting included, or do I supply the content?
- What happens after launch, and what does support cost?
- Who owns the site, domain and content?
- What are the ongoing costs each year?
- What's the timescale, and what could delay it?
Good to know
Your questions, answered.
What's the cheapest way to get a business website?+
A DIY website builder is cheapest up front, but you pay in time and monthly fees. A pay-monthly plan avoids a large up-front cost without the DIY effort.
Why are agency websites more expensive than freelancers?+
Agencies typically include strategy, design, development, copywriting and project management from a team, plus ongoing support. Freelancers can be excellent value for simpler projects.
Do I have to pay VAT on a website?+
If your provider is VAT registered, VAT is added at the standard rate. Check whether quotes include or exclude VAT.
Related guides
Sources
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