You want clear figures, not fluff. You also want to avoid nasty surprises. This guide breaks down real numbers, plain language, and quick decisions. All prices are ballparks in GBP and typically exclude VAT.
Starter brochure site (5–10 pages): £800–£3,000
Small business site with bookings/forms/blog: £1,800–£6,000
WordPress business site (custom theme + integrations): £3,000–£12,000
E-commerce (off-the-shelf + custom setup): £5,000–£25,000
Bespoke or complex build: £15,000–£100k+
Freelancers often charge £35–£80/hr. UK agencies often charge £75–£150/hr. London can sit higher.
Scope. Number of page types, features, and integrations.
Brand and design depth. Lite refresh vs full design system.
Content. Who writes copy, sources images, and preps assets.
Build approach. Template tweak, custom WordPress, or headless.
E-commerce complexity. Product types, variants, shipping, and tax.
Speed. Rush costs more.
Who you hire. Solo pro vs small studio vs larger agency.
Care plan. Ongoing updates and support.
Good for: service firms, trades, clinics, local shops, and consultants.
Template-based brochure (fast): £800–£1,800
Setup, brand colours, basic pages, contact form.
Semi-custom small business build: £1,800–£4,000
Unique layout, blog, simple lead forms, basic SEO setup.
Small business plus bookings/CRM: £3,500–£6,000
Calendars, payments, email marketing integration, reviews.
Add-ons you might want
Logo/brand kit: £300–£2,000
Copywriting (per page): £100–£300
Photography day rate: £300–£800
On-page SEO setup (10 pages): £400–£1,500
Why WordPress: flexible, familiar, huge plugin ecosystem.
Theme setup + light tweaks: £1,200–£3,000
Reliable for simple sites.
Custom theme + block patterns: £3,000–£8,000
Faster editing for you, better performance.
Advanced WordPress (CPTs, API links, multi-lang): £6,000–£12,000+
Ideal for content-heavy sites.
Typical extras
Premium theme/plugins: £50–£400/yr
Performance hardening and caching: £300–£1,200
Security hardening and backups: £200–£600
Platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce (WordPress), BigCommerce, and others.
Starter shop (up to 100 SKUs): £5,000–£10,000
Theme setup, payments, shipping zones, tax, key apps.
Growth store (custom sections, promos): £10,000–£18,000
Advanced filtering, bundles, loyalty, email flows.
Complex store (B2B, subscriptions, ERP links): £18,000–£25,000+
Ongoing platform fees (typical)
Shopify plan: £25–£79+/mo
Apps: £10–£300+/mo
Payment fees: 1.5%–2.5% per transaction (provider-dependent)
| Website type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| One-page or micro-site | £500–£1,200 |
| Brochure (5–10 pages) | £800–£3,000 |
| Small business site (blog + forms) | £1,800–£6,000 |
| WordPress custom business site | £3,000–£12,000 |
| E-commerce (core store) | £5,000–£25,000 |
| Bespoke web app / advanced integrations | £15,000–£100k+ |
Domain: £8–£20/yr
Hosting: £8–£40/mo for small sites; £40–£150+/mo for higher traffic
SSL: Often free via host; paid options £50–£150/yr
Email (Microsoft 365/Google): £4–£18/user/mo
Maintenance & support: £40–£300+/mo (updates, backups, fixes)
Licences & apps: £50–£500/yr+ depending on stack
Content and SEO: variable; plan at least £200–£800/mo if growth is the aim
Accessibility testing: £300–£2,000+ (scope-dependent)
Analytics & consent tools: usually £0–£30/mo, plus setup
Budget £2k–£4k?
Use a proven theme.
Keep to 6–8 core pages.
Add one clear lead form.
Write concise copy.
Set up Google Analytics and Search Console.
Add a basic care plan.
Budget £4k–£8k?
Commission a custom design system.
Create reusable page sections.
Add blog + resources.
Integrate a booking tool or CRM.
Plan a 3-month SEO/content push.
Budget £8k–£15k?
Go deeper on UX, performance, and accessibility.
Build custom blocks/components.
Add automations, personalisation, and gated content.
Run user testing before launch.
Ask for a fixed scope list. Page types, features, and deliverables.
Check what “content ready” means. Who writes, edits, and uploads.
Review hosting and performance targets. Page speed and uptime goals.
Confirm ownership. You should own the domain, code (unless licensed), and data.
Support terms. Response times, what’s included, hourly rate outside scope.
Change control. How new requests get estimated and approved.
SEO and analytics. What’s included on launch.
Accessibility. Aim for WCAG 2.1 AA as a baseline.
Start smaller. Launch core pages, add more after data comes in.
Reuse blocks. Design once, repurpose across pages.
Pick your plugins carefully. Fewer, trusted tools beat many cheap ones.
Write draft copy first. Cut editing time and rounds.
Choose hosted e-commerce. For many shops, Shopify reduces dev hours.
Book a care plan. Fixes small issues early and avoids big bills.
Discovery and planning: 1–2 weeks
Design and content prep: 2–4 weeks
Build and testing: 2–6 weeks
Launch and tidy-up: 1 week
Tighter timelines are possible with a focused scope and fast content sign-off.
Site architecture and wireframes: £400–£1,500
Visual design (key templates): £800–£3,000
Front-end build (per template): £200–£800
CMS setup and blocks: £500–£2,500
Forms, CRM, or bookings: £200–£1,000
SEO setup and redirects: £300–£1,200
Testing and QA: £300–£1,200
Training and handover: £200–£600
How much does a website cost UK?
From £800 for a simple brochure site to £25,000+ for a robust e-commerce build. Most small business sites land between £1,800–£6,000.
Small business website cost UK—what should you budget?
Plan £2,000–£6,000 for a professional result with solid groundwork and a care plan.
E-commerce website cost UK—what moves the needle most?
Product complexity, custom checkout, and integrations. Expect £5,000–£25,000+ depending on those parts.
WordPress website development cost UK—are plugins enough?
Plugins cover a lot, but set aside funds for performance, security, and custom blocks. Budgets from £3,000–£12,000 are common for business sites.
Average cost of a website UK—what do most pay?
Most UK SMEs pay £2,000–£8,000 for a solid new build or relaunch.
What about ongoing costs?
Budget £40–£300+/mo for hosting, updates, backups, and small edits. E-commerce will add platform and app fees.
You don’t need the biggest budget. You need the right scope, clear goals, and a build you can edit without stress. Start with essentials. Prove what works. Then grow with data, not guesswork.
Ready for a Clear Quote? Ultimately, the best way to understand the cost for your specific project is to get a clear, tailored plan. That’s why we offer a free, no-obligation web mockup. We’ll help you define the scope and give you a transparent quote based on your actual needs, not guesswork.
