How much does a website design cost in 2026?
A plain-English breakdown of what UK small businesses can expect to pay for a website in 2026 — from DIY builders to agencies — plus the hidden extras nobody warns you about.
The short answer
For a simple, professional small-business website in the UK, most people pay somewhere between £25 and £2,000 depending on who builds it. That's a huge range — so the honest question isn't "how much does a website cost", it's "what am I actually paying for?"
Typical UK price ranges
| Who builds it | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify) | £12–£30/month | Tech-confident owners with spare time |
| Freelance web designer | £25–£500 one-off | Small businesses that want a done-for-you site |
| Small studio | £500–£2,000 | Growing brands with a bigger budget |
| Design agency | £2,000–£10,000+ | Established businesses, e-commerce, custom builds |
Source: typical UK freelance and studio rates observed in 2025–2026.
What actually drives the price
- Number of pages. A one-page site is cheaper than a 10-page site. Simple.
- Custom design vs template. Templates keep costs low. Fully custom design costs more but stands out.
- Copywriting. If someone writes your text for you, that's an extra service.
- Booking / online payments. Adding a booking system, shop or Stripe checkout adds time.
- Branding & logo. A logo, colour palette and fonts are a separate job from the website itself.
- Ongoing edits. Some designers include a month of tweaks; others charge per change.
The hidden extras
These catch people out because they aren't usually included in a design quote:
- Domain name — around £10–£20/year for a .co.uk or .com. You own this, not the designer.
- Hosting — £0–£15/month depending on the platform. Modern builders often include hosting; older WordPress setups usually don't.
- Email address on your domain (like hello@yourbrand.co.uk) is usually £5–£10/month per mailbox.
Where Paige Websites fits in
I'm a freelance web designer offering basic websites from £25+ as an introductory rate while I build my portfolio. That price is for the website on its own — logos, socials and extras are quoted separately, and I'll always send a full breakdown before you commit.
It's the same core deliverable as a mid-range freelance site — a clean, mobile-friendly design that works on phones, tablets, laptops and desktops — at a fraction of the typical starting price.
Common questions
How much does a basic website cost in the UK?
Typically £25–£500 with a freelancer, £500–£2,000 with a small studio, and £2,000+ with an agency. My starting rate is £25+ for a website on its own.
What are the ongoing costs of running a website?
Roughly £10–£20/year for a domain and £0–£15/month for hosting. Some platforms bundle these; freelance sites can often be hosted for free or very cheaply.
Are cheap websites worth it?
Yes — if the essentials are covered: mobile-friendly design, fast loading, clear contact info and basic SEO. That's exactly what small businesses need to be found online.
Want a plain-English quote for your business?
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