How Much Does a Website Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)

Whether you are launching a new business or replacing an outdated site, the first question is always the same: how much is this going to cost? The honest answer is that UK website costs range from under £1,000 to well over £100,000 - and that is not very helpful without context. This guide breaks down real pricing by project type so you can set a realistic budget.

What Affects the Price of a Website?

Before looking at numbers, it helps to understand what drives the cost up or down:

• Complexity - a 5-page brochure site is fundamentally different from a marketplace with user accounts, payments and real-time data
• Design - a bespoke design costs more than a customised template, but templates have come a long way
• Functionality - booking systems, integrations with CRMs, e-commerce features and APIs all add cost
• Content - some agencies include copywriting and photography; others expect you to provide everything
• Agency location - a London agency typically charges 20-40% more than one in Manchester or Leeds
• Ongoing costs - hosting, maintenance, SSL certificates and domain renewal are recurring expenses

Brochure Websites (5-10 Pages)

A brochure website presents your business, services and contact information. It is the digital equivalent of a business card and is what most small businesses need to start with.

• Template-based (WordPress/Squarespace): £500 - £2,000
• Custom design on WordPress: £2,000 - £5,000
• Fully bespoke design and build: £5,000 - £10,000

At the lower end, you are getting a professional setup of an existing theme with your content. At the higher end, everything is designed from scratch specifically for your brand.

E-commerce Websites

Online shops are more complex because they involve product management, payment processing, shipping calculations and inventory tracking.

• Shopify or WooCommerce setup (under 50 products): £2,000 - £6,000
• Custom e-commerce (50-500 products): £6,000 - £15,000
• Large-scale or marketplace builds: £15,000 - £50,000+

The platform you choose matters too. Shopify charges a monthly fee but reduces development time. WooCommerce is free but needs more custom development. For large catalogues, platforms like Magento offer power but at a significantly higher build cost.

Web Applications

If you need something that goes beyond a standard website - user dashboards, SaaS platforms, booking systems, portals - you are looking at web application development.

• Simple web app (MVP): £10,000 - £25,000
• Mid-complexity application: £25,000 - £60,000
• Enterprise platform: £60,000 - £150,000+

Web applications are priced based on the number of features, the complexity of the backend, and whether you need integrations with external systems. An experienced web development agency will help you prioritise features and phase the build to manage costs.

Ongoing Costs to Budget For

The build is not the only expense. Budget for these recurring costs:

• Hosting: £5 - £100/month depending on traffic and performance needs
• Domain name: £10 - £15/year for a .co.uk
• SSL certificate: free with most hosting providers, or £50 - £200/year for premium certificates
• Maintenance and updates: £50 - £300/month for WordPress sites; less for hosted platforms like Shopify
• Content updates: if you cannot update the site yourself, agencies charge £50 - £150/hour for changes

DIY vs Freelancer vs Agency

Your budget will partly determine who builds your site:

• DIY (Wix, Squarespace): £100 - £500/year. Fine for very simple sites, but limited in customisation and can look generic.
• Freelancer: £1,000 - £5,000 for most projects. Good value, but you depend on one person's availability and skills.
• Agency: £3,000 - £50,000+. You get a team, project management, and ongoing support. Best for businesses that need reliability and a professional result.

For a full comparison, read our guide on agency vs freelancer.

How to Get Accurate Quotes

To get useful quotes from web design agencies, prepare the following:

• A list of pages you need
• Examples of websites you like (and what you like about them)
• Any specific functionality requirements (booking forms, payment, user accounts)
• Your content situation - do you have copy and images, or need them created?
• Your timeline

Get at least three quotes and compare not just price but what is included. The cheapest quote often excludes things the others include. Browse web design agencies in our directory to start your search.