How much should a website cost?

Determining how much a web site should cost is one of the most frequently asked but rarely answered questions in the web design world. Even now, with millions of web sites online, there exists no magic formula for calculating either the cost of a new web site or the cost of a redesign.

The cost of a web site can vary greatly depending upon the site’s features, needed Internet marketing services, aesthetic qualities, and the design firm, advertising agency, or freelancer creating the Web design. While the cost of a basic web site has dropped, the need for more interactivity has helped hold steady the price of a high-end, competitive Web design.

Informational or Small Business Web Site Cost::

• 8 to 16 Web pages
• Custom graphics Stock photos
• Web forms sending to email accounts
• Image Gallery

Project duration: 30 to 75 days (not assuming a consistent 8 hour a day)

Web site cost range: $2,000 to $6,000

Corporate (100 or more employees) Web Site Cost:

• 25 to 75 Web pages
• High quality design work on all Web pages
• Content management system
• Extra components: Calendars, web site search

Project duration: 60 to 90 days

Web site cost range: $10,000 to $25,000

Ecommerce Web Site Cost:

• 100 to 1000 products
• Shopping cart
• Payment gateway integration
• Product descriptions and images
• Sales tax and shipping calculation
• Customer and administrative control panel

Project duration: 60 to 120 days

Web site cost range: $5,000 to $15,000

Database Driven Web Site or Web Application:

• Dynamic Web pages 20 to 2,000
• Administrative control panel for web site management
• Advanced programming skill sets required
• Interactivity with web site visitor
• Enterprise database (MS SQL Server or MySQL)

Project duration: 90 to 180 days

Web site cost range: $6,000 to $35,000