How Much Should a Website Cost in 2026?

You're about to invest in a website, and the price quotes are all over the map. One freelancer says $500. An agency quotes $15,000. Your nephew will "do it for free."

What's the right price? And more importantly—what are you actually getting for your money?

Let's cut through the confusion. Here's everything you need to know about website pricing in 2026, broken down by what you're actually paying for.

The Website Pricing Spectrum

Website costs typically fall into five tiers:

1. DIY Platform Websites: $0-$500/year

Platforms: Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy Website Builder

Best for: Hobbyists, personal blogs, testing an idea

These platforms let you build a website yourself using drag-and-drop tools. You'll pay:

• $0-$30/month for the platform subscription
• $12-$20/year for a custom domain
• $0-$200 for premium templates

The catch? You're paying with your time. Expect to spend 40-80 hours learning the platform, building your site, and troubleshooting issues. At $50/hour (a modest value for your time), that's $2,000-$4,000 in opportunity cost.

2. Template-Based Professional Sites: $500-$2,500

What you get: Pre-designed template customized with your content

Timeline: 1-2 weeks

Best for: Solopreneurs, side hustles, basic business presence

A professional takes a proven template and customizes it with your branding, content, and images. You get:

• Mobile-responsive design
• Basic SEO setup
• Contact forms
• 5-10 pages of content
• Basic analytics setup

Limitations: Limited customization, may look similar to other sites using the same template, basic functionality only.

3. Custom Small Business Websites: $2,500-$7,500

What you get: Semi-custom design tailored to your brand

Timeline: 2-4 weeks

Best for: Established small businesses, restaurants, contractors, professional services

This is the sweet spot for most small businesses. You get:

• Custom design work (not just a template)
• 10-20 pages of professional content
• Advanced SEO optimization
• Integration with your CRM or booking system
• Professional photography or design work
• Security and performance optimization
• Training on how to update your site

This is where Edge Forge Digital operates. We deliver fully custom sites at the lower end of this range by using efficient processes and proven frameworks—without cutting corners on quality.

4. Advanced Business Websites: $7,500-$20,000

What you get: Fully custom design with advanced functionality

Timeline: 6-12 weeks

Best for: Growing companies, e-commerce sites, complex service offerings

At this level, you're paying for:

• Extensive custom design and branding
• E-commerce functionality with payment processing
• Custom web applications or tools
• Membership or portal features
• Multi-language support
• Advanced analytics and conversion tracking
• Extensive content creation (30+ pages)

5. Enterprise Solutions: $20,000+

What you get: Complex custom applications, extensive integrations

Timeline: 3-12 months

Best for: Large organizations, SaaS platforms, complex business requirements

Enterprise sites include custom software development, extensive testing, advanced security, and ongoing development teams.

What Makes Websites Expensive?

Understanding what drives costs helps you make smarter decisions:

1. Strategy & Planning (10-20% of cost)

Good agencies don't just build what you ask for—they research your competitors, understand your audience, and create a strategy that drives results.

2. Design Work (20-30% of cost)

Custom design isn't just making things pretty. It's about creating an experience that guides visitors toward becoming customers.

3. Development (30-40% of cost)

This is where design becomes reality: coding, testing across devices, optimizing performance, and ensuring security.

4. Content Creation (10-20% of cost)

Professional copywriting, photography, and video production cost money—but they're what convert visitors into customers.

5. Testing & Launch (5-10% of cost)

Quality assurance, browser testing, mobile optimization, and proper launch procedures ensure your site works flawlessly.

Red Flags: When "Cheap" Costs More

Beware of these warning signs:

• No contract or scope of work - You need clarity on what you're paying for
• "We'll launch in 3 days" for a custom site - Quality takes time
• Designer doesn't ask about your business goals - Pretty websites that don't convert are worthless
• No mention of SEO, speed, or mobile optimization - These are non-negotiable in 2026
• You don't own the site or source code - Some designers lock you in to their hosting

The ROI Question: Is It Worth It?

A $5,000 website might seem expensive—until you realize it can generate $50,000+ in annual revenue.

Consider:

• A restaurant website that captures 10 additional delivery orders per week = $26,000/year in revenue
• A contractor site that lands 2 extra jobs per month = $100,000+/year
• A professional services site that replaces one Yellow Pages ad = $3,000/year savings plus new client acquisition

The question isn't "How much does a website cost?"

It's "How much is NOT having a proper website costing me?"

Bottom Line: What Should YOU Pay?

Here's the honest answer:

If your website is just a digital business card and you're not relying on it for revenue, DIY or a template site ($0-$2,500) is fine.

If your website needs to generate revenue, build credibility, or compete for customers, invest $2,500-$7,500 in a professional site. This is the range where quality meets value.

If you need e-commerce, advanced features, or extensive customization, budget $7,500+ and work with a specialized agency.

The worst decision? Spending $1,000 on a cheap website that doesn't work, then paying $5,000 to rebuild it properly six months later.

Pay once, do it right, and focus on growing your business.