How Much Should Custom Website Design Cost in 2025?

When considering a custom website design, several factors come into play that affect the cost of your project. For a small business website, the cost could vary based on the pages, custom layouts, and the features or functionalities you want. The complexity of the website, whether it’s a basic page or includes one-of-a-kind features like ecommerce functionality and a content management system (CMS), will heavily influence the price. Working with freelancers or agencies can also impact pricing—some may offer lower rates, while others with more experience may ask for a higher investment.

A website design company may provide more resources for a more scalable solution, ensuring a professional and responsive user experience. However, tools like Divi can reduce development costs and still deliver great results. The cost of a website project depends on the team size, location, and the complexity of business goals, whether you are a medium business or a big player in your industry.

How Much Should Custom Website Design Cost in 2025? Quick Answer

Custom website design in 2025 typically costs between $2,000 to $10,000+, depending on complexity and features. Simple sites may start around $2,000, while advanced ones can go higher.

What Determines the Cost to Design Websites?

When deciding how much to pay for a website design, several factors come into play. The project size is crucial—do you need a full site design from scratch, or are you working with specific elements? A simple website will typically cost less than a complex one, especially if it’s an enterprise-level project with cutting-edge features. Additionally, the type of website you’re building—whether it’s for portfolios, corporate sites, or online stores—affects the design approach and overall cost. If you decide to DIY, the pricing model might vary from hourly rates to project-based rates depending on whether you’re working with a freelance web designer, a contractor, or an agency. Your budget will also play a big role in determining the scope and depth of the website design. Custom designs tailored to your business needs may demand a larger investment, especially if the complexity and capabilities of the site require advanced functionality or custom elements.

Project Complexity

The cost of custom website design depends heavily on project complexity. If you’re designing a site from scratch, expect to pay more due to the extra research, planning, and effort required. Larger and more complex, intricate projects, especially those with custom features, will naturally increase the costs. The number of pages impacts your project’s scope, as more pages require in-depth research and wireframes. Whether you choose a custom-built site, a content management system (CMS), or a website builder, each method affects the final price. More resources and time are needed for a project with higher complexity, so plan accordingly to ensure your needs are met within your budget.

Project Duration

The time required to complete a web design project can significantly impact its cost. For a short-term project with a tight deadline, you may encounter rush fees due to the shorter time frame needed. In contrast, a project with a longer project timeline offers more flexibility, reducing the need for additional costs. The website type and the platform choice also play a role in determining how long the design process will take, as different platforms may require varying levels of design effort and time commitment.

Experience and Expertise

When it comes to custom website design cost, web designers or agencies with more years of experience and specialized skills tend to charge more than generalists or junior designers. Experienced designers bring a wealth of expertise in various web design tools and niches, as well as knowledge in essential programming languages like CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. Their proficiency in multiple scripting languages makes their services costlier compared to those who are only proficient in one language. Teams with diverse skill sets are often able to handle complex projects, making their services more expensive as well.

Type of Website

The type of website you choose plays a key role in determining the cost of custom website design. For instance, a dynamic e-commerce store will naturally cost more to design and customize compared to a portfolio website, which is generally simpler with fewer features and web pages. Ecommerce stores need additional functionality like shopping carts, checkout pages, payment gateways, and integrations, which all increase the costs. On the other hand, a corporate website requires more in-depth planning to ensure product pages align with the company’s goals and help generate revenue. These factors all contribute to the overall design and planning efforts required for your website.

Approach

Web design costs can vary significantly depending on your website-building approach. If you choose to outsource to an agency, you may face higher costs due to their comprehensive offerings. On the other hand, hiring a freelance web designer can offer more flexible rates, but they may charge more for short-term projects while offering lower rates for longer-term projects, often in exchange for retainers that provide them with better income stability. In-house web designers are paid a fixed salary, which covers expenses like software licenses, working equipment, and training. Each approach has its own pricing structure, and selecting the best one depends on your budget and project needs.

Customization Level

The level of customization and personalization you choose for your site directly impacts web design costs. For example, a template edit for a small business website is usually less expensive than a custom design for an enterprise-level website. Custom web design often costs more because you need to manually plan everything from scratch, including the site’s layout, sitemap, and visual elements. You’ll also pay more for custom assets like a logo, icons, fonts, styling, and graphics, as creating these requires additional time and effort.

Website Design Costs Breakdown

Website Design Costs Per Hour

Typically range from $30 to $150 per hour, depending on experience and expertise.

Website Design Costs per Project

Website design costs vary depending on the approach you choose. Here’s a breakdown of potential costs:

DIY website: If you decide to design yourself, the average costs can be as low as $0 to $300, covering things like a domain name and any additional or custom elements.
Freelancer: Hiring a freelancer can cost between $500 and $5,000 per project, depending on their experience, skill, and the scope of design needs.
In-house web designer: If you opt for an in-house web designer, you could pay $4,000 to $7,500 per month, which adds up to $50,000 to $91,000 annually.
Professional web design agency: Agencies typically charge anywhere from $500 to $10,000 per project based on the size, scale, and complexity of the website.

The total cost depends on factors like the design needs, scope, and the type of designer or agency you hire.

Custom Website Design Cost

The custom website design cost depends on several factors, such as whether you’re an established brand or a startup. Many businesses are moving away from template-based websites because they often don’t meet specific needs, and custom-designed websites are a more flexible and personalized solution. Big players in the eCommerce space, such as Wayfair, have invested in custom-designed eCommerce platforms that include advanced features like 3D product visualization, augmented reality, and personalized eyewear design tools. Other companies like Sephora and Warby Parker have also recognized the value of custom design, incorporating mobile-optimized designs and minimalist designs that align with their brand identity. A custom website design can be a worthwhile investment for businesses across industries, including B2B website design, as it allows for personalization and better alignment with brand values. With the expertise provided by web design agencies or professional designers, businesses can create websites that exceed expectations and stand out in the market. Additionally, SEO-driven responsive design, integration solutions, and compliance expertise are key factors that impact the final cost.

Pricing for Custom Website Design

DIY Website: If you choose to design it yourself, the average cost ranges from $0 to $300, which includes costs for a domain name and additional custom elements.
Freelancer: Hiring a freelancer typically costs between $500 and $5,000 per project, depending on the project scope, experience, and skill.
In-house Web Designer: The cost of hiring an in-house web designer ranges from $4,000 to $7,500 per month, which can add up to $50,000 to $91,000 annually.
Web Design Agency: Engaging with a web design agency for a custom website can cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000 per project, depending on the features, design complexity, and project scale.
Custom Website Design for Big Players: For large, feature-rich websites with advanced functionalities such as 3D visualization or augmented reality, the cost can range from $10,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the requirements.

DIY Website Design Costs

For startups or small business owners on a tight budget, DIY site design can be a great option. You can use a website builder or design from scratch if you have technical skills and coding skills. A website builder is easier because it doesn’t require advanced web development knowledge. With a drag and drop feature, you can add features and design your site as you like. For a free website builder, you can get started without any costs, but if you need premium tools for more advanced features, you may need to subscribe to a platform with a pricing plan, which can cost anywhere from $10 to $500+ per year, depending on the features offered.

Additional Website Costs

When designing your website, there are some additional elements you must pay for, such as domain registration, hosting, and premium features. These expenses can vary, and the average costs depend on the tools and services required to complete your custom design.

Domain Name: $10-$30 per year

Domain names usually cost between $10-$30 per year, depending on the domain name registrar and domain extension. You may find special offers that lower the price or even get a free domain name with some web hosting plans. Popular extensions like .com, .org, .co, or .io are affordable, but top-level domains (TLDs) or premium domains can be more expensive due to the popularity of keywords. Consider a prized domain if it fits your website’s goals and branding.

Web Hosting: $1-$500 per month

When setting up a website, you’ll need both a domain name and website hosting. Domain names typically cost between $10-$30 per year. Popular domain extensions like .com, .org, .co, and .io are commonly used, but prices may vary depending on the domain name registrar. Hosting costs also vary based on your choice. Shared hosting costs between $1-$15 per month, while dedicated server hosting can range from $80-$500 per month. For those using WordPress, WordPress managed hosting typically costs between $3-$200 per month, and cloud hosting and VPS web hosting usually cost between $10-$200 per month and $10-$100 per month, respectively. Many hosting providers, such as Hostinger, SiteGround, Bluehost, Wix, and Squarespace, offer hosting services, and some even provide a free domain name with the hosting plan. If you’re seeking more control and access to extra features, you may prefer a separate hosting service. Other factors like SSL certificates, data storage, bandwidth, site traffic, and the number of sites you need will also impact your overall hosting costs.

Website Builder Subscription: $0-$500+ per year

If you decide to use a website builder to create your site, subscription costs can range from $0-$500 per year, depending on the plan you choose. These costs typically include essential tools like plugins, themes, hosting, and an SSL certificate. Additionally, you’ll need to account for annual website builder maintenance costs, which can vary from $0-$5,000+. Choosing the right website builder is crucial, especially for small businesses. There are plenty of options to consider, so it’s essential to find the best fit based on your needs and budget.

Security Features: $0-$600 per year

To ensure your website is safe, you’ll need to invest in security tools like security plugins that cost between $0-$600 per year, depending on your plugin choice. Many web hosts and web builders already provide basic security features such as DDoS protection, SSL certificates, brute force protection, login protection, and virus and malware scanning. If you’re hiring a web designer, it’s important to discuss which security features you want built into your site. Some designers may include these features in their fees, while others might require you to purchase them separately on an ad hoc basis.

SSL Certificate: $0-$1,000

An SSL certificate is a security feature that:

Authenticates your site identity
Provides an encrypted connection
Builds confidence among site visitors
Makes your site trustworthy
Prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data
Allows online payments for ecommerce stores

Web hosts and web builders offer free SSL certificates, but for advanced features, prices can range from $8-$1,000 per year. The price depends on the certificate provider, number of domains covered, validation process, and warranty provided by the certificate authority.

Add-ons and Plugins: $0-$100+ per year

Add-ons and plugins help customize your site or existing applications. Basic ones are often free, but premium versions can cost $5-$100+ per year, depending on the features you need. These tools enhance your website’s functionality, giving you more control and customization options.

Hiring a Webmaster: $15-$10,000+

If you’re working on a large website, it might be worth hiring a webmaster for content management and website maintenance. The cost to hire a webmaster on a contractual or full-time basis typically ranges from $71,000-$132,000 per year. However, if you only need someone to manage your site for a few hours each month, it could cost you anywhere from $15-$100+ per hour or $50-$350+ per month.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): $50-$10,000+

To rank your website higher on search engine results pages (SERPs), you’ll need a solid SEO strategy. Hiring an in-house or freelance SEO expert can cost anywhere from $500-$10,000 per month, $50-$200 per hour, or $1,000-$10,000 per project, depending on the project scope. For SEO services, monthly retainers typically range from $750-$5,000. Costs can vary greatly based on the scope, scale, and competitive landscape of the industry you’re in, as well as the digital stature of your business. On a project basis, the costs are calculated to ensure a positive ROI.

Images and Design: $60-$7,000+

To create a visually appealing website, you’ll need high-quality artwork and graphics for landing pages, social media posts, and interactive elements like videos. These costs can quickly add up. You can use free stock images from sites like Pixabay or Pexels, or create your own with AI content creation tools. However, these may not give you a competitive edge. For more professional images, hiring a photographer for a product photoshoot can cost between $100-$500+ per hour or $60-$600 per image, depending on the product size, complexity, and volume. Alternatively, hiring a graphic designer could cost $10-$200+ per hour, $50-$1,000+ per project, or $53,000-$92,000 per year to create professional graphics for your website. If you’re using a website builder, you can access free themes and templates or purchase premium templates that cost between $20-$200+ per template.

Ecommerce Functionality: $0-$7,500+

To set up an ecommerce business, you’ll need ecommerce tools like inventory managers, shopping carts, and point-of-sale software to sell products on your website. Most website builders and web hosts offer ecommerce plans as part of their subscription plans, which cost between $0-$300+ per month. If you use platforms like Shopify or other ecommerce platforms, you can customize your store and set up to accept payments. Alternatively, you can hire an ecommerce web designer or agency to design a custom website, which can cost anywhere from $30-$200+ per hour, $4,000-$7,500 per month, or $500-$10,000+ per project.

Custom Website Design

What is Custom Website Design?

Custom website design is the process of designing a website from the ground up to meet the specific needs and objectives of a business or organization. Unlike using pre-made themes or templates, every design element – including the layout, visual aesthetics, and user experience – is tailored to the client’s requirements. This means that clients have full creative control over the final design, ensuring the website is completely unique to their vision and goals.

Process of Designing a Custom Website

Step in the Web Design Process	Web Design Expert	Web Design Task	Average Hourly Fee (US)
Discovery and Planning	Project Manager & Strategist	Understand client’s business goals, design aspirations, and target user-bases. Define website objectives and user experience (UX) strategy. Conducting user research. Establishing KPIs and metrics.	$75 – $125
Information Architecture	Information Architecture Designer	Plan website structure, navigation, and content organization. Mapping out user journeys and identifying key touchpoints. Plan out user flows and interactions.	$50 – $100
Visual Design	Web Designer and UI/UX Designer	Crafting a unique visual identity with logo, color scheme, typography, and page layouts. Developing multiple interactive prototypes to test and validate the UX.	$60 – $150
Development	Web Designer and UI/UX Designer, Front-End and Back-End Developer	Help developers translate design mockups into a functional website using code. Integrate CMS and other desired functionalities into the final design.	$75 – $175
Testing and Optimization	QA Tester and SEO Specialist	Conduct rigorous testing for responsiveness, usability, and search engine optimization (SEO).	$50 – $100
Deployment and Maintenance	Web Designer and UI/UX Designer, Web Developers & IT Specialists	Launch the website. Provide ongoing design maintenance with web developers & IT specialists. Provide design updates.	$75 – $125

Cost Factors for Custom Website Design

1. Number of Pages

The number of pages on your website directly affects the cost and time involved in the design. A smaller site with 10-20 pages will generally be more affordable compared to a large site with many pages.

2. Design Complexity and Uniqueness

Design complexity and uniqueness are major factors in determining the cost. A site that features interactive multimedia, custom illustrations, and mobile-friendly animation will cost more due to the effort involved in creating these features.

3. Functionality and Integrations

Functionality is crucial when designing a website. Features like contact forms, payment processing, inventory management, and integrating with external systems like CRMs can significantly increase the overall cost of your website.

4. Responsive Design

A responsive design ensures your website works well on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. This design aspect is essential and can add anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 depending on the website’s complexity.

5. Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

After your website is live, you’ll need ongoing maintenance and updates. Basic updates and security may cost around $2,000 per year, while more comprehensive services, including content updates and adding new features, could range from $5,000 to $20,000+ annually.

Custom Website Design Costs by Business Size

The cost of a custom website design varies by business size and project complexity:

Basic website for small businesses: $5,000 to $15,000 (includes mobile-responsive design, clean layout, basic SEO).
Medium-sized businesses: $20,000 to $40,000 (includes custom design elements, interactive features, appointment booking, CMS).
Large enterprises: Starts from $50,000 and can go up to $250,000 for e-commerce sites, secure payment processing, advanced CMS, custom animations, and interactive multimedia.

Custom Website Design Cost by Type of Website

eCommerce websites: $15,000 to $40,000+ (includes product listings, secure shopping carts, payment integrations).
Corporate websites: $20,000 to $30,000 (includes brand storytelling, employee profiles, lead generation tools).
Landing pages: $1,500 to $2,500 (includes CTAs, A/B testing, targeted messaging).
SaaS websites: $25,000 to $50,000+ (includes user interfaces, dashboards, tool integrations).
Blog-style websites: $12,000 to $20,000 (includes content layout, social media integration).

Custom Website Design Cost by Team Type & Location

The cost of custom website design depends on the team type and location. Here’s how it breaks down:

In-house development team: $100,000 – $150,000 (companies like Apple or Google benefit from complete brand consistency and long-term development, but with high overhead costs).
Local development agency: $80,000 – $120,000 (teams in places like San Francisco offer diverse skills and established project management, but it’s often more expensive than offshore agencies).
Freelance team: $65,000 – $90,000 (affordable rates, but might involve project management challenges and inconsistent design quality).

Offshore development agency: $30,000 – $60,000 (cost-effective due to lower living expenses in places like India and Eastern Europe, but may come with communication issues or cultural differences).

Website Design Options & Their Costs

Website Builders: $300 – $6,000/year
Custom Development (One-time): $10,000+
WordPress Design (One-time): $200 – $7,000
Freelance/Agency Services: $2,400 – $60,000+

There are various website design options, each with different costs and trade-offs. Pre-made templates are the most affordable but limit customization. A custom design offers complete flexibility, but it costs more. A bespoke design, tailored to your business’s needs, requires more time and resources, making it more expensive. Factors like number of pages, features, and choosing an in-house team, freelancers, or an agency impact the final cost. The trade-off with custom designs is the higher cost for a unique, optimized website that aligns with your brand’s identity.

Additional Costs Associated With Web Design

Domains: $10 – $50/year
Web Hosting: $360 – $3,600/year
SSL Certificates: $0 – $200/year
Maintenance Plans: $250 – $12,000/year

When planning your custom website design cost, it’s important to consider the additional costs that come beyond the initial design. Ongoing expenses often surprise website owners, so you should budget for things like website maintenance, domain registration, hosting fees, and SSL certificates. These costs can add up quickly, and some of them, like hosting and maintenance, are recurring. Be sure to account for these additional costs to avoid any surprises down the road.

No matter the scale of your project, a solid starting point for any website is to include essential pages like a homepage that quickly engages visitors, a products or services page, an about page, a contact page, and legal pages like privacy policy and terms and conditions. These help in building and organizing your site effectively.