"How much does a website cost?" is the first question almost every client asks me — and the honest answer is: it depends on what you need. But after building websites for years, I can give you the real price ranges you will see in 2026, and more importantly, what actually drives the cost.

Typical Website Price Ranges in 2026

A simple freelancer or portfolio site usually runs $300–$800. A professional small business website with 5–10 pages, contact forms and basic SEO lands around $800–$2,500. An e-commerce store with payments, products and order management starts near $1,500 and climbs to $5,000+. Fully custom web applications start at $5,000 and go up from there.

If someone quotes you far below these ranges, ask what is missing. If far above, ask what justifies it.

What Drives the Price Up

Four things move the needle most: the number of pages and features, custom design versus a template, e-commerce and payment integrations, and extras like copywriting, logo design and advanced SEO. A five-page brochure site and a fifty-product online store are completely different projects, even though both are called "a website."

The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

The build price is not the total price. Every year you will pay for a domain ($10–$20), hosting ($50–$200), and maintenance. An unmaintained site gets slow, then hacked, then expensive — budget a little for upkeep or hire someone who includes it.

How to Avoid Overpaying

Get a written scope before you pay anything: exact pages, exact features, exact timeline. Compare quotes on identical scopes, not on vibes. And be wary of the cheapest option — I make a good living fixing $200 websites that ended up costing their owners $2,000.

What You Get When You Hire Me

When I build a website, the price includes mobile-friendly design, speed optimization, basic SEO setup, contact forms that actually deliver, and launch testing — everything from my website launch checklist. No surprises, no missing pieces. If you want a number for your project, contact me with a few details and I will give you an honest quote within 24 hours.