How Much Does Web Design Cost?
A transparent guide to web design pricing in 2026. What to budget, what affects cost, and how to get the best value for your web design investment.
Web Design Cost Overview
Web design costs vary widely depending on complexity, page count, custom features, and the agency you work with. Here is a realistic breakdown of what businesses pay for professional web design in 2026:
- Basic Website Design (5-8 pages) - $2,000 - $5,000
- Custom Business Website (10-20 pages) - $5,000 - $15,000
- E-commerce Store Design - $5,000 - $40,000+
- Landing Page Design - $1,500 - $5,000
- UI/UX Design (App/Product) - $10,000 - $50,000+
- Logo & Brand Identity - $2,000 - $10,000
- Website Redesign - $3,000 - $25,000+
Factors That Affect Web Design Cost
Number of Pages
More pages means more unique layouts to design. A 5-page site costs significantly less than a 30-page site with multiple content types and templates.
Design Complexity
Custom illustrations, micro-animations, parallax effects, and intricate layouts require more design hours than clean, minimal designs.
Custom vs Template
100% custom design costs more than customizing a pre-built template, but delivers a unique brand experience and better conversion rates.
Responsive Breakpoints
Designing for desktop, tablet, and mobile requires separate layout considerations. More breakpoints means more design work but better user experience.
Content Creation
If the agency writes copy and sources photography, that adds $1,000-$5,000+ to the design cost. Providing your own content saves money.
Revision Rounds
Most agencies include 2-3 revision rounds. Additional rounds add $500-$1,500 each. Clear feedback and organized review processes minimize revisions.
Web Design Cost by Business Type
- Small Business - $3,000-$8,000 for a professional 5-10 page website with responsive design, SEO, and CMS
- Startups - $3,000-$8,000 for marketing sites, $10,000-$25,000+ for product/SaaS interface design
- E-commerce - $5,000-$40,000+ depending on catalog size and custom checkout features
- Real Estate - $5,000-$15,000 for agent sites, $15,000-$40,000+ for listing platforms
- Contractors - $2,500-$6,000 for a lead-generating contractor website with project galleries
Design vs Development Cost Breakdown
A common question is how web design costs compare to web development costs. Here is a typical breakdown for a $10,000 total project budget:
- Web Design (30-40%) - $3,000-$4,000 — research, wireframes, visual design, prototyping
- Web Development (50-60%) - $5,000-$6,000 — coding, CMS setup, integrations, testing
- Launch & QA (10%) - $1,000 — deployment, cross-browser testing, performance optimization
Hiring one agency for both design and development (like CodeVix) is typically 15-25% cheaper than hiring separate teams, because there is no lost time in handoff, translation, or miscommunication between teams.
How to Save Money on Web Design
- Provide your own content - Writing your own copy and having photos ready saves $1,000-$5,000.
- Start with fewer pages - Launch with essential pages, then add more as your business grows.
- Bundle design + development - One agency for both is cheaper than separate vendors.
- Give clear, organized feedback - Fewer revision rounds means lower cost. Consolidate feedback.
- Know what you want - Sharing design inspiration, competitor sites, and brand guidelines upfront saves discovery time.
Get a Free Web Design Estimate
Every project is different. Tell us about yours and we will provide a detailed estimate with clear pricing and no hidden fees. Free consultation, zero obligation.
Get a Free QuoteWeb Design Cost FAQ
How much does a basic website design cost?
A basic 5-page website design costs $2,000-$5,000, including responsive layout, contact form, and SEO-optimized structure. This is ideal for small businesses that need a professional online presence without complex custom features.
How much does custom website design cost?
Custom website design ranges from $5,000-$15,000 for small to medium businesses and $15,000-$50,000+ for complex multi-page sites with advanced UX, animations, and custom interactive elements. The price depends on page count, complexity, and design detail.
Is web design cheaper than web development?
Web design (visual design, wireframes, prototypes) is typically 30-40% of total project cost. Web development (coding, functionality, backend) is 50-60%. A $10,000 website might be $3,500 for design and $5,500 for development, plus testing and launch. Bundling design + development together is usually more cost-effective than hiring separate teams.
Why does web design cost so much?
Professional web design involves research, strategy, wireframing, visual design, prototyping, revision cycles, and design system creation. Cheap designs skip these steps and use templates. Custom design produces a unique, conversion-optimized site that pays for itself through better results.
How much does e-commerce design cost?
E-commerce website design ranges from $5,000-$12,000 for a standard store (50-200 products) to $15,000-$40,000+ for custom marketplace platforms. Costs depend on product count, checkout complexity, and features like filters, wishlists, and subscription options.
Do you offer payment plans for web design?
Yes. We offer milestone-based payment schedules where you pay a deposit upfront, then payments at design approval, development completion, and launch. This spreads the cost across the project timeline. We also offer phased approaches for budget-conscious clients.
What is a realistic web design budget for a small business?
For most small businesses, $3,000-$8,000 is a realistic budget for a professional custom website design with 5-10 pages, responsive layout, SEO foundation, and basic CMS. Going below $2,000 typically means templates or offshore work with quality tradeoffs.