How much website design costs in 2025 (with calculator)

When people ask how much website design costs, they’re not really asking about design.

They’re asking: Do I really need to spend that much? Can’t I just use a template and call it a day? Or even “Why did this freelancer quote me $5000 when my nephew said he can do it for $300?”

And those are great questions, just not the ones anyone in the industry usually answers honestly.

So in this piece, we’re breaking it all down:

• What actually affects how much website design costs in 2025

• What you should really be thinking about before you pay a cent

• TWO calculators to help you budget without going in blind

It’s not (only) the design you’re paying for

When you ask: How much website design costs, what you’re really asking is, “how much does it cost to not make decisions myself?” Because that’s what most agencies and freelancers charge for, not the pixels, but the thinking behind the pixels.

You’re paying for:

• Business thinking

• UX decisions

• Strategy

• Psychology

• Performance

• Conversion logic

• SEO prep (if you’re lucky)

You might wonder why two providers can quote $2,000 and $10,000 for what seems like the “same” thing. The truth? It’s rarely the same.

One may be using a theme, while the other is custom-coding. One might skip SEO basics, the other includes keyword research and copywriting. One might hand off a site and disappear, the other includes 3 months of support.

According to Hostinger, features and functionality, UI/UX design, and responsiveness are major factors that influence web design cost. Pricing reflects process, experience, depth, and follow-through. So when comparing, don’t just look at the number. Ask what’s behind it.

Underneath, a good designer (or agency) is doing a lot of mental lifting. They’re asking: What’s the business goal here? What will users do once they land? Where should we place the CTA so it gets clicked, not ignored? Because as a research paper stated more than a decade ago “We desingers have 50 milliseconds to make a good first impression.” Of course, in 2025, the attention span is even lower, so the impact should be immediate. 

And the truth is that some people don’t want to pay for that level of thinking. They just want a website that “looks nice.” But if you want a site that actually works, or for rebranding purposes, you’re buying business clarity, not just colors and fonts.

Calculator: Estimate your real cost

Here’s a rough cost calculator based on your situation. Answer these and total it up:

Also, consider your team situation:

• One person working with you → Base cost

• You + a partner = more back and forth → +15% time

• You + 3 decision-makers → Add at least $1,000 in delays

Once you’ve added it up, you’ll have your actual website cost for you. Important: these aren’t “right” or “wrong” prices. They reflect the level of strategy, detail, and support you’ll get.

You can absolutely get a great site for $3,000. You can also spend $20,000 and feel underwhelmed IF the goals aren’t clear. That’s why we always recommend clients start with clarity: What’s the outcome you want? Then we reverse-engineer the build to match it (budget included.)

A different kind of calculator (based on your goals)

Here’s a quick way to calculate how much website design should cost you in 2025 based on your goals.

Step 1: What’s your main goal?

Goal	Add this cost
Basic presence (just being online)	$500–$2,000
Lead generation site	+$2,000–$6,000
Ecommerce (shop)	+$3,000–$10,000
Online course or membership	+$5,000–$12,000
Custom platform or app	+$10,000–$50,000

Step 2: How much do you value your time?

Calculate how many hours you would need to:

• Brief the designer

• Give feedback

• Collect content

• Upload products

• Write texts

• Test the final result

Let’s say that’s 30–50 hours minimum. Multiply that by your hourly rate. That’s a hidden cost most people forget.

Step 3: Are you willing to redo this in 12 months?

If yes, you can go cheaper. If no, you should pay for something scalable.

How to avoid paying for stuff you DON’T need

Sometimes web designers overcomplicate things. We do. And not because we’re trying to be shady, but because the industry, sometimes, loves the shiny features.

But if you’re a local service provider or solo entrepreneur, you probably don’t need:

• A chatbot powered by AI

• 10 case studies on a portfolio page

• A blog if you’re not going to update it

• Custom code for animations you don’t even like. 

Plus, keep in mind that some animations just add to the loading time. And 88.5% of users dislike slow loading times so much that they consider it a top reason to go somewhere else. In fact, they hate it more than poorly designed navigation and cluttered content structure.

So, what DO you need?

• Clear navigation

• Strong calls to action

• A homepage that instantly explains what you do

• A site that looks great and loads fast on phones

We love sites that focus on what works, not what wins design awards.

Final thoughts: So how much does website design cost?

You could spend:

• $200 for a DIY site

• $500 for a freelancer

• $1,500+ for an agency

• Or $0 if you build something functional yourself on Notion

The better question is: What does my business need right now?

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably someone who doesn’t want to waste money, or time.

So, here’s your next step:

1. Make a list of what your website needs to do.

2. Figure out if you need help with strategy, not just pixels.

3. Budget for the things people forget: time, updates, legal, content.

4. And if you’re hiring someone, ask them what isn’t included.

You’ll avoid 90% of regrets that way.