Short answer: in the UK, a DIY website builder is the cheapest option, a freelancer typically costs from several hundred to a few thousand pounds, and an agency usually costs more again. One published UK guide puts freelancers at about £800–£3,000 and agencies at about £2,500–£10,000 for a trade website. The right choice depends on how much work you want the website to bring in, not just the build price.
What affects the cost of a website?
Two websites that look similar can cost very different amounts. The price mostly comes down to five things:
- Number of pages. A one-page site costs less than a site with a page for every service and area you cover.
- Copywriting. Writing clear, persuasive text that also works for Google takes time. Some quotes include it, some don’t.
- Design. A template with your logo is quicker than a design built around your brand.
- Features. Quote forms, booking, galleries, reviews and online payments all add work.
- SEO set-up. Page titles, descriptions, headings, speed and structured data decide whether Google can understand and show your pages.
DIY builder, freelancer or agency: how do they compare?
| Option | Typical cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY website builder | Monthly or yearly subscription | Very small budgets and simple sites | Your time, limited SEO control, generic templates |
| Freelancer | About £800–£3,000 (one UK estimate) | A solid site on a sensible budget | Availability, and who looks after the site later |
| Agency | About £2,500–£10,000 (one UK estimate) | Businesses that want design, SEO and marketing together | Paying for features you don’t need |
The ranges above are from Whito’s UK guide to roofer website costs. Prices vary by region and supplier, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.
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What running costs should you budget for?
The build is only part of the cost. Most websites also have ongoing costs:
- Domain name, renewed every year.
- Hosting, usually monthly or yearly.
- Updates and security, especially for WordPress sites.
- Changes and new pages as your business grows.
- Marketing, such as SEO or Google Ads, if you want the site to bring in a steady flow of enquiries.
How do you know if a website is worth the money?
Judge a website by the enquiries it brings in, not by how it looks. A good small business website should:
- Load quickly on a phone.
- Show your phone number and a quote button on every page.
- Explain clearly what you do and where you work.
- Show real reviews and photos of your work.
- Have the SEO basics in place so it can be found on Google.
If you want people to find the site on Google, read our guide on whether to start with Google Ads or SEO, and how to get your business on Google Maps.
UK website prices in 2026: a quick price table
Here are typical 2026 UK prices for a professionally built website, before VAT. They come from two published UK guides, so use them as a sense-check, not a quote.
| Website type | Freelancer | Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Basic brochure site (3–5 pages) | £500–£1,500 | £2,000–£5,000 (small or boutique agency) |
| Standard business site (5–10 pages) | £1,500–£3,000 | £3,000–£8,000 (regional agency) |
| Larger site with a CMS (10–20 pages) | £2,000–£5,000 | £5,000–£15,000 (mid-size agency) |
| Online shop (WooCommerce or Shopify) | £3,000–£10,000 | £5,000–£15,000 for a standard store |
Sources: ExpertSure’s 2026 UK website cost guide (updated September 2026) and Kwiboo’s 2026 UK breakdown (January 2026). London agencies usually charge more than regional ones for similar work.
How much do DIY website builders cost in the UK?
A website builder is the cheapest way to get online, but you pay every month and you do the work. These were the UK plan prices in mid-2026:
| Builder and plan | Paid yearly (per month) | Paid monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Wix Light | £9 | £11.50 |
| Wix Core | £16 | £19 |
| Wix Business | £25 | £29 |
| Squarespace Basic | £12 | £16 |
| Squarespace Core | £17 | £24 |
| Squarespace Plus | £29 | £36 |
Sources: ExpertSure’s Wix UK pricing and Squarespace UK pricing guides, checked July–August 2026. Prices change, and renewal prices can be higher, so check the checkout screen before you pay. Squarespace’s Basic plan also takes a 2% fee on shop sales.
Not sure a builder is right for you? Compare the options in our guide to the best website builder for small business in the UK.
What does a website cost to run each year?
The build is only part of the cost. Budget for these every year:
| Ongoing cost | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| .co.uk domain renewal | £10–£15 a year |
| Hosting | £5–£30 a month (managed WordPress hosting is often £9–£18 a month) |
| SSL certificate | Usually free, often included with hosting |
| Basic maintenance (updates and backups) | £25–£150 a month, depending on who does it |
| Content changes | £30–£100 an hour, or included in a care plan |
Kwiboo puts the total at roughly £500–£2,500 a year for a typical small business site. Online shops cost more to run. Sources: Kwiboo’s 2026 UK breakdown and ExpertSure’s 2026 UK website cost guide.
Web designer day rates in the UK
Some freelancers price by the day rather than by the project. ExpertSure’s 2026 guide gives these typical UK day rates:
| Experience | Typical day rate |
|---|---|
| Junior to mid-level | £200–£350 |
| Experienced | £300–£500 |
| Specialist or senior | £400–£550 |
A simple five-page site usually takes a few days of work once the text and photos are ready. Larger sites, shops and custom features take longer.
Builder, freelancer or agency: which should you choose?
- Choose a builder if your budget is under a few hundred pounds, you only need a simple site and you have time to build it yourself.
- Choose a freelancer if you want a professional site on a sensible budget and you are happy to manage SEO and marketing separately.
- Choose an agency if you want the website, SEO, Google Business Profile and ads handled together by one team.
Whichever you choose, make sure you own the domain and the site, and that the basics of local SEO are in place from day one. Our local SEO checklist covers what to ask for.
Hidden costs that catch people out
- Copywriting. Many quotes assume you supply the text. Good, SEO-friendly copy for every service page takes time.
- Photography. Real photos of your team and jobs build more trust than stock images, but someone has to take them.
- Premium plugins and licences. Booking systems, forms and page builders can carry yearly fees.
- Transaction fees. Some builders and payment providers take a percentage of every sale.
- VAT. Check whether a quote includes VAT. Many builders show UK prices before the 20% VAT is added.
- Moving an old site. Redirects, content moves and keeping your Google rankings can add work. See our guide to website redesigns and SEO.
How to get an accurate website quote
You get closer, fairer quotes when every supplier is pricing the same job. Before you ask, write down:
- The pages you need: home, about, contact, plus one page per service and per main area you cover.
- The features you need, such as quote forms, booking, galleries or payments.
- Who is writing the text and supplying photos.
- Two or three websites you like, and why.
- Who will host and look after the site after launch, and who owns the domain.
- Your rough budget, so suppliers can suggest what fits.
Then ask each supplier for a fixed price that lists every page and feature, plus the yearly running costs.
Is a cheap website a false economy?
Not always. A simple, fast site with clear contact details can work well for a new business. The real question is how many enquiries it brings in.
Here is a simple worked example with made-up figures. If your average job is worth £300 and a better website brings in two extra jobs a month, that is £600 a month. A £1,500 website would pay for itself in about three months. A cheaper site that brings in nothing costs more in the end.
FAQs
How much does a 5-page website cost in the UK?
A basic 3–5 page brochure site typically costs £500–£1,500 from a freelancer and from about £2,000 from a small agency, before VAT. Builders cost less up front but charge every month.
Do website prices include VAT?
Not always. Many UK agencies and freelancers quote before VAT, and builder prices are often shown without the 20% VAT. Ask the supplier to confirm.
How much does website maintenance cost per month in the UK?
Basic updates and backups usually cost £25–£150 a month. Larger care plans with security monitoring and content updates can cost £100–£500 a month.
Is WordPress free?
The WordPress software is free, but you still pay for a domain, hosting and any premium themes or plugins, plus the cost of building the site.
Can I get a website for free?
Some builders have free plans, but they usually show the builder’s branding and don’t let you use your own domain name. For a business, a paid plan or a properly built site looks more trustworthy.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A simple site can be built quickly once the content is ready. Waiting for photos, text and approvals is usually what slows a project down.
Do I need to pay for SEO separately?
The SEO basics should be part of any good website build. Ranking for competitive searches in your area usually needs ongoing SEO work on top.
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