Average Website Price: What You Really Pay for a Professional Site in 2025

When people ask about the average website price, the typical cost to build a functional, professional website tailored for small to medium businesses. Also known as web design cost, it’s not a one-size-fits-all number—it changes based on what you need, who builds it, and how much customization is involved. Too many freelancers and agencies throw out vague numbers like "$500" or "$5,000" without explaining why. The truth? A basic site with a few pages and a contact form might cost under $1,500. But if you want something that converts visitors, works perfectly on phones, loads fast, and plays nice with Google, you’re looking at $3,000 to $8,000. And that’s not a rip-off—it’s what it takes to build something that actually grows your business.

The freelance web developer rates, the hourly or project-based fees charged by independent web professionals. Also known as web development cost, vary wildly depending on experience and location. In the UK, a junior dev might charge £25–£40/hour, while a seasoned pro with SEO and UX skills can charge £60–£100/hour. A simple brochure site might take 20–40 hours to build, so you’re looking at £1,000 to £4,000 before extras like hosting, domain, or content writing. Compare that to a big agency, and you’ll often pay double for the same work—just with more meetings and slower turnaround. Then there’s the custom website pricing, the cost structure for websites built from scratch with unique features, integrations, or e-commerce functionality. Also known as professional website pricing, this isn’t just about design—it’s about solving real business problems. Want to accept payments? Add a booking system? Connect to your CRM? Those features push the price up, but they also push your sales up. A basic Shopify store starts around £3,000. A custom WordPress site with advanced forms and membership areas? £5,000–£10,000. And yes, those numbers are real—based on actual client projects from the last 12 months.

What you’re really paying for isn’t just code. It’s experience. It’s knowing which plugins slow things down. It’s making sure your site passes Google’s Core Web Vitals. It’s setting up clean, crawlable code so search engines can find your pages. It’s building a site that looks good on an iPhone 15 and an old Android tablet from 2018. That’s why the average website price isn’t about the cheapest option—it’s about getting value that lasts. You wouldn’t buy a cheap tire for your car and expect it to last five years. Why do it with your website?

Below, you’ll find real breakdowns of what different types of websites cost, what you get for your money, and how to spot a fair deal—no marketing fluff, just what matters.