Web design
How much does a website cost in the UK in 2026?
A professionally built small-business website in the UK typically costs £1,500 to £5,000 for five pages, plus £500 to £2,000 a year to keep it running. A DIY website builder costs less up front, and a large custom site or online shop costs much more. Here is what each option costs, the costs people forget, and how pay-monthly websites compare.
What each option costs
| Option | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| DIY website builder (Wix, Squarespace) | £10–£50 a month |
| Freelancer, 5-page site | £1,500–£3,000 |
| Agency, 5-page site | £3,000–£5,000 |
| Custom business site, 15+ pages | £5,000–£15,000 |
| Online shop | £5,000–£20,000+ |
Source: Whito, Website design costs UK (2026). Build prices are one-off.
The running costs
Whatever you choose, a website keeps costing money after launch. Whito puts the total at £500 to £2,000 a year:
- Domain name: about £10 to £30 a year.
- Hosting: about £50 to £300 a year.
- Plugins and themes: often £50 to £300 a year.
- Maintenance and updates: typically £50 to £200 a month on a care plan.
The costs people forget
- Words and photos. Copywriting alone can cost £50 to £150 a page.
- Changes after launch. New pages, prices and photos are often charged by the hour.
- Getting found. A website is not automatically on Google; SEO is a separate cost.
Whito estimates hidden costs like these add 30 to 50% to the quoted price.
Pay monthly websites
A pay-monthly website spreads the cost: you pay a fixed monthly fee that covers design, hosting, security and updates. It suits businesses that want a professional site without a large upfront bill, and that would rather not manage hosting and updates themselves.
Read the terms carefully, because they vary:
- Minimum term. Many plans have a first term, often 12 months, because the site is built at the start.
- Ownership. With many pay-monthly plans the provider owns the website while you subscribe. Check whether you can buy it out, and for how much.
- What is included. Hosting, security, small changes and content can all be in or out.
How to compare quotes
- Compare the total over two or three years, not just the build price.
- Ask what happens to changes, hosting and security after launch.
- Ask who owns the website, the domain and the content.
- Ask how the site will be found on Google, and what that costs.
What SEORAPID charges
Our websites start at £99 a month + VAT, with hosting, security, unlimited small changes and a blog post every month included. The first 3 months are paid up front, there is a 12-month first term, and the website belongs to SEORAPID until you buy it out; your domain and content are always yours. See how pay monthly websites work or what a small business website needs.
Sources
- Whito: Website design costs UK (build ranges, ongoing and hidden costs, 2026)
- Startups.co.uk: How much does a website cost? (updated 23 March 2026)
Prices are typical ranges from these sources, checked on 9 November 2026. Your own quote depends on pages, features and content.
