How much does a website cost in 2026
In the US in 2026, a template-based small business website costs $3,000 to $8,000 and a custom one $8,000 to $15,000. Freelancers charge $50 to $150 an hour, agencies $125 to $300. Ongoing costs run $35 to $250 a month for hosting and maintenance. Expect four to six weeks. All-in subscriptions start around $26 a month.
Updated 18 August 2026 · 7 min read
“How much does a website cost?” only has an honest answer in three parts: what you pay upfront, what comes back every year, and how long it takes. This page gives all three, with the source next to each number.
Prices by project type
| Project | Price | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Template-based small business site | $3,000 – $8,000 | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Custom small business site | $8,000 – $15,000 | 6 – 10 weeks |
| Corporate marketing site | $15,000 – $75,000 | 3 – 6 months |
| Shopify store (1 – 150 SKUs) | $8,000 – $25,000 | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Shopify Plus (500 – 5,000 SKUs) | $25,000 – $90,000 | 10 – 16 weeks |
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Digital Applied (8 April 2026), which puts the median corporate site at $36,500. Jim.com reports a wider spread — $0 a month on DIY builders to $35,000 at full-service agencies, with most professional builds between $3,000 and $15,000.
Where the price comes from: hourly rates
| Role | Freelancer | Boutique agency | Mid-market agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior developer | $85 – $150 | $140 – $215 | $195 – $300 |
| UI/UX designer | $60 – $125 | $110 – $180 | $165 – $250 |
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Digital Applied, April 2026. The median freelance developer rate is around $85. A five-page brochure site is 40 to 80 hours of work — that is where the numbers in the table above come from.
An experienced developer works considerably faster than a junior one, so a higher hourly rate does not automatically mean a higher invoice. Compare the total and the scope, never the rate on its own.
What comes back every year
| Item | Small business | Corporate / ecommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | $240 – $720 | $600 – $3,600 |
| Maintenance | $1,800 – $6,000 | $6,000 – $24,000 |
| Total per year | $3,600 – $12,720 | $12,600 – $50,400 |
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Digital Applied. On a monthly basis, other US sources put a typical business site at $35 to $250 — hosting $5 to $60 plus maintenance $30 to $200 with a freelancer, $150 to $500 with an agency.
The subscription option
Between DIY builders and agency projects sits the all-in subscription: nothing upfront, one monthly price covering build, hosting, domain and maintenance. Ours is 24 € a month — about $26 at the 18 August 2026 rate — with the site live in 24 hours. Business is 75 € upfront plus 24 € a month; Enterprise 150 € plus 39 €. Changes after launch cost 24 € each, with no cap on how many.
To be straight about it: if you need a custom integration with your inventory system, a configurator, or an unusual checkout flow, an agency does work we do not do. But if you are here because a $12,000 quote landed on your desk and you wanted to know whether that is normal — it is inside the agency range, and the useful question is what that number includes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a small business website cost?
A template-based site costs $3,000 to $8,000 and a custom one $8,000 to $15,000 in the US. Freelancers quote $1,500 to $8,000 per project; all-in subscriptions start around $26 a month.
What is a normal hourly rate for web development in the US?
$85 to $150 for a senior freelance developer, $140 to $215 at a boutique agency and $195 to $300 at a mid-market agency. The median freelance rate is around $85.
What are the ongoing costs of a website?
$3,600 to $12,720 a year for a small business site — hosting $240 to $720 and maintenance $1,800 to $6,000. On a monthly basis that is roughly $35 to $250.
How long does it take to build a website?
Four to six weeks for a five-page brochure site, six to ten weeks for a custom small business site, and four to eight weeks for a Shopify store. Content — copy and photography — is what usually delays projects, not development.
Why do website quotes vary so much?
Because they rarely include the same things. Copywriting, photography, SEO setup, training and maintenance can each be in or out of scope: two quotes only become comparable when they list the same line items.
A professional website for 24 € a month
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- Digital Applied — Website Development Cost 2026: complete pricing data — accessed 18 August 2026
- Jim.com — Small business website cost in 2026: real prices — accessed 18 August 2026
- GruffyGoat — Small business website costs in 2026: full breakdown — accessed 18 August 2026