One of the most common questions we get asked at TAG Web Design is: "How much does a website actually cost?" It's a fair question — and the honest answer is that prices vary enormously depending on who you hire and what you need. This guide breaks it down clearly.
The Short Answer
Here's what you can realistically expect to pay in the UK in 2026 for a professionally built, custom-coded website:
- Landing page: £250–£600
- Business website (5–10 pages): £650–£2,500
- E-commerce store: £950–£5,000+
- Custom web application or SaaS platform: £2,000–£20,000+
These are for bespoke, custom-coded websites. Template platforms like Wix or Squarespace cost less upfront but come with ongoing subscription fees, performance limitations, and no ownership of your code.
What Drives the Price Up?
Several factors increase the cost of a website project:
- Number of pages and complexity: More pages, more features, more time.
- E-commerce functionality: Product catalogues, payment gateways, inventory, order management — all require significant development work.
- Custom design vs template: A fully bespoke design costs more than adapting an existing framework, but performs significantly better.
- Third-party integrations: CRMs, booking systems, email marketing tools, ERPs — each integration adds time.
- Who you hire: London agencies typically charge £5,000–£30,000 for projects that a skilled independent developer delivers for £650–£2,500.
Why Do Quotes Vary So Much?
You can get quotes for the same project ranging from £200 to £20,000. The difference usually comes down to:
- Offshore vs UK-based: Overseas agencies may quote low but introduce communication friction, quality control problems, and difficult timezones.
- Agency overhead vs independent developer: A large agency has account managers, designers, project managers, and sales teams to pay — all baked into your quote.
- Template vs bespoke: A developer who drops your logo into a template will quote less than one who writes your site from scratch.
What Should Be Included as Standard?
Regardless of what you pay, a professional website in 2026 should always include:
- SSL certificate (HTTPS)
- Mobile-responsive design
- Basic on-page SEO (meta tags, headings, schema markup)
- Fast load times (Core Web Vitals awareness)
- Contact form with spam protection
- GDPR-compliant cookie consent
If a quote doesn't include these — it's not a complete website.
Ongoing Costs to Factor In
Your website budget doesn't end at launch. Plan for:
- Hosting: £5–£50/month depending on server quality
- Domain name: £10–£20/year
- Maintenance: £75–£150/month for updates, backups, and support
- SEO: Optional but highly recommended — from £299 for a one-off audit
Our Pricing at TAG Web Design
We offer fixed-price, custom-coded websites built in Laravel or WordPress — no page builders, no templates, no hidden fees. Prices start at £250 for a landing page and £650 for a full business website. Get a free quote today — we respond within 24 hours.