Short answer: in 2026 most UK businesses pay £3,000 to £6,000 for a professionally built website, according to Whito's 2026 UK website cost research. A simple 5-page site from a freelancer typically costs £1,500 to £3,000, an agency charges £3,000 to £5,000 for the same thing, and online shops start around £5,000. On top of that, expect £500 to £2,000+ a year in running costs.
That's the market average. Below is what each price band actually gets you, what the hidden yearly costs are, and how to pay a lot less without ending up with a site you hate.
UK website prices in 2026 at a glance
These are typical ranges for UK businesses, excluding VAT, taken from Whito's research (data checked October 2026):
| Type of website | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| DIY builder (Wix, Squarespace and similar) | £10 to £50 per month |
| Freelancer brochure site, 5 pages | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Agency brochure site, 5 pages | £3,000 to £5,000 |
| Custom business website, 15+ pages | £5,000 to £15,000 |
| Online shop (e-commerce) | £5,000 to £20,000+ |
A second 2026 guide, from freelance developer Michał Paśko, puts template-based sites at £800 to £2,500 and says most small and medium business sites with a custom design land between £2,500 and £10,000. It also estimates that a freelancer is typically 30 to 50% cheaper than an agency for the same spec, because agencies add management, sales and margin on top of developer time.
What pushes the price up
The number of pages matters less than people think. These are the things that really move a quote:
- Custom design vs template. A design made for your brand takes longer than dropping your logo into a theme.
- Bookings and payments. Calendars, deposits and card payments add logic and testing.
- An online shop. Products, stock, delivery rules and checkout are a lot more work than a brochure site.
- Copywriting. If someone has to write every page for you, that's extra time.
- Multiple languages. Each language is close to another copy of the site to manage.
- An admin area. Being able to change prices, photos and opening hours yourself is worth paying for, but it has to be built.
- Agency overheads. Account managers, offices and sales teams are part of an agency's price.
The running costs nobody mentions
The build is a one-off. These come every year:
| Ongoing cost | Typical per year |
|---|---|
| Hosting | £50 to £300 |
| Domain renewal | £10 to £30 |
| Maintenance and updates | £300 to £1,200 |
| Total | £500 to £2,000+ |
Source: Whito. Some modern sites built as fast static pages can be hosted for very little or nothing, which is one of the easiest ways to cut the yearly bill. Always ask who owns the domain and hosting account. It should be you.
Is a DIY website builder cheaper?
At £10 to £50 a month, a builder looks cheap, but over three years that's £360 to £1,800, and you do all the work yourself. Builders are a good fit if you enjoy design and have the time. They're a poor fit if you need bookings, a shop, good Google rankings or a site that looks clearly better than your competitors'.
How to pay less without getting a worse website
- Know what you need before you ask for quotes. List your pages, what visitors should do (call, book, buy) and any examples you like.
- Ask for a fixed price. Hourly quotes on a website almost always grow.
- See a design before you pay. Some studios will mock up your home page first. If you don't like it, you've lost nothing.
- Pay in stages. A sensible split is a deposit after you approve the design, a second payment before launch and the rest on launch day.
- Avoid monthly lock-ins. Make sure you own the site and can move it.
- Check what's included. Mobile design, basic SEO, a contact form and Google setup should be standard, not extras.
What Launchday Web charges
We're a small online studio, so our prices sit well below the UK averages above. All prices are one-off:
- Starter one-page website: from £149
- Business website, up to 5 pages: from £399
- Bookings & Payments website: from £699
- Website revamp of an existing site: from £349
- Online store: from £899
The consultation and a prototype of your home page are free. You only pay the 30% deposit once you're happy with the design. See the full price list and estimate builder.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a basic website cost for a small business in the UK?
A basic 5-page brochure website typically costs £1,500 to £3,000 from a UK freelancer and £3,000 to £5,000 from an agency in 2026. Small online studios and template-based builds can cost under £1,000.
How much does it cost to run a website each year?
Expect roughly £500 to £2,000 a year for hosting, domain renewal and maintenance. Hosting alone is usually £50 to £300 a year and a domain £10 to £30.
Is it cheaper to use a freelancer or an agency?
A freelancer is usually cheaper for the same work, with one 2026 estimate putting the saving at 30 to 50%. Agencies charge more because their price covers account management, sales and overheads.
Do I have to pay VAT on a website?
Only if the business building it is VAT-registered. In the UK, businesses must register for VAT once their taxable turnover goes over £90,000, so many freelancers and small studios don't charge VAT.
How long does it take to build a small business website?
A simple one-page site can be ready in a few days, and a 5-page site in about one to two weeks once you've approved the design and sent your content. Online shops and booking systems take longer.