Would you buy a car without an engine? Only if you plan to build it yourself.
Unfortunately, many companies are making that purchase. They're paying for a website that looks great, but when they look under the hood, they realize they're not going anywhere. Determining a price for website design services comes down to more than some numbers after a dollar sign. You need to be paying for the right services if you want a site that pays for itself and helps grow your brand.
Website design is vital to the growth and success of your business. All the ad spending in the world won't help your sales if those advertisements push your leads to a website that can't convert. But how do you know a reasonable price in this market for services that will design a website that can convert?
The actual cost of website design services can fluctuate based on several variables. This uncertainty can be frustrating when attempting to plan or budget. While you cannot always anticipate an exact figure, it is possible to ballpark the cost of a website design or redesign. Let’s go through some of the factors that can influence that price.
4 Variables that Impact Web Design Services Pricing
To start, let’s look at our baseline. As you may have guessed, given the wide variety of website types and design services out there, this base rate varies wildly. Price estimates for website design clock in at anywhere from $500 to over $75,000.
I can already hear you muttering, Wow, that’s helpful. And you’re right! A range this broad is not helpful to your planning in the least. But while the overall range for website design pricing varies to this extent, the price range for your website redesign will be much more targeted.
Let’s zero in on your specific baseline by examining a few of the factors that have the greatest impact on pricing.
1. Experience or Skill Level of Website Designer
Why is this a factor?
With the advent of tools like WordPress and Squarespace, even the least experienced designer can create a website. As helpful as these tools can be for the less tech-savvy among us, they may not be the best option for creating an effective website for your business.
How does this affect pricing?
Like professionals in many industries, website designers set their fees based on their experience and their expertise. As of the writing of this article, the going rate to hire an entry-level designer is somewhere between $20-35 per hour. Comparatively, a more experienced freelancer may run you $75 per hour or more.
If you want to work with a full-service growth marketing team for your website design, the price will increase even more. There are benefits to working with a team, however. When you hire a full team, you won't need to hunt down a copywriter and developer in addition to finding a web designer. It also means you don't need to coordinate between the three of them to ensure they're working together.
What is the takeaway?
Can you save money upfront by hiring the cheapest company or the least experienced freelancer for the job? Absolutely.
Would that also run the risk of costing you money, leads, or time in the long run if the designer you hired wasn’t the right fit? You guessed it, the answer here is also: Absolutely.
2. Project Scope
Why is this a factor?
What kind of website are you looking to build? Are you looking for a handful of pages connected with basic navigation, or did you have something more robust in mind? Maybe you’re looking for a website complete with embedded videos, lead magnets, and a pillar page or two. I think it’s clear that the second website we’ve described here is much larger in scope than the first.
How does this affect pricing?
Many web design services charge by the hour. A simple website may only take around 15 hours to build, where a more complex one could take 80 hours or more. Basically, the larger the scope of your project, the more hours it will take your hired helpers to complete that work.
What is the takeaway?
If you’re more budget-conscious when it comes to your website design project, you should consider starting by incorporating only the elements most likely to move the needle. You can always optimize your website slowly to include more of the features from your wishlist later on.
3. How fast do you need the site?
Why is this a factor?
I’m sure you’ve heard the term “rush job.” In most industries, asking for something to be delivered faster than the norm costs a little extra. Consider requesting two-day shipping on an order or getting your passport renewal expedited. In general, if you want something fast, be prepared to pay for that convenience.
How does this affect pricing?
If you need your site up and running faster than your chosen designer’s standard delivery schedule, they will need to reprioritize their work to complete your site on that tighter deadline. “Reprioritizing” here likely means “pushing another client to the back-burner,” which will come at a premium.
Additionally, depending on the scope of your project, getting things done on that tighter deadline may push the members of your design team into overtime. Any time the costs go up for the service you’ve hired, chances are at least some of those costs will be passed along to you.
What is the takeaway?
This one is short and sweet: Speed comes with a price tag.
4. Does it require a lot of custom coding?
Why is this a factor?
What’s faster and more efficient, building something from scratch or starting with a template? The answer is obvious: The template. If the website you are creating can be built using a modular builder such as Sprocket Rocket, using pre-made configuration elements to construct your website, then great news! You’ll be able to develop the site more quickly, and you won’t need a ton of technical knowledge to build or maintain it. If you need something more custom, you’re looking at both a higher price tag and a longer timeline.
How does this affect pricing?
Custom coding would require a designer or team with a more specialized skill set. Also, as mentioned above, coding something from scratch will take a lot longer than building something using existing elements and templates. More time + more technical skills = more cost.
What is the takeaway?
A site that requires custom coding will be pricier than a site that can be constructed using a modular builder like Sprocket Rocket.
Weighing the Cost of Website Design
To design a high-quality website with a high-quality team, you are likely to spend anywhere from $3000 - $75,000.
Though the cost of website design services varies, you can determine a ballpark figure for your business's website by considering the following factors. First, consider the level of expertise you're looking for in your designer or design team. Next, the scope of the project you have in mind. Consider how fast you need the website up and running. Lastly, think about whether or not you need custom coding.
If you are an innovative company with a growth mindset looking to create a website to match, click here to learn about our outsourced growth team or check out our pricing page to get an estimate for your website redesign with Lean Labs!
