The honest answer to “how much does a WordPress website cost?” is that it ranges from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. That range is real, and it is not a dodge. The price depends on what the site needs to do, who builds it and how much of the work you do yourself. This guide breaks down what you are actually paying for.
Four ways to get a WordPress site
- Do it yourself. You choose a theme, install it and fill in the pages. The cost is mostly your time, plus hosting, a domain and perhaps a premium theme.
- Start from a template. A developer sets up a ready-made design with your logo, colours and content. It is quicker and cheaper than a fully custom build, and it works well for simple sites.
- Custom design and build. A designer and developer create something specific to your business. It costs more and suits brands that need to stand out or need special features.
- A store or a complex site. Products, payments, shipping, bookings or memberships add real setup and testing.
What drives the price
- Number of pages and templates. More pages and layouts mean more work.
- Design. Custom design costs more than a template.
- Features. Contact forms are simple. Bookings, member areas and integrations are not.
- Content. If you supply text and images, the cost falls. If someone has to write and photograph, it rises.
- Who builds it. Rates vary a great deal by country and experience.
- Search and speed work. Doing the basics well takes care, and it is worth paying for.
Costs that come after the build
Many people only budget for the build, then get surprised. Plan for:
- Hosting, which is paid to the host
- A domain name, renewed every year
- Premium plugins or themes, some with yearly licences
- Care and maintenance, so the site stays updated, backed up and secure
- Changes and new content as your business grows
Our prices
A starter website from us is $499. That covers a simple site of up to five pages from a template, with a set number of revision rounds. Bigger or custom sites are quoted after a short conversation, with the scope and the price in writing. Online stores are quoted per store. Ongoing care starts from $99 a month. See our website development and care plan pages for what is included.
How to get an accurate quote
- Write a short brief: the goal, the pages and the features.
- Gather your logo, photos and text, or say what you need help with.
- Show two or three sites you like.
- Ask for the scope, the number of revisions and what is not included, in writing.
How to avoid overpaying
- Start with a clear goal and a short list of pages.
- Add features in a second phase rather than all at once.
- Ask what is cheaper to do yourself, such as writing the text.
- Compare quotes for what is included, not just the headline price.
Beware of the extremes
A very low price often means a thin template, no support or a lot of extras later. A very high price is not a guarantee of quality either. Look at live work, ask who does the work, and read our guide to choosing a WordPress development agency before you decide.