When considering creating or revamping a website, one of the first questions that comes to mind is: “How much does it cost to build a website or hire a web developer in the UK?” Website costs in the UK can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the project’s complexity, the developer’s experience level, and whether you choose to work with a freelancer or an agency. This blog post aims to break down these costs and provide a comprehensive guide on website development costs in the UK.
The complexity of your project is one of the most significant factors affecting website development costs. A simple brochure-style website will be considerably cheaper than an e-commerce platform with multiple functionalities. Likewise, the cost to build a website in the UK is also influenced based on the platform chosen. For example, a WordPress website that is informational, e-commerce or geared towards lead generation will be significantly more affordable than a bespoke Next.JS website.
- Simple Websites: These are typically informational websites with basic functionalities like contact forms and social media integration. Costs can range from £500 to £3,000.
- Medium Complexity Websites: These include websites with custom designs, content management systems (CMS), standard e-commerce and booking platforms and some interactive features. Expect to pay between £3,000 and £10,000.
- Complex Websites: Bespoke high-end E-commerce platforms or websites requiring custom functionalities like user logins, databases, and API integrations can cost anywhere from £10,000 upwards. These are typically bespoke websites utilising modern web frameworks.
The experience level of your web developer will also influence costs. More experienced developers tend to charge higher rates but bring valuable expertise that can ensure your project runs smoothly.
- Junior Developers: Typically charge between £20 and £40 per hour.
- Mid-Level Developers: Their rates usually range from £40 to £70 per hour.
- Senior Developers: Expect to pay between £70 and £120 per hour for highly experienced professionals.
Freelancer vs Agency
Choosing between hiring a freelancer or an agency can also impact your budget. Both options have their pros and cons and can influence the cost to build a website.
- Freelancers: Generally more affordable but may lack resources for larger projects. Freelancers usually charge between £20 and £80 per hour.
- Agencies: Offer a team of professionals with diverse skills but come at a higher price point. Agency rates typically start at around £80 per hour and can go up significantly depending on their reputation and expertise.
Design Costs
Design is another crucial aspect that affects the total cost to build a website. Without good design, you could end up with a website that looks dated with limited longevity. Custom designs are more expensive than using pre-made templates but offer unique branding opportunities.
- Template-Based Design: Can cost between £200 and £1,000. Templates are good for those on a budget, however, they can be restrictive in what can be edited or altered.
- Custom Design: Expect to pay anywhere from £750 upwards for bespoke designs tailored specifically for your brand. These designs form part of your brand identity and are integral to differentiating yourself in the market. A good design should follow your established brand guidelines. In cases where brand guidelines are not yet set, the design should also include establishing your brand identity. Nothing is worse than having a website designed which later does not reflect your brand identity.
- At SDS Click we provide design as part of new website refresh and rebuilds at a discounted rate starting from £500. Our designers work closely with our clients to ensure the design matches their brand identity, whilst ensuring the design meets current trends and is built to withstand the test of time.
Hosting and Maintenance
Once your website is live, you’ll need hosting services and ongoing maintenance to ensure it runs smoothly. It is important to choose good powerful hosting to ensure visitors can reach your website in under 3 seconds and ideally under 1 second. The cost of hosting can impact your overall cost to build a website, however, not choosing a good host can negatively impact your brand and reduce lead generation and sales.
- Hosting Services: Basic hosting plans start at around £15 per month but can go up depending on your requirements. At SDS Click, our hosting packages start at £15 per month and include security patching and backups as standard. We also never charge for SSL certificate installation and provide website monitoring to ensure your site remains available.
- Maintenance Costs: Some agencies will charge for regular updates, security patches, and backups however, these are essential for keeping your site secure. We believe these should come as standard so our maintenance packages are all about ensuring the longevity of your website. Maintenance packages generally range from £50 to £300 per month.
Content Creation
Content is king when it comes to engaging visitors on your site. Whether it’s copywriting or multimedia content like videos and images, these elements add additional costs which need to be accounted for. However, great content can greatly improve your brand position and improve lead generation.
- Copywriting Services: Professional copywriters charge between 10p to 50p per word. We can help provide great copywriting services at affordable prices as part of your website redevelopment. We also specialise in creating content for landing pages and targeted PPC campaigns.
- Multimedia Content Creation: Prices vary widely based on quality; expect video production costs to start at around £300-500 for basic videos.
While planning your budget for website development costs in the UK, it’s easy to overlook some hidden expenses:
- SEO Services:
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is crucial for driving organic traffic. SEO services generally start at around £300 per month.
- Third-party Integrations:
- If you require third-party tools like CRM systems or payment gateways integrated into your site, these come with additional setup fees ranging from £100 upwards.
- Training Costs:
- If you’re using a CMS like WordPress or Joomla!, you might need training sessions that cost around £50–£200 per session. If you purchase a website with us, we provide 2 hours of training for FREE. For WordPress websites, we are committed to using popular development tools such as Elementor which comes with a wealth of documentation to help you along.
Total: from £2330
Total with SEO & Content: from £3560
Understanding how total cost to build a website and the costs to hire a web developer involves considering multiple factors such as project complexity, developer experience level, design requirements, hosting services, maintenance needs, content creation expenses as well as potential hidden costs like SEO services and third-party integrations. Breaking down these elements carefully before embarking on your project journey ensures that you make informed decisions while optimising both quality outcomes within budget constraints effectively!
Whether opting for freelancers offering flexibility & affordability or agencies providing comprehensive service packages – knowing what impacts overall pricing helps navigate choices confidently ensuring a successful online presence establishment aligned perfectly towards business goals!
