“How much does a website cost?” is the first question almost every business owner asks, and the most common answer, “it depends”, is not very helpful. So here is a clear breakdown of what a WordPress website really costs in 2026: the one-time build, the yearly running costs, and the hidden extras that catch people out.
I build WordPress websites for a living, so the ranges below come from real projects, not guesses. By the end you will know roughly what to budget, what drives the price up or down, and how to get a fair quote.
The short answer
For most small and medium businesses, a professionally built WordPress website costs between $500 and $5,000 to build, plus $100 to $600 a year to run. Online stores and custom features sit at the higher end. Simple one-page sites sit at the lower end.
| Type of website | Typical build cost | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page (one page, one goal) | $250 – $800 | 3–10 days |
| Small business website (5–10 pages) | $500 – $2,500 | 2–5 weeks |
| Custom-designed business website | $2,000 – $6,000 | 4–8 weeks |
| Online store (WooCommerce) | $800 – $8,000+ | 3–8 weeks |
| Website redesign | $600 – $5,000 | 2–6 weeks |
That is a wide range, so let’s look at what actually moves the number.
What you pay for: the one-time build
1. Design
A website built on a ready-made theme costs less because the layout already exists. A custom design, made around your brand and your customers, takes longer and costs more, but it looks like your business instead of a thousand others. If your website is a main source of leads, custom design usually pays for itself.
2. Number of pages
Every page needs layout, content placement, mobile testing and SEO basics. A five-page site (Home, About, Services, Contact, Blog) is quick. A site with twenty service pages, a landing page for each offer, and a resources section takes much longer.
3. Features
Features are the biggest price driver. Each of these adds time:
- Online booking or appointment scheduling
- Online payments and a full store
- Membership areas or client portals
- Multi-language content
- Custom forms that connect to your CRM or email tool
- AI chatbots and automations
4. Content
Who writes the text and supplies the photos? If you provide finished content, the build is faster. If your developer writes the copy, sources images and prepares SEO titles, expect that to be part of the price.
5. Who builds it
A DIY site costs the least in money and the most in time. A freelancer usually offers the best value for small businesses: one expert, direct communication, and no agency overheads. An agency costs more but gives you a larger team for big, complex projects.
What you pay every year: running costs
A website is not a one-time purchase. These are the yearly costs to plan for:
| Running cost | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Domain name | $10 – $20 per year |
| Hosting (good shared or managed WordPress hosting) | $60 – $400 per year |
| Premium plugins and theme licences | $0 – $300 per year |
| Business email | $0 – $75 per user per year |
| Maintenance (updates, backups, security) | $0 (DIY) or from $49 per month |
Cheap hosting is the most common false saving. A slow, unreliable server hurts your Google rankings and loses visitors before the page even loads. Mid-range hosting is almost always worth it.
Hidden costs most people forget
- Plugin licences that renew. Many “premium” plugins are yearly subscriptions. Five of them add up quickly.
- Page builder lock-in. Sites built with heavy page builders can be slow and hard to move away from later. Rebuilding is a cost too (more on this in Elementor vs a custom WordPress theme).
- Fixing a hacked or broken site. Skipping updates and backups is cheap until something goes wrong. A clean-up usually costs far more than a year of website maintenance.
- Changes after launch. Ask what small edits cost before you sign, so you are never surprised.
- SEO. A website that nobody finds is a cost, not an investment. Basic on-page SEO should be included in the build.
Real example: what my prices look like
To make this concrete, here are my own starting prices. Every project gets a fixed quote after a short chat, so you never pay more than we agree.
- WordPress website: from $499 (2–5 weeks)
- Website redesign: from $599
- Landing page: from $249
- WooCommerce store: from $799
- Speed optimisation: from $149
- Website maintenance: from $49 per month
You can see everything that is included on the pricing page.
How to avoid overpaying (and underpaying)
- Ask for a fixed quote, not an hourly estimate. A fixed price protects you from projects that drag on.
- Get the scope in writing. Pages, features, revisions and what happens after launch.
- Make sure you own everything. Your domain, hosting account, website files and content should be in your name.
- Look at real work. Ask for live websites the developer has built, and check them on your phone.
- Don’t choose on price alone. The cheapest website often costs the most once you add slow loading, lost leads and a rebuild a year later.
Is WordPress still worth it in 2026?
Yes. WordPress powers a huge share of the web for good reasons: you own your website, you can edit content yourself, thousands of integrations exist, and it is excellent for SEO when built properly. The key words are built properly. A lightweight, well-coded WordPress site is fast, secure and easy to grow.
FAQs
Can I get a WordPress website for under $300?
You can, using a ready-made theme and doing most of the work yourself. For a business that wants leads from its website, a professionally set-up site with proper speed, SEO and mobile design is a much better investment.
How long does it take to build a WordPress website?
A landing page takes about a week. A small business website usually takes two to five weeks. Online stores and custom features take longer. Having your content ready is the biggest thing that speeds a project up.
Do I have to pay every month for a WordPress website?
You pay for hosting and your domain every year. Maintenance is optional but strongly recommended, because WordPress, themes and plugins need regular updates to stay secure.
Is it cheaper to redesign my website or build a new one?
If your current site has good content and solid structure, a redesign is usually cheaper. If it is slow, built on an outdated page builder or hard to edit, a fresh build often costs about the same and lasts much longer.
Get a clear price for your website
Every business is different, so the fastest way to know your real cost is to ask. Tell me what you need and I will send a clear plan and a fixed quote, usually within 24 hours. No pressure and no hidden fees.
Get your free quote → or start with a free website audit if you already have a site.
Written by Wasiq Khan
Web developer & AI automation specialist helping businesses launch fast websites and automate the busywork.
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