What does building a website cost? Pricing for those who quote (2026)
6 min read
In 2026 a website typically costs € 1,000–2,500 for a one-pager, € 2,500–7,500 for an SME business site and € 5,000–25,000 for a webshop; custom platforms start around € 10,000. As the builder you calculate the other way: scope → hours → hourly rate (€ 65–95 freelance, € 85–140 agency) → price. The full build-up is below.
What does a website cost in 2026?
Guide prices for 2026: one-pager € 1,000–2,500, business site (5-10 pages) € 2,500–7,500, webshop € 5,000–25,000, custom platform from € 10,000. The spread mainly comes from design ambition, functionality and who produces the content.
| Website type | Guide price 2026 (excl. VAT) | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| One-pager / landing page | € 1,000 – 2,500 | 1 – 3 weeks |
| Business website (5-10 pages, CMS) | € 2,500 – 7,500 | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Webshop (standard platform) | € 5,000 – 25,000 | 6 – 16 weeks |
| Custom / platform | from € 10,000 | 3+ months |
| Maintenance & hosting (SME) | € 45 – 95 / month | ongoing |
Common Dutch market prices, 2026. Template work sits below these ranges; design-heavy work above.
How do you calculate from scope to price?
Split the project into phases (design, build, content, tech, delivery), estimate hours per phase, multiply by your hourly rate and add 10-20% for project management and contingency. Present the resulting project price as a fixed price with a clear scope.
- Design: 15–30 hours for an SME site (concept, 2 rounds, mobile)
- Build: 4–8 hours per page template, forms and integrations priced separately
- Content entry: 1–1.5 hours per page - or copywriting as a paid extra
- Tech and launch: hosting, DNS, SSL, redirects, Search Console: 4–8 hours
- Project management: 10–20% on top - meetings and coordination are real hours
Hourly rates: what's common in 2026?
Freelance web designers/developers charge € 65 to € 95 per hour in 2026; agencies € 85 to € 140, depending on specialisation and region. Below € 60 you're competing on price instead of value - a race you eventually lose.
More important than the rate itself is what's inside it: senior work, project management, a bug warranty. Charging € 85 with tightly managed scope is often cheaper for the client than € 65 with every change billed on top.
Value-based pricing: when it works, when it doesn't
Value-based pricing works with clearly measurable outcomes - a webshop or lead-generating site - and a client who sees that value. For standard brochure sites, hours × rate remains the fairest basis.
- Works: webshop redesigns that must lift conversion, campaign landing pages, lead-gen sites
- Doesn't: 'we just want a decent site' - value pricing quickly becomes hot air there
- Middle ground: fixed project price with a results-based follow-up contract (monthly optimisation)
This pricing as a calculator on your site
Let the prospect pick a site type and extras and instantly show a from-price - based on your rates.
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Frequently asked questions about website pricing
What does a 5-page website cost?
From a professional builder in 2026: € 2,500 to € 7,500 excluding VAT, depending on design ambition and functionality. See our example-quote article for a full build-up at € 3,905.
What is a web designer's hourly rate?
Freelance: € 65–95 per hour in 2026. Agencies charge € 85–140. Specialisations like UX research or complex integrations sit at the top end.
Why do website prices vary so much?
Because 'a website' has no fixed scope: template versus custom design, who produces the content, and functionality (shop, integrations, multilingual) can make the same request differ by a factor of 5. That's why scope definition in the quote is everything.
How do I give a quick price indication without an intake call?
With a price calculator on your site: the prospect picks a site type, page count and extras and instantly sees a from-price or range that you configured. The intake call is then about the content instead of the budget.
Dennis - Founder of Quotira
Dennis builds Quotira, the quote calculator for trade businesses, and writes these guides based on the pricing logic from hundreds of calculator configurations.
Published on July 9, 2026
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