How much does a website cost in 2026?

If you have ever asked 'how much does a website cost?' you have probably been frustrated by the answer: 'it depends'. So let's cut through that and give you some real numbers.

For a professional small business website in the UK, you are looking at somewhere between £600 and £3,000. At WebCardiff, we charge £600 for a Next.js site or £800 for WordPress. That includes design, development, mobile optimisation, SEO setup, and training.

The biggest factor in pricing is complexity. A simple 5-page site for a local business costs less than an online shop with hundreds of products, or a site that needs to integrate with booking systems or membership platforms.

Beware of very cheap quotes (under £500). These usually mean template websites with minimal customisation, no SEO, and no ongoing support. You get what you pay for, and a cheap website that does not bring in customers is more expensive than a good one that does.

On top of the build cost, you will need hosting. This typically runs £10 to £50 a month and covers keeping your site online, secure, backed up, and up to date. Some agencies include this in the build price for the first year.

Our advice: decide what you need the website to do (get enquiries, sell products, show a menu), set a realistic budget, and talk to a few agencies. A good agency will tell you honestly what is achievable within your budget.