This is one of the most common questions I get asked — and believe me, you’re not the only one Googling it. But the truth is: it’s not a simple one-size-fits-all answer.

Think of it like planning a new kitchen. You could pop down to the nearest big box store for a flat-pack budget job, or you could go custom-built with hardwood, granite, and all the bells and whistles. Websites are no different. The price depends on what you need, how it’s built, and who’s building it.

You could throw something together for free with a page builder… or invest in a professionally designed site that works hard for your business. Let’s explore why.

What Does a WordPress Website Cost in the UK?

Realistically, for a professionally built WordPress website in the UK, you’re looking at anywhere between £1,000 to £20,000+, depending on your needs. Here’s a rough breakdown:

Website type	Typical website cost
Small business website	£1,000 – £3,500
Mid-size business website	£3,500 – £7,000
Large business website	£7,000 – £10,000
e-Commerce website	£7,000 – £20,000

Note: These are guide prices. Your specific requirements (especially features or integrations) will shape the final quote.

What Drives the Cost of a Website?

1. How You Approach the Build

⚙️ DIY Builders (Avoid These!)

Drag-and-drop website builders might seem tempting at first, especially when budgets are tight. But the result is often slow, bloated, and cookie-cutter. Worse, you might have to rebuild it later when it doesn’t perform or breaks after an update. I don’t recommend it.

🧱 Templates

Pre-built templates (free or paid) are a step up. They’re functional, familiar, and can look decent with the right content — but they’re rarely unique, and they’re often rigid when it comes to layout or branding.

✨ Professionally Built (Recommended)

This is where I come in. A custom site designed specifically for your goals, built on WordPress with Divi, and tailored to fit your brand and functionality needs. It’s secure, privacy-focused, fast, accessible, and most importantly — future-ready.

2. Who’s Building It

Hiring a professional developer/designer (like me) is often the biggest part of your website investment — and with good reason. A proper website is more than something that just “looks nice.” It’s got to work well, load quickly, be easy to manage, and bring value to your business.

I handle both design and build, so you don’t need to juggle multiple freelancers. Plus, I don’t outsource or cut corners. No off-the-shelf templates unless we agree on it, no sneaky third-party trackers, and absolutely no upcharges for things that should be included by default.

3. Features & Functionality

This is where your quote can go up or down depending on what you need. Common custom features include:

• Filtering or sorting of content (e.g. portfolios, services, blog posts)
• Third-party service integrations (e.g. CRMs, forms, directories)
• Secure file sharing portals
• Custom contact forms or quote builders
• Language switchers, maps, animations

Whatever you’ve got in mind — if it’s technically possible, I can usually build it. The more complex it is, the more time and testing it requires, so that’s where cost comes in.

4. Ongoing Costs (Hosting, Domain, SSL)

Once your site is built, there are a few regular costs to keep things live:

• Hosting: Where your site lives. Expect ~£10–£20/month for decent UK/EU-based secure hosting.
• Domain: Your site’s address (e.g. yourbusiness.co.uk). Around £20/year.
• SSL Certificate: Keeps your website secure. These are often included free with good hosting, but can cost ~£60–£80/year if bought separately.

I don’t bundle hosting or domains — I’ll advise you on trusted providers and let you stay in control of your own infrastructure.

5. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

No point in having a beautiful website if no one finds it. Good SEO starts at the planning stage — clean code, semantic structure, heading hierarchy, fast loading, image optimisation, meaningful link text — and I build all of that in as standard.

Need keyword research, SEO strategy or long-form content? That’s an additional service, but I’ll be honest with you if you need it.

How to Stay in Control of Your Budget

Stick to agreed features: Everything else can go on a “phase 2” list for later.

Ask for a fixed price: That’s what I do. No surprise charges mid-way.

Be organised: Have your content and ideas ready. Changing your mind a lot mid-project increases costs.

Aftercare: Maintenance & Updates

A site needs looking after — think of it like your car. WordPress core updates, plugin maintenance, security patches and backups don’t happen automatically. That’s why I offer a Website Maintenance Plan.

This can include:

• Monthly updates and backups
• Emergency fixes
• Security scans
• Support and advice
• Light content edits
• Backups (Database and WordPress Files)

You can take this for 6, 9 or 12 months — and yes, I give extra features to those who commit to longer terms.

Final Thought: Value Over Cost

You’re not just buying a “thing” — you’re investing in a platform that supports your business, builds credibility, and helps you grow.

A £4,000–£6,000 website that’s fast, secure, private, and effective will more than pay for itself if it brings you even a few good clients. On the flip side, I’ve rebuilt plenty of sites for clients who tried to cut corners the first time and regretted it.

Build smart. Own it. Future-proof it.