How Much Does a Website Redesign Cost? (What to Expect)

You know your website needs an update. Maybe it looks outdated, loads slowly, doesn't work well on mobile, or simply isn't converting visitors into customers. The first question on your mind is likely: how much is this going to cost? Understanding the average cost for website redesign is essential for budgeting properly and avoiding sticker shock when you start getting quotes.

The honest answer is that website redesign costs range from $500 to $100,000+, depending on the scope, complexity, and who does the work. That's not a helpful range unless you know where your project falls on that spectrum. In this guide, we'll break down real-world costs by project type, explain every factor that affects pricing, and help you determine the right budget for your specific situation.

Website Redesign Cost by Project Type

Not every redesign is the same. A template refresh for a small business site is a completely different project than a ground-up rebuild of an e-commerce store with 5,000 products. Here's what each tier typically looks like.

Template Refresh ($500 - $3,000)

A template refresh keeps your existing platform (WordPress, Squarespace, Wix) and updates the visual design with a new theme or template. Content is reorganized, images are updated, and the site gets a modern look without rebuilding from scratch.

This is the right choice when your site's structure and content are fundamentally sound but the design feels dated. It's also the fastest option. A skilled designer can complete a template refresh in one to two weeks, and you maintain all your existing SEO equity since the URL structure typically stays the same.

What's included: New theme/template selection and customization, color scheme and typography updates, image replacement, mobile responsiveness fixes, basic SEO optimization, and content reorganization within the existing page structure.

What's not included: New page creation, custom functionality, content writing, complex integrations, or platform migration.

Small Business Redesign ($3,000 - $15,000)

This is the most common tier for small to medium businesses. It involves creating a custom design (not just applying a template), potentially restructuring the site architecture, writing or rewriting content, and building in features like contact forms, booking systems, or lead magnets. You might also migrate platforms, for example moving from WordPress to a modern framework like Next.js for better performance.

At the lower end ($3,000-$7,000), you're getting a well-designed site with good functionality but limited custom features. At the higher end ($8,000-$15,000), expect completely custom design, professional copywriting, advanced features (booking, CRM integration, animation), and thorough SEO work.

Factors That Affect Website Redesign Cost

Two projects that seem similar on the surface can have wildly different price tags. Understanding what drives costs helps you budget accurately and make informed trade-offs.

Number of Pages: More pages mean more design work, more content, and more testing. A 5-page service business site costs a fraction of a 50-page resource hub. Each unique page template (not just each page) adds to the design and development cost.

Custom Functionality: Standard features like contact forms and image galleries are relatively inexpensive. Custom features like booking engines, client portals, payment processing, member areas, custom calculators, or API integrations can each add $2,000-$10,000+ to the project.

Content Creation: If you're providing all the content (text, images, videos), costs stay lower. If you need professional copywriting, photography, or video production, budget accordingly. Professional copywriting alone typically runs $100-$500 per page for quality work.

Content Migration: Moving content from an old site to a new one sounds simple but can be surprisingly time-consuming, especially if the old site has hundreds of blog posts, product listings, or resource pages. Redirecting old URLs to new ones is critical for maintaining SEO rankings and must be done carefully.

Platform & Technology: Building on WordPress is generally cheaper than building on a custom framework. But custom frameworks deliver better performance, security, and scalability. The right choice depends on your current needs and growth plans.

DIY vs. Freelancer vs. Agency: Cost Comparison

Who you hire (or whether you do it yourself) has the single biggest impact on cost. Each option has real trade-offs beyond just the price tag.

DIY with a Website Builder ($0 - $500): Platforms like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress.com let you build a site yourself for the cost of a monthly subscription ($12-$50/month). The trade-off is your time. Expect to spend 40-80+ hours building a site, and the result will be limited by your design skills and the template's flexibility. Best for solopreneurs on a tight budget who have time to invest.

Freelance Designer/Developer ($2,000 - $15,000): Freelancers offer a good balance of quality and cost. A skilled freelancer can produce a professional site at a lower price than an agency because they have lower overhead. The risks include availability (freelancers juggle multiple clients), limited scope of services (a designer might not be a strong developer, and vice versa), and less accountability than a company.

Web Design Agency ($5,000 - $100,000+): Agencies bring a full team: strategist, designer, developer, copywriter, SEO specialist, and project manager. You're paying for a polished process, multiple perspectives, and accountability. The result is typically the highest quality, but the cost reflects the overhead and expertise involved.

How to Get the Most Value From Your Budget

Regardless of your budget, these strategies help you get the best possible result from your website redesign investment.

Start with strategy, not design. Before any design work begins, define your goals. What actions do you want visitors to take? What pages are most important? What's your current site doing wrong? A clear strategy prevents expensive mid-project pivots.

Prepare your content early. The number one cause of redesign delays (and budget overruns) is content not being ready. Write your page copy, gather images, and organize your service/product information before the designer starts. If you need professional copywriting, budget for it upfront.

Prioritize ruthlessly. You can always add features later. Launch with the essential pages and functionality, then iterate based on real user behavior. A perfectly designed 8-page site outperforms a mediocre 20-page site every time.

Think about long-term costs. A $3,000 WordPress site that needs $200/month in maintenance and breaks every time a plugin updates might cost more over three years than a $8,000 custom site with minimal ongoing maintenance.

Explore our website design services to see our approach to building high-performance websites that deliver measurable business results at transparent, predictable pricing.

Final Thoughts

A website redesign is an investment, not an expense. When done right, it directly impacts your bottom line through higher conversion rates, better search rankings, and a stronger brand perception. The key is matching your budget to your actual needs and choosing the right partner for the job.

Don't choose the cheapest option just to save money, and don't overspend on features you don't need yet. Be honest about your goals, prepare thoroughly, and invest in quality where it counts most: design that converts, content that resonates, and performance that keeps visitors engaged. Your website works for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That's worth getting right.