In this guide: the real 2026 price bands, the seven factors that shape a quote, the recurring costs after launch, template versus custom, the 8 points to check in an offer and the mistakes that cost most. For the technical side read the Web Development Guide 2026; to sell online, the E-commerce Guide 2026.
In 2026 a professional website costs from around €800 for a brochure site to €5,000 and above for a complex company site; an e-commerce site sits between €5,000 and €15,000. The range is wide because the price does not depend on the number of pages, but on how much analysis, design, development and content work sits behind it.
This guide explains how a quote is actually put together, which items push it up, which costs remain after launch and how to compare two offers that look identical on paper. It is written by a studio that has been building websites since 1998 and has seen hundreds of quotes, both its own and its competitors’.
Figures below are in euros, the currency we quote in. They reflect the Italian and wider European market, where our clients are based.
What the price actually depends on
Anyone asking “how much does a website cost” is really asking the price of seven different things bundled together. Change even one of these variables and the quote moves by thousands of euros.
1. The goal of the site
A site that only has to lend credibility to a company already known by word of mouth costs far less than a site that has to generate enquiries every week. The first is a business card, the second is a commercial tool and has to be designed as one: conversion paths, considered forms, content that answers objections.
2. The design: template or bespoke
A purchased theme, adapted, cuts the hours significantly. A bespoke design starts from the company’s identity and requires wireframes, drafts, revisions and adaptation to every screen size. It is the item that most often explains the gap between two quotes.
3. The number and type of pages
The total does not matter; what matters is how many pages have a different structure. Ten product pages built on the same model represent less work than three pages each with its own layout.
4. Technology and the autonomy required
We work primarily with Laravel and React, including for custom applications: they deliver performance, security and no ceiling on what can be built. Being able to change copy and images yourself has a setup cost, because it means building a tidy, mistake-proof admin panel — but in exchange it saves years of small requests to the agency.
5. The content
Copy, photos and video are the most underestimated item. If the company supplies them, the quote goes down; if the agency has to produce them (copywriting, photo shoot, filming), it goes up. Be warned: an excellent site with mediocre content performs worse than an average site with excellent content.
6. Integrations and AI
Connecting the site to an ERP, CRM, payment systems, couriers or quotation software is real development work. On the same foundation we integrate artificial intelligence systems to improve process efficiency and results: assistants that qualify leads, intelligent search, automation of repetitive tasks.
7. SEO and multiple languages
Basic technical optimisation (structure, speed, structured data, sitemap) should be included in any serious project. Ongoing ranking work is a separate service. Multilingual sites do not just double the copy: they double the structure, the management and the maintenance too.
The 2026 price bands
These are the bands most projects for small and mid-sized companies fall into. They are there to place your requirement, not to replace a quote: two sites in the same band can involve very different amounts of work.
| Type | Price band | Typical timeline | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brochure site / one-page | €800 – €1,500 | 2-3 weeks | Independent professionals and small local businesses |
| Company site with CMS | €1,500 – €5,000 | 3-4 weeks | Companies using the site to get found and collect enquiries |
| E-commerce | €5,000 – €15,000 | 4-8 weeks | Businesses selling online with a catalogue and integrations |
| Custom projects (web app, AI, 3D) | over €15,000, on analysis | variable | Portals, client areas, configurators, automation |
Brochure or one-page site
A few pages, a linear structure, design on an adapted theme, a contact form, basic optimisation and a mobile version. It is the choice of independent professionals, small local businesses and companies that need an online presence without making it their main channel.
Company site with CMS
A fuller structure with dedicated service pages, a blog, a news or portfolio section, a self-service admin panel, SEO set up around the target keywords and performance properly handled. This is the most common band for small and mid-sized companies.
E-commerce
Product catalogue, variants, cart and checkout, payments, shipping, order management, transactional emails, ERP integration, SEO on product pages. The cost depends above all on catalogue size and the number of integrations. If you are considering this route, the complete e-commerce guide 2026 goes into detail.
Custom projects
Web apps, portals with client areas, marketplaces, AI automation, 3D product configurators. There is no price list here: you start from a functional analysis and the quote follows the features actually needed, often with progressive releases.
The costs after launch
The build price is only part of the real cost. Comparing two quotes on the bottom line alone risks choosing the offer that costs more over three years.
Domain and hosting
These are annual fees. Hosting affects site speed, which in turn affects ranking and conversions: saving here is almost always a false economy. Always ask whether the first year is included and what it will cost from the second.
SSL certificate
HTTPS is no longer optional: without it, browsers flag the site as not secure. Many hosting plans include it, others bill it separately.
Maintenance and updates
Updates, backups, security monitoring and small content changes. A site left un-updated for two years is the leading cause of compromised websites. Check whether maintenance is a package, pay-as-you-go, or excluded.
Evolution
A site that works generates new needs: a landing page for a campaign, a section for a new service, one more integration. Budget an annual allowance to let it evolve, instead of rebuilding it from scratch every five years.
What pushes a quote up
Seven items move a quote more than anything else. Recognising them helps you understand why one offer costs twice another — and whether that difference is worth it for you.
- Fully bespoke design: drafts, revisions and adaptation across all devices
- Multiple languages: structure, hreflang, content management and maintenance multiplied by each language
- Integration with business systems: ERP, CRM, stock, couriers, marketplaces
- Migration from an existing site: content recovery, redirect map, protecting the rankings already earned
- AI features: assistants trained on company data, content personalisation, process automation
- 3D content and configurators: modelling, model optimisation and building the in-browser interaction
- Urgency: compressing the schedule means putting more people on it in parallel, and that is paid for
Template or custom: when each makes sense
There is no answer that is always right. There is an answer that is right for your case.
A template makes sense when
- budget is the main constraint
- the site mainly serves as a verifiable, credible presence
- your sector requires no particular functionality
- you need to be online quickly
Custom development makes sense when
- the site has to integrate with systems already used in the company
- the business model needs features themes do not cover (quotation tools, configurators, client areas)
- you need AI automation on processes or content
- performance is critical, because traffic or sales are significant
- the brand has a strong identity to translate online without compromises
Technical detail on technologies and process: the complete web development guide 2026.
How to read a quote: 8 points to check
Before comparing totals, check that the two quotes are describing the same project. Eight checks are enough.
- Ownership of the code and the domain: on delivery they must be in your name. Be wary of arrangements that “rent” you the site: stop paying and you lose everything
- Content scope: who writes the copy, who supplies the photos, how many pages are included
- Number of revisions included and what happens beyond that number
- Technical SEO included or excluded: structure, speed, structured data, sitemap
- Hosting and maintenance: what is included in the first year and what it costs from the second
- Training: one session on managing the site yourself is worth many hours of saved support
- Timelines and responsibilities: delivery dates also depend on you supplying the material, and that must be in writing
- Post-launch support: response times and contact channel, stated in black and white
The mistakes that cost most
Choosing on lowest price alone
The cheapest quote often excludes content, SEO and support. The same items come back later at full rate — or worse: the site stays invisible and the investment is lost.
Starting without measurable goals
“I want a new website” is not a goal. “I want to double enquiries from the site within six months” is, and it changes the project decisions completely.
Putting content off
A site stuck waiting for copy is the number one cause of delays. If content is a problem, put it in the quote from the start.
Forgetting mobile
Most traffic to small and mid-sized company sites comes from smartphones. A site approved by looking at it only on a desktop is half approved.
Treating launch as the finish line
Publication is the start. Without updates, new content and data analysis, any site loses ground within a year.
Frequently asked questions about website costs
How much does a professional website cost in 2026?
A professional brochure site starts at around €800-1,500, a company site with a CMS sits between €1,500 and €5,000, and an e-commerce site between €5,000 and €15,000. Above that threshold you are into custom projects (web apps, AI integrations, 3D configurators) that are quoted after an analysis.
Why can two quotes for the same website differ by thousands of euros?
Because the scope and the quality of the work differ: bespoke design or template, content and photography included or left to the client, SEO built in or absent, number of revisions, training, code ownership and post-launch support. For the same page count, two quotes can describe two different projects.
How long does it take to build a website?
A standard website takes 2-4 weeks. A professional e-commerce site takes 4-8 weeks. Timelines depend above all on how quickly copy, images and approvals are provided.
Is a template or a custom build the better choice?
A template makes sense when the budget is tight and the site mainly serves as a credible presence. Custom development, which we build primarily with Laravel and React, makes sense when the site has to do something specific: integrate with your ERP, run configurators, automate processes with AI, or support significant traffic and sales volumes.
What costs remain after launch?
Domain, hosting, SSL certificate and maintenance (updates, backups, security, small changes) stay on the budget. These are recurring annual items that should be asked about explicitly during the quotation stage, because they shape the real cost of the site over the following three years.
Is a quote from DAB free?
Yes. DAB provides free, tailored quotes after an initial analysis of your requirements, with no obligation. Our studio is in Recanati, Italy, and we run projects for companies across Italy and in seven European countries.
More answers on the FAQ page.
What will your project cost?
The bands in this guide are for orientation. The number that matters is the one for your project: tell us the objectives, the features you need and the timeline, and get a free, detailed quote with no obligation.
DAB has been building websites, e-commerce and apps since 1998 from Recanati, Italy, for companies across Italy and in seven European countries. More than 300 projects delivered.
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