How much does a website cost in 2026? Honest numbers from a developer

A professional business website costs between 2,000 and 6,000 euros in most cases in 2026. Private individuals and small projects often reach their goal for less than 1,500 euros, while custom web applications start at around 8,000 euros. Why the ranges are so wide, what should be included in the price and where hidden costs lurk – here are the honest numbers many providers prefer to hide behind a contact form.

Prices by project type: the overview

One-pagers and private projects: 800 to 1,500 euros

A single, well-designed page with an introduction, services and contact options – ideal for freelancers starting out, clubs or private projects. Custom-built, without a site builder, with clean technology and solid search engine basics.

Business website with 5 to 15 pages: 2,000 to 6,000 euros

The classic for small and medium-sized businesses: home page, service pages, about us, references, contact. The price mainly depends on how individual the design should be, whether content is created or supplied, and which extras are added – such as a blog, multiple languages or appointment booking.

Website with content management and multiple languages: 4,000 to 10,000 euros

As soon as you want to maintain content yourself or need several languages, a content management system comes into play. I rely on a lean, custom-tailored admin panel instead of a heavyweight standard CMS – you manage exactly what you need without clicking through menus you never use.

Custom web application: from 8,000 euros

Customer portals, internal tools, booking systems, integrations with ERP or payment providers: this is software made to measure. Serious quotes only emerge after a requirements meeting – flat prices without analysis are a warning sign for web applications.

Why the price ranges are so wide

Five factors determine the price of almost every website:

• Design depth: a custom design costs more than an adapted layout grid – but it also doesn't look interchangeable.

• Content: do you supply copy and images, or should they be created? Content creation is often the underestimated item.

• Scope of functionality: a contact form and a map are standard; booking systems, calculators or portals are development work.

• Multiple languages: every language means additional content, maintenance and technical care (hreflang, translated URLs).

• Integrations: newsletter, payment, CRM or ERP – interfaces cost time but save manual work later.

Don't forget the running costs

Costs continue after launch – much smaller ones, but they belong in every honest calculation:

• Hosting: 5 to 20 euros per month for most business websites.

• Domain: 10 to 20 euros per year.

• Maintenance and updates: from around 30 euros per month depending on scope – keeping technology, security and backups up to date. With me: flexible and without long-term contracts.

Beware of budget and rental offers

"Website from 49 euros per month, no upfront costs" sounds tempting – but calculated over five years you quickly pay 3,000 euros for a site-builder page that doesn't belong to you: cancel the contract and the website is gone. Fixed prices below 1,000 euros for "complete business websites" also deserve a second look: they usually mean templates without individual consulting, without proper search engine optimisation and without a contact person who knows your business. My principle: in the end the code belongs to you – you are not tied to anything or anyone, not even to me.

How to keep costs under control

• Prepare content: supplying copy, images and a logo saves the biggest variable item.

• Clear scope: better to start with a focused core and extend later than to want everything at once.

• Think in stages: a good website is extensible – the blog or the second language can come in phase two.

Conclusion: fixed price instead of surprises

Websites are custom work, but their prices don't have to be a secret. As a guideline: under 1,500 euros for small projects, 2,000 to 6,000 euros for the typical business website, from 8,000 euros for custom applications. I will tell you what your specific project costs after a free initial consultation – as a fixed-price quote with a clearly defined scope and no hidden costs. You can find an overview of my services as a web developer in Kassel here.