How do web designers charge?

By Kai M, Deliberate Design.

The short answer: four ways. By the hour, a fixed price for the job, a monthly fee with the build spread into it, or a template price. Fixed and template prices are the ones where you know the number before you start. Hourly is the one where you do not.

Hourly

£30 to £80 an hour in the UK. Fine for small changes to an existing site. For a new build, ask for a cap.

Fixed price

£1,200 to £2,000 for a four or five page site from a freelancer; more from a studio. Usually half up front, half on completion. Ask what counts as a change and what counts as extra.

Monthly, build included

£50 to £150 a month with no build fee, usually on a 12 or 24 month contract. Easy on cash flow; check what you own if you stop paying.

Template

A set price for a ready made design filled in with your details, then a monthly fee for hosting. Ours is £99 then £20 a month, no contract. The design work is already done, which is why it is a tenth of a bespoke price.

Questions that stop surprises

• Is this the total, or are there extras?
• What happens to the price in year two?
• Who owns the domain and the site?
• What is a change, and what does one cost?

Prices in this post were checked on 2 October 2026.