If you Google "web design London cost" you get pricing pages full of "from £499" and "from £25,000" with nothing in between. Useless. Here's what London projects actually cost in 2026, broken down by what you're really buying.
The headline ranges
Based on real quotes circulating in the London market in 2026:
- **DIY-with-help / template setup**: £800 – £2,500
- **Small business brochure site (5–10 pages)**: £3,500 – £9,000
- **Brand + website for a scaling business**: £9,000 – £25,000
- **Custom design Wix Studio or Shopify build**: £15,000 – £45,000
- **Bespoke React/Next.js build**: £30,000 – £120,000+
- **Enterprise platform with integrations**: £80,000 – £400,000+
These are London rates. Same brief in Manchester or Bristol typically runs 20–30% less. Same brief in Mayfair vs Croydon can also vary 30%.
What drives the number up
1. Number of unique page templates — not number of pages. A 50-page site with 4 templates is cheaper than a 12-page site with 12 unique designs.
2. Custom photography & illustration — £2k–£10k extra, but transformative.
3. Custom integrations — CRMs, booking, payments, member areas. Each one adds £1.5k–£8k.
4. Content writing — proper copywriting from a real strategist is £2k–£8k.
5. SEO setup — keyword research, structure, schema, technical foundations: £1.5k–£5k.
6. Accessibility (WCAG 2.2) — if you need it properly done, add 10–15%.
7. Animation & motion design — bespoke micro-interactions push budgets fast.
What drives the number down
- Reusing your existing brand and photography
- Picking a proven platform like [Wix Studio](/services/wix) or Shopify rather than custom
- Writing your own copy (well)
- Sensible page count (8–12 is usually plenty)
- Single round of stakeholder feedback rather than committee-by-committee
The hidden line items most quotes don't include
Always ask explicitly:
- **Hosting & domain** — £100–£500/year, sometimes bundled, sometimes not
- **SSL, backups, security monitoring** — should be included; check
- **Premium plugins & licences** — Wix Studio plans, Shopify themes, font licences, stock imagery
- **Post-launch fixes** — most agencies cover 14–30 days, then you're paying
- **Ongoing maintenance** — see our [maintenance subscription tiers](/services/managed-services) for honest monthly figures
- **VAT** — half of London quotes show ex-VAT prices. Always check.
What you should *expect* to spend by business type
- **Solo consultant / coach** — £3.5k–£8k for a strong, conversion-focused brochure site
- **Local service business (clinic, salon, trades)** — £5k–£12k including booking integration
- **Funded startup pre-launch** — £15k–£35k for brand + marketing site
- **Established SME / £1m+ turnover** — £25k–£60k for a proper rebrand & site
- **E-commerce £500k+ turnover** — £20k–£80k for Shopify; £60k+ for custom
- **Series A+ SaaS / fintech** — £50k–£200k for marketing site + product design system
Why two London agencies can quote 3x apart for the same brief
Three reasons:
1. Different specs under the hood. One is using a template, one is custom-coding.
2. Different team locations. A Soho office with senior staff costs more to keep running than a remote studio.
3. Different definition of "done". Cheaper quotes often skip SEO, accessibility, content, and post-launch support.
Always normalise the briefs before comparing. A £6k quote and a £24k quote are almost never for the same product.
My honest take
Most London small businesses overspend on visuals and underspend on conversion, content and SEO. A £12k site with great copy and proper SEO foundations will outperform a £40k site that looks gorgeous and ranks for nothing.
If you want a no-nonsense ballpark for your project, [drop me a line](/contact) — I'll give you a real range on the first call, no proposal-padding.
