A website redesign can cost anywhere from $0 to $150,000 or more. That range is not a cop-out. It reflects genuinely different approaches, different levels of quality, and different amounts of someone's time. This guide breaks down every tier honestly, with real numbers and what you actually get at each price point.
The complete cost breakdown
| Approach | Cost | Timeline | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (page builder) | $0-$65/mo | Weeks to months | Template, you do all the work |
| Freelancer | $1,000-$10,000 | 2-8 weeks | Varies widely by skill level |
| Studio (NearBlack) | $499-$5,999 | 72 hours | Custom · professional · SEO-ready |
| Small agency | $10,000-$30,000 | 6-12 weeks | Full team · strategy · extras |
| Large agency | $30,000-$150,000+ | 3-12 months | Enterprise · brand strategy · full production |
DIY: $0 to $65/month
Building or redesigning your own site on Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow costs nothing upfront beyond the monthly subscription. If you have the time, the eye for design, and the patience to learn the tools, this is a legitimate option for a side project or early-stage business.
The real cost is not monetary. It is your time. A business owner spending 40 hours rebuilding their own website is not spending those 40 hours on their business. At any reasonable internal rate, the "free" redesign costs significantly more than it appears.
Best for: Side projects, new businesses testing a concept, founders who genuinely enjoy building things.
Freelancer: $1,000 to $10,000
A skilled freelance designer or developer can produce excellent work in this range. The challenge is variability. A freelancer at the $1,000 end of the range may be a student or someone building their portfolio. A freelancer at the $10,000 end may have 15 years of experience and a refined process.
Finding the right freelancer takes time, vetting references is important, and timelines can slip if the person is juggling multiple clients. There is also typically no backup if something goes wrong after launch.
Best for: Businesses with flexible timelines and the ability to invest time in finding and vetting the right person.
Specialized studio: $499 to $5,999
A studio that focuses on a specific type of project (like NearBlack's focus on website refreshes) can deliver professional-grade work fast and at a lower cost than a general agency. The specialization is the efficiency driver. We do not charge for discovery workshops, wireframe phases, or executive presentations because we do not need them. We have built a process around one type of project and know exactly what to do.
NearBlack's tiers:
- Launch · $499: 3-5 pages, custom design, mobile-optimized, SEO basics, delivered in 72 hours
- Business · $999: Up to 8 pages, advanced SEO, Google Business optimization
- Growth · $1,999: Full multi-page site, location SEO, advanced schema markup, fast Core Web Vitals
- Authority · $5,999: Comprehensive site, enterprise-grade SEO strategy, custom everything
You pay once. You own the code. No ongoing platform fees.
Best for: Businesses with an existing site that needs to be significantly better, fast, without paying agency rates.
Small agency: $10,000 to $30,000
A small agency brings a team: typically an account manager, a designer, a developer, and a strategist. The engagement includes a discovery phase, wireframes, mockups, and multiple rounds of revisions. Timeline is usually 6 to 12 weeks.
This price point makes sense when you need brand strategy alongside the site, professional copywriting across all pages, or a more complex technical build. The extra cost goes toward process, strategy, and the full-team approach.
Best for: Businesses that need brand strategy, copywriting, and more involved project management alongside the site build.
Large agency: $30,000 to $150,000+
Enterprise-level agencies work with large organizations on complex websites with multiple integrations, custom functionality, localization, security requirements, and ongoing marketing support. The price reflects the scope, the team size, and the level of strategic involvement.
If your business needs a website as part of a comprehensive marketing overhaul, including brand strategy, video production, content programs, and paid media, a large agency may be the appropriate structure.
Best for: Enterprise companies with complex requirements and the budget to match.
What actually affects the cost
Regardless of which tier you choose, these factors drive price up or down:
- Number of pages: more pages, more work, higher cost
- Custom design vs. template: custom costs more but delivers differentiation
- Copywriting: professional writing adds cost but significantly improves conversion
- SEO setup: technical SEO, schema markup, and on-page optimization
- E-commerce: product catalogs, checkout, inventory management are significantly more complex
- Photography and video: stock photos are free; custom shoots are not
- Ongoing maintenance: hosting, updates, and support add recurring costs
Hidden costs to watch for
Whatever tier you choose, watch for:
- Monthly platform fees (Wix, Squarespace, Webflow) that accumulate indefinitely
- Domain registration and renewal ($15-$25/year)
- Hosting if not included (Vercel and Netlify have generous free tiers)
- Stock photo subscriptions if photography is not included
- Plugin and integration costs for WordPress or other CMS platforms
- Revision fees beyond what is included in the quoted scope
For most small and medium businesses that already have a site and need it to perform better, the $499-$5,999 studio tier delivers the best value: professional design, fast delivery, and no ongoing fees. You are not paying for discovery workshops or account management you do not need.