We regularly survey BuyerZone users to ask how their purchases went. We've used their responses to provide a sampling of actual prices paid for web site design work.

While web site design prices span a wide range – we saw responses ranging from $109 to over $20,000 – they seemed to fall into two main groups: basic informational web sites and more complex custom-designed, interactive web sites.

Basic informational sites incorporate your business images and copy. The designer may call it a "custom" web site, but you're primarily choosing colors and layouts from a range of styles they suggest. web site design prices for these types of sites are most often between $300 and $800.

Sites with real customized designs or interactive features like Flash programming, database connections, or e-commerce are more expensive: $1,000 to $5,000 and up, depending on the size of the site and the complexity of the design and technical work.

You'll have to pay a hosting fee – $20 to $40 per month – to cover the bandwidth and operating costs of your site, and that may include a certain amount of updates and edits. If you plan to make frequent changes, be sure to ask how you'll be charged for those – or if you can make them yourself.

• Prices for basic, informational web sites
• Prices for custom-designed or interactive web site

Basic, informational web sites prices

• "For the web page design I paid $500, and for the hosting I pay $39.99 per month. This is for a 10-page web site with everything included for a great site. The hosting covers search engines (18) and any changes needed as long as they host. "

  – Real Estate Agency, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

• "$499: 10-page custom web site, $29/month service fee, three email addresses."

  – Dentist's Office, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

• "$250 package and $40 per. mo. hosting. A five-page custom site and layout with my company's logo and text."

  – Retailer, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• "Approximately $900. Included five pages, streaming video (2), custom design, hosting, e-mail, etc."

  – Video producer, Monrovia, Maryland

• "$595 for web site design and shopping cart. Plus an additional $150 for specialized moving banner. $59 per month for hosting service ... this included changes that need to be made or updated on the site monthly."

  – Retailer, Irwin, Pennsylvania

• "$699 web site design + $29/month hosting."

  – Travel service, Collegeville, Pennsylvania

• "$375 for 10 pages of info [and audio], $25 a month to host."

  – Entertainment services, Germantown, Maryland

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Custom-designed or interactive web site prices

• "$1,500 for a full Flash site with picture gallery, slide shows, and morphing and enlarging functions." [No design work – just programming]

  – Design agency, Torrence, California

• "$5,400. web site development, logo development, web hosting, shopping cart, secure payment gateway."

  – Retailer, Richton Park, Illinois

• "$4,000 for a custom web site, plus $325 a month for a dedicated server." [interactive site where users post information]

  – Entertainment media company, Hermosa Beach, California

• "$3,425 – web site that met our requirements with lifetime updates." [Flash-based site with user uploads and e-commerce features.]

  – Publisher, Destin, Florida

• "$1,000. Database interface for daily maintenance and for client access; Flash intro; directory applications; navigational tutorial; custom design."

  – Advertiser, Sheffield, Alabama

• "The price for a redesigned web site was $2,300, which included hosting for a year, monthly updates, ownership of the website and a username and password for independent editing."

  – Business consultants, Hoboken, New Jersey

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Want more information on choosing a website designer? Read our Web Site Design Buyer’s Guide.

Information was provided by BuyerZone users. Quotes have been edited for clarity only.