Web Design Pricing Calculator
Website projects are typically quoted per-project, not per-hour — but the quote should still be built from a real hourly rate and realistic hours, including revisions and browser testing.
Recommended project quote
—
Total estimated hours
—
Buffered hours
—
Implied effective rate
—
Web design projects commonly under-scope revisions and cross-device/browser testing — both are included as explicit line items here rather than absorbed silently into "build hours."
Web-design-specific cost considerations
- Ongoing hosting, maintenance and security updates are usually a separate recurring line item, not part of the one-time build quote.
- Stock photography, premium plugin licenses and font licensing are direct expenses that should be passed through, not absorbed.
- Client-supplied content delays are a common scope-creep source — the buffer partially covers this, but a written timeline dependency clause covers it better.
Worked example
$75/hr, 35 build hours + 6 revision hours = 41 hours, 20% buffer, $150 direct expenses:
- Buffered hours: 41 × 1.20 = 49.2 hours
- Labor price: 49.2 × $75 = $3,690
- Recommended quote: $3,690 + $150 = $3,840
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
Should maintenance be included in this quote?
Most studios quote ongoing maintenance and hosting separately as a monthly retainer rather than folding it into the one-time build price.
How many revision rounds should I budget for?
Two rounds is a common default; scope additional rounds explicitly as a change order rather than absorbing them into the buffer.
Price the whole website engagement
Design and build hours are only part of a website project. Discovery, content gaps, responsive QA, browser testing, launch support and stakeholder feedback can materially change the true delivery cost.
Turn the estimate into a proposal
- Define the page count, templates, integrations and content responsibilities in writing.
- Price discovery separately when requirements are too uncertain for a reliable fixed quote.
- Offer maintenance as a distinct recurring service instead of quietly bundling future changes.
Cost drivers to confirm
- Custom copy, photography, accessibility remediation and migration can exceed design effort.
- Feedback from several decision-makers usually increases coordination and revision time.
- Licenses, hosting and domain fees need a named owner and renewal policy.