Ask ten web designers what a website costs and you will get ten different answers. That is not because anyone is hiding anything. It is because "a website" can mean a single page with your phone number on it, or a full online store with hundreds of products. This guide explains what drives the price in New Zealand, how fixed pricing compares with hourly rates, and uses our own packages as a worked example so you can see real numbers.
What drives the cost of a website
Most of the price comes down to time. The more pages, features and decisions involved, the more hours it takes. The main things that move the number are:
- Number of pages. A one-page site is quick. Five pages means more layout, more copy and more checking on mobile.
- Custom design or template. A template is faster but looks like other sites. A design built from scratch fits your brand properly.
- Selling online. An online store needs products loaded, payments connected, shipping rules set and a checkout tested. That is a much bigger job than a brochure site.
- Content. If you supply your own text and photos, it moves faster. If the designer has to write copy or source images, expect it to cost more.
- Extras. Booking systems, member areas, integrations and custom features all add time.
- Ongoing costs. Your domain name, hosting or platform subscription and any paid apps are separate from the build itself. Always ask what these will be before you commit.
Fixed price vs hourly rates
Web designers in NZ tend to charge in one of two ways.
Hourly pricing means you pay for the time spent. It suits open-ended or complex projects where nobody can say up front exactly what is needed. The downside is that you do not know the final bill until the job is done, and every round of changes adds to it.
Fixed price means you agree on a scope and a price before work starts. You know exactly what you are paying and what you are getting. This suits most small businesses, because the needs are fairly standard: a few pages, a contact form, a map, maybe a shop.
The key with fixed pricing is being clear on scope. Check how many pages are included, whether a contact form is part of it, and what the turnaround time is. If you later want more than was agreed, that is normally quoted separately.
A worked example: Mocked Up's web design packages
Here is how we price websites. Every package is a fixed price in NZD, designed from scratch and built to work well on mobile.
| Package | Price | What is included | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter one-page website | $299 | Up to 5 sections, contact form | 3 business days |
| Small business 5-page website | $499 | Home, about, services, gallery, contact. Custom design, not a template. Contact form and Google Maps | 5 to 7 business days |
| Brand bundle | $999 | The 5-page site plus 2 custom-branded t-shirts, 1 hoodie and 1 cap | 7 to 10 business days |
| Full build e-commerce store | $1,499 | Full Shopify store build, up to 25 products loaded, payments and shipping set up | 2 to 3 weeks |
You can see how the drivers above show up in the price. The jump from one page to five pages is about layout and content. The jump to an online store is about products, payments and shipping, which take real time to set up and test. The brand bundle adds printed apparel, so your website and your team uniforms match from day one.
How to pick the right level
Start with what the website needs to do, not what it could do.
- Do people just need to find and contact you? A one-page site is often enough. Think tradies, freelancers and new businesses.
- Do customers want to compare services, see your work and learn about you? A 5-page site gives each of those its own page, which also helps with Google.
- Do you want to take payments online? Then you need an online store. A brochure site will not do that job.
If you are unsure, our guide on whether you need a website or online store walks through the options in more detail.
Questions to ask any web designer
- Is the price fixed, or is it an estimate?
- How many pages and rounds of changes are included?
- Is the design custom or based on a template?
- Will it work properly on phones?
- What ongoing costs will I have, such as domain, hosting or platform fees?
- Who owns the site and the content once it is finished?
- How long will it take, and what do you need from me?
A good designer will answer all of these clearly. If the answers are vague, the final bill often is too.
Ready to start?
Have a look at our web design packages, then send us an email with a bit about your business and we will tell you which option fits. If you need a logo first, our logo design service can get you sorted.