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Website Cost Calculator & Scope Planner
Estimate the work behind a website before you ask for quotes. Change the scope and planning rates, see the component range, then export a brief you can challenge.
Use the toolA cost range that shows its working
Most website price pages give one large number and hide the assumptions. This planner separates discovery, information architecture, design, implementation, content, integrations, accessibility, analytics, QA and project management. You can see which part creates the range instead of treating every website as the same job.
The output is useful before a vendor conversation because it also records scope drivers, exclusions and questions about ownership. It is not a RankThread quote. It is a structured way to compare like with like.
How the method works
- Choose the site type, public page count and number of genuinely unique templates.
- Describe the design, content, migration, accessibility, language and integration work.
- Set a low and high planning rate plus realistic weekly delivery capacity.
- The calculator adds visible minimum and maximum hours for each component, then applies QA and project-management ranges.
- Budget equals effort multiplied by the editable rates. Timeline uses the entered delivery capacity and a visible contingency on the high case.
Worked example
A 12-page service website with five unique templates, custom design, copy editing, two standard integrations, baseline accessibility and analytics produces a planning range of 169-405 hours. At the example rates of £45-£95 per hour, that is £7,610-£38,480.
The point is not that every 12-page site costs this amount. Change content readiness, templates or custom integrations and the range moves because those inputs change the actual work.
What this result cannot tell you
A planner cannot inspect legacy code, undocumented integrations, stakeholder delays, brand quality, content politics or compliance obligations. Hosting, licences, taxes, ongoing maintenance and third-party fees are excluded. Treat the result as a discovery range until dependencies and acceptance criteria are verified.
Frequently asked questions
Is this website cost calculator a quote?
No. It is a transparent planning range based on the scope and rates you enter. A binding quote needs verified requirements, dependencies and responsibilities.
Why do I enter hourly rates?
Rates vary by team, seniority, geography, risk and delivery model. Editable rates keep the assumption visible instead of pretending one hidden rate is universal.
Does it include ecommerce websites?
Yes. Choose ecommerce and add the catalogue size. Checkout, account and catalogue work enters the component model, but unusual fulfilment or custom commerce logic still needs discovery.
What is a unique page template?
A template is a distinct reusable layout and behaviour, such as a service page, article, product or location page. Ten pages using one pattern are not ten unique templates.
Are maintenance and hosting included?
No. The tool lists hosting, licences, third-party usage and ongoing maintenance as exclusions so they can be priced separately.
Does RankThread receive my figures?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. Values only enter a share link if you explicitly choose Copy share link and accept the warning.
