How much do website designers usually charge?

Ask five website designers what they charge and you will get five different answers, and none of them will be wrong. The numbers differ because designers price in three different ways, and the quote does not always tell you which one you are looking at.

This article explains the three models, shows what each one is good for, and gives you a way to compare quotes that have nothing in common on the surface.

How much do website designers usually charge?

There is no single going rate, because the price depends on what is being built, how the designer bills, and what happens after launch. Two quotes for the same six pages can differ by thousands of dollars and both be honest, if one includes hosting, edits, and setup and the other leaves them out.

What you can count on is that every quote falls into one of three models. Knowing the model tells you more than the number does.

Compare what is included, not the total. A lower price that leaves out hosting, the domain, setup, and edits is often the more expensive quote once the first year is over.

Hourly, project, or retainer: how each model works

Model	How it works	Works well when	Watch for
Hourly	You pay for time spent, billed as the work happens	A small fix or a one-off task	The total is unknown until the work is done
Project price	One agreed number for a defined scope	A new site with a clear page list	Scope creep and a vague list of what is covered
Retainer	A recurring fee for ongoing care and edits	A site that changes often	Paying every month for work you never request

The First Street sign in Old Town Temecula with the hills behind it — Local contractors in Temecula, Murrieta, and Menifee often compare three or four quotes. The model behind each one matters more than the headline number.

Hourly billing suits small jobs. For a new website it leaves you guessing, because nobody can promise the hours before the design is settled. A project price is easier to plan around, as long as the page list and the deliverables are written down.

How should I pay someone to design a website?

We price the build as a project and the care as a separate plan, so you can see each part. At Sun City Marketing the build is a set price with the Set Up Fee added, and it is due once, after you approve the staging demo.

Option	Build price	Set Up Fee	Total
Landing Page	$289	$75	$364
Gold Standard (6 pages and county SEO)	$639	$150	$789
Platinum Standard (6 pages, vector logo, custom header and footer)	$839	$150	$989

After the first 90 days of hosting, the Hosting Care Plan runs $110 every 90 days, about $36.66 a month. It covers hosting, contact-form lead management, remote tech support, website management, and easy edits. Any page beyond the six is $105, and the full details are on the pricing page.

Compare us line by line

Every price, every inclusion, and the payment terms are listed on one page, so you can set our numbers next to any other quote.

See the pricing

What is a reasonable price for website design?

A reasonable price is one where you can name every line. Use this short list when you compare quotes.

Scope. How many pages, and what does each extra page cost?
Hosting. Is it included, for how long, and what does it cost after that?
Domain. Is it registered in your name, and who pays the renewal?
Setup. Who handles DNS, indexing, the sitemap, and the contact form test?
Edits. What is covered, and what is billed when you ask for a change?
Exit. If you leave, do you receive the finished files?

The courtyard of the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside, with balconies and a domed tower — Established businesses across Riverside County have the same question: what does a fair website quote look like? Six clear answers settle it.

A quote that answers all six is easy to compare. A quote that answers two is a guess.

Frequently asked questions

How much do website designers usually charge?

It depends on the billing model and what is included. Hourly work, project prices, and retainers all exist, and two quotes for the same site can differ widely. Compare scope, hosting, domain ownership, setup, edits, and whether you receive the finished files.

Is it better to pay hourly or a project price for a new website?

A project price is usually easier to plan around for a new site, because you know the total before the work starts. Hourly billing suits small fixes and one-off tasks.

What does Sun City Marketing charge to build a website?

A Landing Page is $364 in total, Gold Standard is $789, and Platinum Standard is $989. Each total is the build price plus the Set Up Fee, due once you approve the staging demo.

What does ongoing website care cost?

The Hosting Care Plan is $110 every 90 days, after the first 90 days of hosting that come with the build. It covers hosting, lead management, remote tech support, website management, and easy edits.

What does an extra page cost?

Any page beyond the six is $105. A larger edit than the Care Plan covers is $30.