If you've asked three people for a website quote, you've probably got three very different numbers. A freelancer says ₹15,000. An agency says ₹1.5 lakh. An ad for a website builder says ₹199 a month. They're not all wrong. They're quoting for different things.
This guide breaks down what you're actually paying for, so you can compare quotes properly and set a budget you won't regret.
Typical website costs in India
These are broad market ranges for a one-time design and build, before GST. They come from a 2026 pricing guide by Hostinger India, and they line up with the quotes business owners regularly show us.
| Website type | Typical cost | Usually right for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic site (1 to 5 pages) | ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 | Freelancers and new businesses that need a simple online presence |
| Small business site (5 to 15 pages) | ₹10,000 to ₹80,000 | Shops, clinics, consultants and local services |
| Custom-designed business site (10 to 20 pages) | ₹80,000 to ₹1,50,000 | Growing companies that need to stand out and win leads |
| E-commerce store | ₹1,50,000 to ₹4,00,000+ | Selling products online with payments and stock |
| Custom or enterprise build | ₹2,50,000 to ₹10,00,000+ | Portals, integrations and complex features |
You'll notice the ranges overlap a lot. That's normal. Two "five-page websites" can be completely different jobs.
What actually drives the price
1. Template or custom design
A ready-made theme with your logo and colours dropped in is quick and cheap. A custom design, where someone plans each page around your customers and your brand, takes much longer. It usually shows in the result, and in how many visitors get in touch.
2. Number of pages and amount of content
More pages means more design, more building and more testing. A one-page site with a contact form is a small job. Forty service pages, each with its own content, is not.
3. Features
Contact forms and WhatsApp buttons are simple. Online booking, payments, customer logins, multiple languages or a link to your billing software all add cost, sometimes a lot.
4. Who writes the content
This one catches people out. Many quotes assume you'll hand over all the text and photos. If you want the agency to write the copy or organise photography, ask whether that's included before you compare prices.
5. Who builds it
Freelancers are often the cheapest option. Agencies cost more but usually cover design, development, SEO basics and support in one place. DIY website builders look cheap upfront, but the monthly fees add up and you're the one doing the work.
The yearly costs nobody mentions
The build is a one-time cost. These keep coming back every year:
- Domain name: roughly ₹500 to ₹1,500 a year for a .com or .in.
- Hosting: about ₹2,000 to ₹8,000 a year covers most small business sites. Busy sites and online stores need more.
- SSL certificate: included free with most decent hosting now. If someone charges you separately for basic SSL, ask why.
- Maintenance: updates, backups and small edits. Small sites often spend ₹1,500 to ₹10,000 a year. Online stores spend more.
Don't forget GST either. Most agencies quote before tax, and 18% on a ₹1 lakh quote is ₹18,000 you'll want to have planned for.
How to avoid overpaying (or underpaying)
- Write a short brief. List the pages you need, the features, and two or three websites you like. You'll get quotes you can genuinely compare.
- Ask what's included. Content? Images? Basic SEO setup? Testing on phones? How many rounds of changes?
- Own your domain and hosting. Both should be registered in your business name, with logins you control. If you take one thing from this article, make it this.
- Ask what happens after launch. Who fixes things if something breaks in month three? Is that free for a while, or charged?
- Be careful with very cheap quotes. A ₹5,000 site can be fine for a basic online presence. It's rarely enough if you need steady leads from Google.
Tip: the cheapest quote and the most expensive quote are often both wrong for you. Compare what's included, not just the total.
So, what should you budget?
If you're a local business that wants a professional site that brings in enquiries, a realistic starting point in 2026 sits in the small business to custom-design range above, plus a few thousand rupees a year for domain, hosting and upkeep. If you sell online, plan for an e-commerce build and higher running costs.
Not sure which bucket you're in? That's exactly what a good agency should help you work out before it sends a quote.
You might also like: WordPress vs a custom website and our website launch checklist.
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