How Much Does a Website Redesign Really Cost?

Your website looks outdated, loads slowly, and nobody fills out your contact form.

You know you need a redesign. But when you start asking for quotes, the numbers are all over the place. One freelancer says ₹1 lakh, another agency quotes ₹20 lakhs, and your cousin's friend "can do it cheap."

So what's the real cost?

After working on 50+ website redesigns across India and globally, here's the truth: most businesses waste money because they don't understand what they're actually paying for.

In this post, you'll see:

• Real costs from actual Indian businesses

• What makes redesigns expensive (and what doesn't matter)

• Hidden fees nobody mentions

• When a redesign actually pays for itself

• How to avoid wasting lakhs on the wrong approach

No fluff, no sales pitch - just the numbers.

What you’re Actually Paying for

Most people think a website redesign is just "making it look prettier." That's why they're shocked when they see the price.

Here's what goes into a proper redesign:

Strategy Before Design

What it includes:

• Understanding what's not working now

• Competitor research

• User behavior analysis

• Goal setting (more leads? sales? traffic?)

Cost: ₹40K-₹1.6L ($500-$2K)

Why it matters: Skip this and you'll have a pretty website that still doesn't convert.

Visual Design

What it includes:

• Mockups of all key pages

• Mobile and desktop versions

• Brand colors and fonts

• Image selection

• 2-3 rounds of revisions

Cost: ₹1.6L-₹8L ($2K-$10K)

Why it matters: First impressions happen in 0.05 seconds. Bad design = instant bounce.

Development

What it includes:

• Coding the actual website

• Making it work on all devices

• Contact forms and integrations

• Speed optimization

• Browser testing

Cost: ₹2.4L-₹12L ($3K-$15K)

Why it matters: A designer can make it look good. A developer makes it actually work.

Content Migration

What it includes:

• Moving existing content to new site

• Reformatting for new design

• Updating outdated information

• SEO optimization of content

• Image optimization

Cost: ₹40K-₹2.4L ($500-$3K)

Why it matters: This is where most timelines explode. Content is usually a mess.

Testing and Launch

What it includes:

• Testing every page, every form

• Mobile testing

• Speed testing

• SEO setup

• Analytics installation

• Training your team

Cost: ₹80K-₹2.4L ($1K-$3K)

Why it matters: Launch broken and you'll spend months fixing issues.

Real Costs by Business Size

Small Business Redesign

Examples: Local restaurant, accounting firm, retail store

Typical scope:

• 5-15 pages total

• Contact forms

• Google Maps integration

• Mobile responsive

• Basic SEO

What works:

• Use a quality template

• Customize with your branding

• Professional photos

• Clean, simple design

Cost breakdown:

• Template: ₹8K-₹24K ($100-$300)

• Customization: ₹80K-₹2.4L ($1K-$3K)

• Content: ₹40K-₹80K ($500-$1K)

• Photos: ₹24K-₹40K ($300-$500)

• Launch: ₹40K-₹80K ($500-$1K)

Total: ₹1.92L-₹6.32L ($2.4K-$7.9K)

Timeline: 3-6 weeks

ROI: Usually positive within 6-9 months if done right

Medium Business Redesign

Examples: SaaS startup, e-commerce brand, healthcare provider

Typical scope:

• 15-30 pages

• Blog functionality

• Customer portal or login

• Payment integration

• Advanced forms

• Email marketing setup

• Full SEO

What works:

• Custom design (not template)

• Professional copywriting

• High-quality photos or video

• Speed optimization

• Conversion tracking

Cost breakdown:

• Strategy: ₹1.2L-₹2L ($1.5K-$2.5K)

• Design: ₹3.2L-₹6L ($4K-$7.5K)

• Development: ₹4L-₹8L ($5K-$10K)

• Content: ₹1.6L-₹3.2L ($2K-$4K)

• Photos/Video: ₹80K-₹1.6L ($1K-$2K)

• SEO Setup: ₹1.6L-₹2.4L ($2K-$3K)

• Testing: ₹80K-₹1.6L ($1K-$2K)

Total: ₹12.4L-₹24.8L ($15.5K-$31K)

Timeline: 8-12 weeks

ROI: Should see 2x return within 12 months

Enterprise Redesign

Examples: Corporate website, multi-location business, news portal

Typical scope:

• 30-100+ pages

• Complex functionality

• Multiple user types

• Third-party integrations

• Multi-language support

• Advanced security

• Custom CMS

What works:

• Full custom development

• Dedicated project team

• Extensive user testing

• Migration planning

• Change management

Cost breakdown:

• Discovery & Strategy: ₹3.2L-₹6L ($4K-$7.5K)

• UX Research: ₹2L-₹4L ($2.5K-$5K)

• Design: ₹6L-₹12L ($7.5K-$15K)

• Development: ₹12L-₹32L ($15K-$40K)

• Content: ₹4L-₹8L ($5K-$10K)

• Quality Assurance: ₹2.4L-₹4.8L ($3K-$6K)

• Training: ₹1.6L-₹3.2L ($2K-$4K)

Total: ₹31.2L-₹70L+ ($39K-$87.5K+)

Timeline: 4-9 months

ROI: 18-24 months payback typical for enterprise

DIY vs Freelancer vs Agency

Option 1: Do It Yourself

Best for: Very small budget, simple site, you have time

Platforms:

• Wix (easiest, most limiting)

• Squarespace (good balance)

• WordPress (flexible, steeper learning)

• Webflow (powerful, requires learning)

Real costs:

• Platform: ₹8K-₹24K/year ($100-$300/year)

• Template: ₹8K-₹12K ($100-$150)

• Stock photos: ₹8K-₹16K ($100-$200)

• Your time: 40-100 hours

Total: ₹24K-₹52K ($300-$650) + your time

What you get:

• Basic functioning website

• Some customization options

• DIY updates

What you don't get:

• Professional design

• Conversion optimization

• Advanced features

• Strategy or planning

• Technical support

Real talk: Works if you're just starting out or budget is under ₹1 lakh. Don't expect professional results. Your time cost is real - those 100 hours could be spent making money instead.

Option 2: Hire a Freelancer

Best for: Mid-size budget, standard requirements, some flexibility

How to find them:

• Upwork / Fiverr (international)

• Freelancer.in (Indian talent)

• LinkedIn

• Referrals

Typical costs:

• Indian freelancer: ₹800-₹2,400/hour (₹10-30/hour)

• Experienced Indian freelancer: ₹2,400-₹6,400/hour (₹30-80/hour)

• International freelancer: ₹4,000-₹12,000/hour (₹50-150/hour)

Average project: ₹2.4L-₹8L ($3K-$10K)

What you get:

• One person doing everything

• More affordable than agency

• Direct communication

• Flexible scheduling

What you don't get:

• Team of specialists

• Backup if they disappear

• Diverse skill sets

• Project management

• Quality assurance

Red flags:

• Portfolio that's all the same

• Unwilling to show live sites

• Won't provide references

• Vague timelines

• Asks for 100% upfront

Real talk: Great freelancers exist but are hard to find. You're relying on one person for design, development, content, SEO, and project management. If they're truly skilled at all of that, they're probably too expensive. If they're cheap, they're likely weak in most areas.

Option 3: Work With an Agency

Best for: Important projects, complex needs, want guaranteed results

What you pay for:

• Team of specialists (designer, developer, copywriter, SEO, project manager)

• Established process

• Quality assurance

• Account management

• Post-launch support

Typical costs:

• Small agency: ₹6L-₹16L ($7.5K-$20K)

• Mid-size agency: ₹16L-₹40L ($20K-$50K)

• Large/international agency: ₹40L-₹80L+ ($50K-$100K+)

What you get:

• Professional results

• Multiple experts on your project

• Proven process

• Backup and redundancy

• Ongoing relationship

What you don't get:

• Rock-bottom pricing

• Instant availability

• Direct access to designers/developers

Real talk: Agencies cost 2-3x more than freelancers but deliver 5-10x better results when you pick the right one. The key is finding one that's worked with businesses your size in your industry.

Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

These surprise businesses every time:

1. Professional Photography

Cost: ₹24K-₹80K ($300-$1K)

Why you need it: Stock photos look fake. Real photos of your actual team, office, products make you trustworthy.

Save money: Use smartphone + natural light + basic editing. Won't be perfect but beats stock photos.

2. Professional Copywriting

Cost: ₹40K-₹1.6L ($500-$2K) for 10-15 pages

Why you need it: Your designer can't write. Your developer can't write. The words matter as much as the design.

Save money: Write it yourself, hire a copywriter to edit and polish. Still better than designer-written copy.

3. Content Migration

Cost: ₹40K-₹2.4L ($500-$3K)

Why it's expensive: Your content is probably messy. Different formats, broken images, outdated info. Someone has to manually move and fix everything.

Save money: Do the cleanup yourself before the redesign starts. Delete old content, organize what's left, have it ready.

4. Hosting Migration

Cost: ₹8K-₹40K ($100-$500)

Why it matters: Moving hosts can break things. DNS changes take time. Email might stop working.

Save money: Keep the same host if it's decent. Migration is where things break.

5. SSL Certificate

Cost: ₹4K-₹16K ($50-$200/year)

Why you need it: Google penalizes non-HTTPS sites. Customers don't trust sites without the lock icon.

Save money: Use free Let's Encrypt certificate. Works perfectly fine.

6. Ongoing Maintenance

Cost: ₹24K-₹80K/month ($300-$1K/month)

What it includes:

• Plugin/software updates

• Security patches

• Backup monitoring

• Uptime monitoring

• Small content changes

Real talk: Budget for this or your site will become vulnerable and outdated within months.

7. Training

Cost: ₹16K-₹80K ($200-$1K)

Why you need it: If you can't update your own content, you'll pay someone every time you need a change.

Save money: Record the training sessions. Create documentation. Train multiple team members.

When a Redesign Actually Pays for Itself

Most businesses ask "how much does it cost?" The better question is "when does it pay for itself?"

Calculate Your Break-Even Point

Example: Small Business

• Redesign cost: ₹4L ($5K)

• Average customer value: ₹40K ($500)

• Current website: 10 inquiries/month, 20% close rate = 2 customers = ₹80K/month

• New website: 18 inquiries/month, 30% close rate = 5.4 customers = ₹2.16L/month

• Difference: ₹1.36L/month ($1,700/month)

• Payback: 3 months

Example: E-commerce

• Redesign cost: ₹12L ($15K)

• Average order: ₹4K ($50)

• Current: 100 orders/month = ₹4L revenue

• After redesign: 175 orders/month = ₹7L revenue (typical 75% increase)

• Difference: ₹3L/month ($3,750/month)

• Payback: 4 months

What Makes Redesigns Pay Off Fast

High-converting elements:

• Clear call-to-action buttons

• Trust signals (reviews, client logos)

• Fast loading (<3 seconds)

• Mobile-friendly

• Easy contact forms

• Live chat

• Clear pricing

What doesn't help ROI:

• Fancy animations

• Auto-playing videos

• Complex navigation

• Too much text

• Hidden contact info

Cost-saving Strategies that Actually Work

1. Phase the Redesign

Instead of: Redesigning entire site at once Do this: Redesign homepage and top 5 pages first, rest later

Saves: 30-40% upfront cost Works when: You need results fast with limited budget

2. Keep Your Hosting

Instead of: Moving to new host during redesign Do this: Stay with current host if it's decent

Saves: ₹8K-₹40K ($100-$500) migration cost + risk Works when: Current host is reliable and fast

3. Use Quality Templates (Not Custom)

Instead of: Custom design from scratch Do this: Buy premium template, customize it properly

Saves: ₹2L-₹6L ($2.5K-$7.5K) Works when: You don't need unique functionality

4. Provide Your Own Content

Instead of: Paying agency to write everything Do this: Write content yourself, have professional edit

Saves: ₹80K-₹2L ($1K-$2.5K) Works when: You know your business best

5. Use Stock Photos Strategically

Instead of: Professional photoshoot for everything Do this: Photoshoot for team/office, stock for other stuff

Saves: ₹40K-₹80K ($500-$1K) Works when: Budget is tight

6. Launch Sooner

Instead of: Waiting for perfection Do this: Launch with 80% ready, improve over time

Saves: Weeks of tweaking = ₹80K-₹2.4L ($1K-$3K) Works when: Your current site is really bad

Questions to Ask Before you Pay

About Pricing

1. "What exactly is included in this price?"

2. "What costs extra?"

3. "Can I see an itemized breakdown?"

4. "What's your payment schedule?"

5. "What happens if the project goes over budget?"

About Timeline

6. "How long will this actually take?"

7. "What could cause delays?"

8. "What do you need from me and when?"

9. "Can we launch in phases?"

About Quality

10. "Can I see 3 similar projects you've done?"

11. "Can I talk to those clients?"

12. "Who will actually work on my site?"

13. "What happens if I'm not happy with the result?"

About After Launch

14. "What support is included post-launch?"

15. "How much is ongoing maintenance?"

16. "Will you train my team?"

17. "Who owns the website when it's done?"

18. "Can I move it to another host later?"

Red Flags that Mean Walk away

Pricing Red Flags

• Won't give you itemized breakdown

• Asks for 100% payment upfront

• Price seems way too low

• Keeps adding "unexpected costs"

• Vague about what's included

Process Red Flags

• No contract or scope document

• Can't explain their process

• Won't show you similar work

• Won't provide client references

• Promises results in unrealistic timeframe

Communication Red Flags

• Takes days to respond during sales process

• Vague or confusing answers

• Dismisses your questions

• Pressures you to decide quickly

• Changes terms after agreement

Quality Red Flags

• Portfolio is all templates

• No live sites to show

• Work looks dated or unprofessional

• Grammar/spelling errors in communication

• Negative reviews about delivery

Final Numbers: What you’ll Actually Pay

Very Small Budget (Under ₹1L / $1.2K)

Realistic option: DIY with quality template What you get: Basic functioning site What you miss: Professional design, conversion optimization Best for: Just starting out, testing an idea

Small Budget (₹1L-₹6L / $1.2K-$7.5K)

Realistic option: Quality freelancer or template + professional help What you get: Good-looking, functional site What you miss: Advanced features, dedicated team Best for: Small business, local services, simple e-commerce

Medium Budget (₹6L-₹16L / $7.5K-$20K)

Realistic option: Small agency or experienced freelancer What you get: Professional results, good functionality What you miss: Full service team, extensive support Best for: Growing business, competitive market, multiple pages

Large Budget (₹16L-₹40L / $20K-$50K)

Realistic option: Established agency What you get: Full-service experience, proven process What you miss: Nothing major Best for: Serious business, complex needs, competitive industry

Enterprise Budget (₹40L+ / $50K+)

Realistic option: Large agency or in-house team What you get: Everything What you miss: Cost savings Best for: Large company, critical online presence, complex requirements

The Honest Truth

Here's what we learned from 50+ redesign projects:

Most businesses overpay because:

• They don't know what they actually need

• They can't differentiate quality work from average

• They focus on features instead of results

• They pick based on price alone

Most businesses underpay because:

• They think cheap means smart

• They don't value professional work

• They don't understand what goes into quality

• They don't calculate ROI properly

The sweet spot:

• Pay for what drives results (conversion optimization, speed, mobile UX)

• Don't pay for what doesn't (fancy animations, over-design, unnecessary features)

• Work with someone who's done it before

• Calculate payback period before you start

A ₹10L ($12.5K) redesign that increases revenue by ₹3L/month is cheaper than a ₹2L ($2.5K) redesign that does nothing.