Typical WordPress Website Costs in 2018
In 2018, the cost to build a WordPress website typically ranged from $1,000 for a simple blog to over $10,000 for a custom business site. The final price depended heavily on whether the site was a starter blog, a small business landing page, or a fully custom e-commerce platform with integrations.
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Factors That Influence WordPress Pricing
Several core variables determined what a developer could charge. A pre-made theme and basic setup commanded a lower fee than a fully custom design built from scratch. Additional cost drivers included page builders, custom plugin development, third-party API integrations, and ongoing maintenance. E-commerce functionality, membership areas, and multisite networks also pushed prices higher.
Common Pricing Models
Freelancers and agencies typically used one of three models: an hourly rate, a flat project fee, or a value-based price. Hourly rates for WordPress work in 2018 often fell between $50 and $150, depending on the developer's location and expertise. Flat project fees were common for standard business sites, where the scope was predictable and repeatable.
Hourly Rate Ranges
- Junior developers: $25–$50/hr
- Mid-level freelancers: $50–$100/hr
- Senior developers and agencies: $100–$200+ /hr
Typical Flat Project Ranges
- Basic brochure site: $1,000–$3,000
- Small business site with forms and basic SEO: $3,000–$7,000
- Custom e-commerce or membership site: $7,000–$20,000+
What Clients Actually Received
A higher price usually reflected more than just design. Clients paying premium rates received strategy sessions, user experience planning, custom post types, performance optimization, and a handover process. Lower-cost projects often delivered a functional site with less strategic input, relying on pre-built templates and limited customization.
Setting the Right Price in 2018
Charging what a WordPress site was worth required clear scoping and documented deliverables. Developers who bundled hosting, security, and maintenance into a recurring retainer often built more sustainable income than those who only sold one-time build fees. Transparent proposals that tied cost to business value helped clients justify the investment and reduced scope creep during the project.