July 31, 2026
If you're in the market for a new website, navigating the dramatically varying prices of web design can be difficult and time-consuming. You may be asking yourself, why does one firm charge $500, and another charges $10,000? Here’s the honest breakdown of what website design costs in Edmonton in 2026 and why prices vary so much.
Downtown Edmonton - Josh HoopleCost:
$10 to $50 per month
Who’s this for:
We recommend this for startups and new business owners who have time on their hands and a willingness to learn about the DIY builder. A big custom website won't make much difference if you do not have the traffic to take advantage of yet.
Watch out for:
Some DIY builders require a higher price to remove their branding. As your business grows, you will likely need more custom options that the builder platform does not offer. If you're still on the fence about taking this on yourself, read our comparison on designing your own website vs. hiring a web design agency to see which path fits your current goals.
Cost:
$1,000 to $5,000 depending on experience
Who’s this for:
We recommend this for businesses where a website isn't the most critical component. If you're a high volume, low-ticket business like a cafe or restaurant, this is a great option. Also, if you are a new business who does not have the time or technical skills to use the DIY options.
Watch out for:
At this price range you are most likely getting a template website. You face the risk of reliability from your designer (will they be around to maintain the site in 6 months?). Finding a freelancer with a high quality of work can be a time-consuming process.
People can easily call themselves a web designer because they know how to use a site-builder but just like anyone can cut your grass doesn’t make everyone a professional landscaper.
Cost:
$3,995 to $12,995+ depending on project size
Who’s this for:
Small-to-medium established businesses looking to stand out in their field. We deliver high-quality custom work on par with large agencies but with the direct communication of a small team.
Because we have no expensive downtown office to maintain, your budget goes toward the project rather than our overhead. We prioritize partnerships where our work can truly help a business's goals.
Watch out for:
As a smaller agency we are limited in the bandwidth and number of projects we can take on. While we would love to help anyone, we will be the first to tell you if we aren't an ideal fit or if we do not have the current bandwidth to take on your project.
Some projects will be too large in scale for our small team to get them done in a reasonable time frame.
Cost:
$10,000 to $50,000+ depending on project size
Who’s this for:
This is the right choice for massive enterprise projects, complex web apps (membership logins and databases), or large e-commerce shops. Having a bigger staff allows multiple designers and developers to work on a single project simultaneously.
Watch out for:
You are paying a significant amount of overhead, including project managers, sales teams, and office space. If your business fits in the above categories, a large agency is likely the way to go but for many small-medium sized businesses you are overpaying for the job because most agencies have a higher minimum project cost.
Since larger agencies manage so many clients at once, you may find the communication feels less personal and feel more like a number than it would with a smaller team.
The value of a custom website depends on your business and what you want your website to do. If you are just looking for something to have up to check a box and customers do not find you online, then you can get by with a cheaper solution.
While there are cases of businesses being successful without a website, you are usually always missing out by not having one. More people every year are using the internet to search and find businesses. Some businesses may argue they are successful just with a social media page, and while social media is becoming bigger in marketing and can drive a business to huge success, you always run the risk of account bans or algorithm changes. You own your website and it can be a great addition to an already successful business.
One last question to ask yourself is what is your average "ticket price." Do you need a lot of leads to justify the investment? Or would an extra lead a month make a big difference in your business.
If your goal is more leads, a cheap website often lacks optimization geared towards bookings and calls. Saving money upfront can cost you more in the long run.
Look at the below example and feel free to plug in your own numbers:
If you are a service business where an average job is worth $3,000:
The professional site generates $18,000 more every month from the same traffic. If you want to see what actually drives those numbers, explore our guide on proven strategies to improve your website's conversion rate.
A five-page site for a local plumber involves less labor than a thirty-page site for a plumber with dozens of service area pages across Alberta. As a site grows, designers can often reuse elements across different pages. While adding more pages is still more work, the "cost per page" often goes down as the project size goes up.
A template is like a pre-built house where you only change the paint and furniture. It’s faster and cheaper to build but can come with limitations of being restricted in the theme you chose. A downside with templates is that your brand does not stand out, and you look like everyone else who chose the same theme.
A custom website is built around your brand and aligns with your specific goals. Some organizations want to stand out visually, while others need a polished, professional presence that reflects their real-world reputation.
Unique pages simply mean that certain pages on your website require different design elements. You would not expect your team members' page to look like your pricing page; they require different layouts for the content.
The more “unique pages" needed to be designed, the more hours are required. 10 blog posts that use the same structure for each post are much faster to build than 10 unique pages.
Do you need users to be able to filter through blog posts? Do you need advanced search features that let people find specific projects? What about user logins? These features add time and complexity to a build, which increases the price compared to a website without this functionality.
Not all plugins are equal. Some are as easy as attaching a link to a button or dropping in a code script. Some plugins will require more technical setup and may even require additional third-party software which will increase the hours and price of a project.
Need it fast? Projects with a shorter timeline typically cost more because they require an agency to shift resources and prioritize your project over others.
Not all agencies are able to accommodate your timeline, or it may not be possible based on your request.
Assuming an equal number of pages, a custom website will take longer than a website built with a DIY builder or template.
The biggest cost driver is the team behind the screen.
Finding the right partner comes down to preparation. Before you start reaching out for quotes, check out our checklist of the most important things to do before hiring a web designer so you know what questions to ask and what assets to have ready.
If you are talking to a designer or agency, be careful of these red flags:
Typically, redesigns are priced the same way as a new build. The scope, number of pages, and complexity drive the cost, not whether the site existed before.
If you are going to use most of the same text and photos then that can save you from having to pay for copyrighting or photography.
One important consideration with a redesign is SEO.
If your current site has any Google ranking worth preserving, a proper redesign should account for that through redirect mapping and maintaining your existing URL structure when possible. The more pages your current site ranks for, and you want to maintain the more planning and time goes into your new redesign.
At Fairway, we offer two custom web design packages:
See our pricing page for the full breakdown. We also offer monthly support for basic maintenance and on a case-by-case basis* offer additional marketing services for Google Ads ($695/mth) and SEO ($795/mth).
*We only offer marketing services to customers where we feel we have the expertise and where there is an opportunity to help.
For example, some businesses (mechanics, movers, dentists) succeed better on Google Ads because there’ s 1000’s of searches in your area. Businesses in a very niche industry where there’s only a handful of searches a month may not have the same success.
Here are two examples for a construction company looking to redesign an old 2016 website.
In Edmonton, most custom websites take 6 to 10 weeks to launch. Delays usually happen when waiting for content or feedback from the client.
Template and DIY websites will typically have a much faster turnaround time (1-4 weeks).
Yes. At Fairway, you own the site 100%. We believe you should never be "held hostage" by an agency.
At a minimum, you must pay for hosting. A website is a collection of files that needs a server to stay live on the internet. Hosting typically ranges for $10-$40/mth depending on your platform and plan.
Most agencies offer monthly support plans and cover hosting (if not paying seperatly), security patches, bug fixes, and backups.
Most standard service businesses find success starting with a Home page, About, Services, Pricing Contact, and a Gallery/Projects Page. As your business grows, usually your website grows alongside it.
The type and number of pages is often niche specific. If your competitors all have pricing pages, you probably should too. A home renovations company should probably showcase reviews and recent projects because these are factors in the customer's decision to work with you.
Not necessarily. Google does not know what you paid for your site. A budget website can rank well if it includes unique & helpful content, mobile responsiveness, optimized content for keywords and fast loading speeds.
Often, cheaper websites rank worse because of how they are built. DIY builders frequently rely on bloated code and excessive plugins that slow down your site and hurt your visibility.
To rank effectively, you must understand heading structures, meta descriptions, and page schema. Unfamiliar with these terms? Your site will likely struggle to compete with a professional build that has optimized these items.
Web design in Edmonton pricing comes down to scope, customization, and who is building it. For most established local businesses, the sweet spot for a high-performing custom web site is $3,995 to $12,995.
Ready to stop settling for a template and start standing out? Book a free consultation or request a free SEO audit today.
