# Website Redesign Cost in 2026: What to Pay (and When Not to Redesign)

**Date:** 2026-07-14 | **Author:** Railgun Dev | **Category:** Website Costs

> What a website redesign costs in 2026, when a $750 fix beats a $5,000 rebuild, and the three questions to ask before you spend. Check first for $99.

**Short answer: a small business website redesign typically runs $500-$5,000 -- about the same as building new -- because most "redesigns" are rebuilds wearing a nicer word.** The more useful question is whether you need one at all. Often a targeted fix costs a fraction of a redesign and recovers most of the lost customers.

## What redesigns cost by route

| Route                         | Typical price     | Notes                                       |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Template refresh (DIY)        | $0-$500           | New theme, same content -- and same problems |
| Freelancer redesign           | $500-$3,000       | Usually a rebuild on a new template         |
| Productized rebuild (like us) | $500-$1,500 fixed | New site, fixed scope, live in days         |
| Agency redesign               | $5,000-$30,000+   | Discovery, workshops, then a rebuild anyway |

The dirty secret: past a certain age, sites don't get "redesigned" -- they get rebuilt. That's usually good news, because rebuilding on a modern foundation is often cheaper than renovating an old one.

## Redesign, rebuild, or just fix it?

Match the spend to the actual problem:

- **The site looks dated but works** -> light refresh. Cheapest option; don't let anyone sell you a five-figure project for a facelift.
- **The site is slow, broken, or half-finished** -> you don't need a redesign, you need a rescue. Our [Fix My Project](/services/fix-my-project) service does exactly this from $750 -- cleanup, hardening, live again in days.
- **The site can't be saved (ancient platform, no access, built wrong)** -> rebuild. New sites run [$500-$1,500 on our packages](/pricing), live in 5-10 business days.
- **The site works but doesn't bring customers** -> that's not a design problem. It's a visibility and conversion problem, and a redesign alone won't fix it.

Not sure which one you are? That's the exact question the [$99 checkup](/services/website-audit) answers -- where the site is losing customers and whether it's worth fixing or rebuilding. The $99 comes off whichever you choose.

## Three questions before you pay for a redesign

1. **What number is this supposed to move?** Calls, bookings, orders -- if the answer is "it'll look more modern," pause. Looks don't invoice anyone.
2. **What happens to my rankings?** A careless redesign that changes URLs without redirects can wipe out years of Google standing overnight. Make whoever you hire put URL handling in the scope.
3. **What does it cost to keep it good?** A redesign without ongoing care rots at the same speed the old site did. Budget for [maintenance](/blog/website-maintenance-cost) or the cycle repeats in three years.

For the full picture of new-build pricing, see [how much a small business website costs](/blog/small-business-website-cost).

## Common questions

**How much should a small business pay for a website redesign?**
$500-$1,500 covers most small-business rebuilds done on a productized model. Pay more only when you're adding real functionality -- booking, portals, e-commerce -- not for a new coat of paint.

**How long does a redesign take?**
Agencies quote 6-12 weeks. A fixed-scope rebuild takes days -- ours ship in 5-10 business days.

**Will a redesign improve my Google ranking?**
Only if it fixes what's actually holding you back -- speed, structure, and content. A prettier slow site ranks exactly like an ugly slow site.

**Can I keep my domain and content?**
Yes, and you must. The domain stays registered in your name, and your content moves with you. Anything else is vendor lock-in.