How long does it take to build a website? Timeline

How long does it take to build a website, by type of site?

Here is a rough guide per type, assuming you deliver on time and respond quickly. Every situation is different, so treat this as a guideline:

• One-page website or simple site with a few pages: a few weeks.
• Business website with ten to twenty pages, a blog and forms: often four to eight weeks.
• Multilingual site or site with lots of custom parts: often two to three months.
• Online shop with payments, shipping costs and a link to stock or accounting: often two to four months.
• Web application, customer portal or booking system: depending on size, often three months or more, usually delivered in stages.

Apps follow their own timeline, which also includes review by the App Store and Google Play. So allow extra time for that.

Mind the difference between lead time and working time. A site that takes twenty hours of work can still take six weeks, because there is waiting in between for copy, feedback or a decision. So don't just ask your developer how much work it is. Ask when they can start and what the schedule looks like.

The phases of a website project and how long they take

Every project goes through the same phases. How long each phase takes varies per project:

• Introduction and briefing: getting your goal, audience and wishes clear. A few days to a week.
• Structure and content: which pages, what goes on them, who writes the copy. One to two weeks.
• Design: the design of the main pages, with one or two rounds of feedback. One to three weeks.
• Build: the design becomes a working site, with a CMS and forms. Two to six weeks.
• Adding content: putting copy, photos and any products in place. A few days to two weeks.
• Testing and fixing: on phone, tablet and desktop, plus forms, speed and SEO basics. About a week.
• Launch and aftercare: the site goes live, with redirects from old pages and a final check.

Phases sometimes overlap. While the build is running, you can already write copy. You can read more about the steps themselves in website development.

What determines your website timeline?

• How clear your wishes are at the start.
• The number of pages and templates (page types with their own design).
• Special features, such as booking, ordering, logging in or a price calculator.
• Integrations with other systems, such as a CRM, accounting or scheduling software.
• Multiple languages: each language needs translations and extra checks.
• Whether copy and photos are ready, or still need to be made.
• How many people on your side need to have a say.

The choice of technology plays a part too. A site built on an existing theme is up faster, but often fits your brand less well. A custom design takes more time, but you need less rework later. Want to understand that trade-off better? Read WordPress or a custom website.

Why do website projects get delayed?

The most common causes have nothing to do with technology:

• Copy arriving later than planned. This is by far the best-known delay.
• Feedback taking weeks, because the business is busy.
• New wishes halfway through, so design or build has to be redone.
• Too many people involved in decisions, with conflicting opinions.
• Login details for the domain, hosting or old site that nobody can find.
• An integration with an external system that works differently than expected.

A common example: the design is approved, but then a colleague wants a different colour, an extra page and a different menu after all. Each change is small, but together they cost weeks. Put such wishes on a list and review them in one go. What really matters goes in. The rest comes after launch.

How to get your website live faster

If you want to be online quickly, there is a lot you can do yourself:

• Write a good brief up front, with your goal, example sites and a list of pages. Use how to write a website brief for this.
• Start writing copy straight away, or bring in a copywriter.
• Gather your logo, brand identity, photos and login details in one folder.
• Appoint one decision-maker and schedule fixed moments for feedback.
• Save extra wishes for phase two, after launch.
• Consider starting small with the most important pages and expanding afterwards.

That last tip often works well. A smaller site that is live in four weeks delivers results sooner than a perfect site that arrives in four months.

Meeting a deadline: what to watch out for

Do you have a hard date, such as an opening, trade fair or campaign? Mention it at the first meeting. A good developer will then look at what is feasible and what could come later. Build in some room for testing and for surprises. Rather than launching on the day itself, aim for a week before. That gives you time to fix small issues. You can read what needs testing before launch in testing your website and software before launch.

Timeline and approach at Violexa

At Violexa we draw up a schedule at the start, with clear moments for design, build, feedback and launch. We also tell you honestly what you need to supply and when. A custom website or app starts from €1,799 excl. VAT (€2,177 incl. VAT), including design, build, a design that works on every screen, SEO basics and Google Analytics, CMS integration and training. Larger projects get a fixed price up front, in writing.

Want to know how quickly your website can go live? Book a free quickscan. In 30 minutes, online or in person, we discuss your plans. Afterwards you get short written advice with a price indication, with no obligation.

Frequently asked questions