How much does a custom website cost in Australia?
If you've asked for quotes and received anything from $500 to $50,000, you're not alone. Here's what Australian businesses actually pay for a custom website — and what you get at each level.
The short answer
For a professionally built, mobile-first business website in Australia, expect roughly:
- $499 AUD — Starter tier · home, contact & privacy + 5 additional pages · forms, basic SEO · domain and going live included
- $2,999 AUD — Growth · up to 15 pages · custom design, CMS, booking or quote flows
- $9,999 AUD — Pro · up to 30 pages · bespoke build with portals, payments, or integrations
See build packages and Australian web design services for full scope and deposit details.
What drives the price up
- Number of pages and templates — a 5-page site is a different job to a 30-page site with multiple layouts
- Custom design — template customisation is cheaper than design from scratch
- Functionality — booking systems, member logins, e-commerce, CRM integrations
- Content — if you need copywriting, photography, or video production included
- Integrations — Stripe, Xero, HubSpot, proprietary APIs
What drives the price down
- You provide final copy and images
- Clear scope signed off before design starts
- Standard pages (home, services, about, contact) without custom apps
- Working with a lean studio instead of a full-service agency with account managers
Hidden costs to budget for
A website quote often doesn't include everything you'll pay for annually:
- Domain — ~$15–$40 AUD/year
- Hosting — $10–$50+/month depending on traffic and platform
- Care and maintenance — $150–$2,200 AUD/month for updates, security, and support
- SSL and email — often included, but verify
Templates vs custom builds
Squarespace, Wix, or a cheap WordPress theme might cost $500–$2,000 upfront. That works until you need something the platform doesn't support — custom workflows, speed, SEO control, or integrations. A custom build costs more initially but doesn't hit a ceiling when your business grows.
How to get an accurate quote
The fastest way to get a realistic number is a scoped site plan: a page list, feature list, timeline, and price range — before any design work starts. Huginn offers this free and without obligation.