As of the latest update by Statista, 67.9% of the global population is internet users. About 43% of small businesses plan to invest in improving their website’s performance in 2023. So many businesses recognize the importance of a strong digital presence. If you’re interested in building a website this year, here’s what you should expect in terms of how long it takes to complete.

Factors That Affect Website Building Time

As a brief overview, several factors influence how long it takes to build a website.

1. The Method of Building

DIY Website Builders

If you are interested in doing it yourself, DIY website builders such as WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace will save you a huge amount of built time. These platforms have pre-designed templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and integrated hosting.

Depending on your experience and the complexity of your site, you could have a basic website up and running in just a few hours or a few days.

Hiring a Professional Developer

For a more customized website, hiring a professional developer is usually the fastest way to get what you want, but it doesn’t mean it’s instant. That said, professional development takes time. 

Depending on the scope of your project, it can take anywhere from weeks to months. Many factors, such as communication, revisions, and testing, add to the time frame to complete a project. The benefit, though, is that when it is done, the website is shiny and fully functioning, fit to your needs.

2. Website Complexity

The complexity of your website has a big impact on how long it takes to build. Single-page websites are usually the quickest to set up. DIY website builders make this easier with templates and pre-built sections.

Multi-page websites, on the other hand, take much longer. Even with a builder, a multi-page site can take several days to a few weeks, depending on the level of customization.

In addition, the type of website also affects your timeline. A portfolio site is generally straightforward. Yet, ecommerce sites are more complicated. Even if you build with templates, this may still take a few weeks. 

3. Design and Functionality Requirements

For website development, the time required to build a site can vary significantly depending on design and functionality choices. 

Custom designs, as an example, will probably take some additional time to plan, build, test, plan again if design changes are needed, and code again to achieve a unique look. Plugins, integrations, and advanced features may extend the development process as well.

4. Content Readiness

For one thing, having content ready before you start building your website can save a lot of time. If you already have text, product descriptions, or other materials, you can plug them in and move quickly. But if you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to spend time writing, editing, and organizing everything. 

So, before you start building, take stock of what content you already have and what needs to be created. 

Using stock photos or pre-made graphics can get your site looking professional in a matter of hours, while creating custom media from scratch can take days or weeks (And don’t forget optimization).

5. Team Expertise

Generally speaking, the speed at which a website gets built depends a lot on the skill level of the person doing the work. 

Whether you choose beginner, intermediate, or professional options largely depends on your individual needs, goals, and the budget you are willing to allocate. Consider what suits your current situation and what will give you the best value for your investment. 

Another important element to consider is whether you are more comfortable working with an independent developer or builder or a team. An independent developer or builder has the capacity to quickly move forward since decisions do not require approval, but holds all the responsibility, and if they have a lot to do, it could slow down their work and deliverables. 

With teams, they can divide the work by separating design, content, or coding. But if the team struggles with coordination due to ineffective communication, the process will take longer.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Website? (By the Method)

If you’re interested in a full breakdown of each method, check out our section here. You can get a sense of how long a website typically takes to build.

Using a Website Builder

With website builders becoming increasingly popular, you can create a website more easily. A simple on-page site can be completed in as little as a few hours to a day, now especially with the help of AI website builders. The time it takes to build a website largely depends on the main factors: the method, the complexity of the site, and your familiarity with the tools. It may take a few weeks to months to create a custom-built website.

If you’re a beginner, drag-and-drop builders are the fastest option. Follow these steps:

• Choose a template from pre-designed libraries and pick one.
• Customize design and layout
• Add content
• Configure settings (Set up SEO basics, contact forms, and social links)
• Preview and launch

That way, most basic websites can be done in a few hours to 2 days.

Using WordPress

If you’re planning to build a website on a budget or want more control, WordPress is one of the most popular options. This platform offers thousands of themes and plugins to customize your site. 

The total time it takes to build a WordPress website depends on your approach, experience, and the complexity of the site.

Using a pre-made theme is the fastest route. You could launch a simple site in 2 to 8 days if you have your content ready. 

The process:

• Pick a hosting provider, set up your domain, and install WordPress. You can save time here if you already have a couple of the best hosting options, such as WPX, WP Engine, or Rocket.net. (View and compare their plans.)
• Select and install a theme (free or premium)
• Customize your theme 
• Add content 
• Configure essential plugins
• Test and launch 

You can also use WordPress with Elementor or Divi (Both are very popular page builders). In this case, expect 2 to 7 days for a small to medium-sized site. (If you’re committed to working on it a few hours each day).

Basically, the process is as follows:

• Install WordPress and page builder
• Pick a template and start designing
• Add content and interactive features
• Configure plugins and SEO
• Testing and launch

Check more AI Plugins for WordPress Sites

Using Custom-Coded Websites 

Custom-coded websites remain the top choice for businesses or individuals who need complete control over design, functionality, and scalability. Unlike template-based builders or WordPress sites, custom websites are built from scratch using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and sometimes backend frameworks like PHP.

Of course, it’s a more time-consuming way. For a simple site, building a custom-coded site from scratch can even take 1 to 8 weeks. This can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months or more for a large-scale website, depending on the number of pages, features, and the size of the development team.

The process:

• Planning and wireframing
• Designing
• Frontend and backend development
• Testing and debugging
• Deploy the website to a live server and perform final checks

With custom coding, you’re paying for a highly tailored website.

Using E-commerce Platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce)

A good option if you want to launch an online store quickly is to use Shopify, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce. 

Depending on your store size and familiarity with the platform, a functional e-commerce site can be ready in a few days to a few weeks. However, a large-scale e-commerce platform with custom features can take 6 to 12 months to build.

Follow these steps:

• Choose a platform and plan
• Select a template or theme from pre-designed store templates
• Customize design and layout
• Add products and content
• Configure store settings
• Test checkout and mobile responsiveness
• Go live

Hiring a Professional Developer

By working with professional developers to create your website, you can expect a more polished, custom product. It will save you time, as to will not have to worry about things behind the scenes, and with the right service, you know you are getting an optimized product. There are many professional web developer services available; you should be able to find developers for a range of budgets and project sizes.

When it comes to working with a developer, the process is basically as follows: 

• Have a meeting with the developer to define your goals, features, and design preferences.
• The developer creates custom wireframes and high-fidelity designs for your review.
• The site is coded, including frontend, backend, and any custom functionality.
• A thorough testing process, making changes based on the feedback.
• The developer deploys the site on your live server and makes sure everything is working as it should.

If you just need a basic informational website, a professional developer can build this in 4 to 8 weeks, which is roughly 1 to 2 months.

Working With a Web Design Agency

Another fantastic option for businesses is working with a web design agency. Agencies handle everything from strategy and design to development and launch. Agencies are often full teams, unlike hiring a single developer.

The process:

• Discovery and strategy 
• Wireframes and design concepts
• Development
• Testing and revisions
• Launch 

The timelines vary depending on complexity. A standard project for a small business often takes 6 to 10 weeks.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Website? (By Type of Website)

For sure, different types of websites come with varying building times. For example, a simple personal blog can often be launched quickly, in one to a few days. If you’re aiming for a highly customized or feature-rich site, we highly recommend looking for professional help or agencies.

Personal Blog or Portfolio

Most personal blogs feature a homepage, an “About Me” section, a blog or portfolio gallery, and a contact page. 

A basic WordPress site can be launched in one to a couple of days, assuming content is ready. The time is mostly spent on choosing and customizing the theme and adding content. Even custom designs rarely take longer than a couple of weeks for a solo creator.

Business Website

Here, the main goal is to establish a professional online presence that promotes your brand, products, or services. For SMBs using WordPress, the timeline is typically 4 to 6 weeks.

eCommerce Website

These sites come with unique features. Ecommerce sites are designed to sell products or services online. Many ecommerce websites also integrate discounts or promotions and shipping options.

For small stores using platforms like WooCommerce, a functional store can be created in anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks. If you’re a larger e-commerce platform with thousands of products, lots of custom developments, as well as integrating with inventory management systems, it can take 6-12 months or longer to set this all up.

Membership/Subscription Website

Realistically, there isn’t a single method or platform that works best for building a membership or subscription website. These sites provide exclusive content or services to registered members, and often include features such as user registration and login systems.

If you use a platform with built-in membership features or a powerful plugin (like WordPress with a membership plugin), you can get a basic site up in 4-10 weeks. There are plenty of tools and services available that streamline the setup process and help you launch a professional membership site.

Web Application / SaaS

These sites offer interactive functionality, user accounts, dashboards, data processing, and often complex integrations with third-party services. Features commonly include subscription management, API access, real-time notifications, and so on.

Because of their complexity, these projects usually require more planning, design, and development. Even with a skilled team or agency, building a web app with a full suite of features, a database, and integrations can take anywhere from 6-12 months or longer.

Please recognize that a SaaS product is never completely finished. Once you launch it, development continues as new features and improvements are rolled out continuously.

Single-Page Website

Single-page websites are some of the simplest and easiest options. The standard build will have features such as scrolling navigation, anchored sections, simple forms, multimedia content, and responsive design.

A basic single-page site can be completed in a few hours to a day, often created using templates. Those who want to launch quickly can use website builders or pre-made templates. You can also explore single-page templates in WordPress or other builders if you’re interested in a ready-to-go solution.

Conclusion

We’d probably recommend going with a WordPress or website builder approach if you’re building a small business website. For most small businesses, this approach offers the most practical combination of customization, ease of use, and professional appearance.