Ecommerce website redesign cost

What drives the cost

Scope

Template refresh, full redesign, or redesign with replatforming.

Audit

Analytics, search data and usability review.

Design

Number of templates and depth of custom design.

Data and redirects

Address mapping, account and order migration.

Integrations

Reconnecting and testing stock, accounting and marketing tools.

Testing and launch

Full journey testing and post-launch support.

Replatforming adds migration work and may change ongoing fees.

Redesign scopes compared

Estimating the return

A redesign is an investment that should improve sales or reduce costs. Using the baseline, estimate what modest improvements would mean: for example, a small increase in mobile conversion on your current traffic and average order value. If even optimistic improvements would not cover the cost within a reasonable period, a smaller, targeted scope may be wiser.

This exercise also helps decide which parts of the store to prioritise.

Example: choosing a targeted scope

Comparing quotations

Phasing a redesign

Rather than one large release, a redesign can be delivered in phases: product pages first, then collections, then the homepage and content. Each phase is measured before the next, spreading cost and reducing risk. This works particularly well when the platform stays the same.

Costs that are easy to miss

New photography to suit new layouts, content rewriting, staff training on a changed admin, app replacements and the internal time spent reviewing designs and testing are often left out of early budgets. Listing them alongside the redesign quotation gives a realistic total and avoids pressure to cut testing later.

Ongoing cost changes

A redesign can change monthly costs: a premium theme, new apps or a different platform plan. Compare ongoing costs before and after, as well as the one-off fee, when judging the investment.

Your team's time

Reviewing designs, checking product data, testing journeys and training staff all take internal time. Allowing for it in plans avoids delays and rushed testing near launch.

Comparing quotations fairly

Quotations for 'a redesign' can differ hugely in scope. Ask each partner to list templates, protective work, testing and support, and whether the platform changes. Comparing like with like, and against the estimated return, shows which proposal offers real value.

A contingency

Older stores often reveal surprises during redesign, such as forgotten integrations or inconsistent product data. A modest contingency absorbs these without cutting testing.

Budget for measurement

Setting up measurement before and after launch, and reviewing results, takes a little time but turns the redesign into evidence for future decisions. Include it in the budget so it is not skipped once the new store is live. Reviewing results a few weeks after launch also reveals quick refinements that improve the return further.

The cost of bad timing

Launching during peak season to meet a deadline can cost more in lost sales than any saving in the project budget. Building enough time into the plan to launch in a quieter period is part of a sensible budget.