Website Design Cost Melbourne (2026)

How much does a website cost in Melbourne in 2026?

It depends mostly on whether you start from a template or design from scratch, how many pages you need, and what the site has to do. In our experience, the Australian market, Melbourne included, typically ranges from about $2,000 to $6,000 for a template-based small business site, $8,000 to $25,000 for a custom-designed site, and $25,000 to $60,000 or more for large custom builds with integrations.

I'm Bailey, and I lead design and web at Leed Agency, a studio in Cronulla, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire. We don't have a Melbourne office and we don't publish our own prices, because every quote depends on scope. This guide is an honest picture of the market so you can judge the quotes you receive.

What are typical website prices in Melbourne?

DIY builder you set up yourself – Typical market range: Typically $0 upfront plus a plan of around $20 to $60 a month; Good for: Side projects and very early businesses; Usually includes: Your own time
Template-based business site (5 to 8 pages) – Typical market range: Typically $2,000 to $6,000; Good for: Trades, clinics, consultants, local services; Usually includes: Customised template, your content, contact forms, basic SEO setup
Custom-designed business site – Typical market range: Typically $8,000 to $25,000; Good for: Established businesses, competitive markets, strong brands; Usually includes: Original design, conversion-focused layout, copy guidance, tracking
Theme-based Shopify store – Typical market range: Typically $3,000 to $10,000; Good for: New product brands, smaller catalogues; Usually includes: Theme setup, products, payments, shipping
Custom Shopify store – Typical market range: Typically $12,000 to $40,000 or more; Good for: Established brands, larger catalogues; Usually includes: Custom design and development, migration, integrations
Large custom site with integrations – Typical market range: Typically $25,000 to $60,000 or more; Good for: Booking systems, multiple audiences, complex content; Usually includes: Detailed planning, custom features, integrations

These are market ranges, not quotes. Your price moves within them based on the factors below.

What is the difference between a template and a custom website?

A template website starts from a professionally designed layout that is adapted with your logo, colours, fonts, photos and copy. A good template build shouldn't look generic: sections are rearranged, removed or added to suit your business. A custom website is designed from a blank page around your brand, your customers and the actions you want them to take, then built to match.

Both can be fast, mobile-friendly and well optimised for search. The difference is how closely the design fits your business, and how much time goes into getting there.

When is a template website the right choice?

You're a new business, or you're testing a new service or market.
Your services are straightforward: a trade, clinic, studio or consultancy with a handful of offerings.
Your main goal is enquiries or bookings, and you have good photos to work with.
You'd rather put more of your budget into Google Ads or SEO to drive traffic.

When is a custom website worth paying for?

Your brand is a big part of why people buy, as in fashion, hospitality, design or premium services.
You compete with well-funded businesses in a crowded Melbourne category and need to stand apart.
You need features a template doesn't handle well, such as integrated booking, complex filters or custom calculators.
You have a lot of content or several audiences that need a carefully planned structure.

Two of our own projects show the difference. Grant Co., an accommodation business in the Shoalhaven, needed a custom website with integrated booking because the booking flow is the business. Braytech Electrical, residential electricians in the Sutherland Shire and St George, needed a lead-focused site that makes calling and requesting a quote easy. Neither is in Melbourne, but the same logic applies anywhere.

What makes a website cost more or less?

Number of pages. Each service or suburb page adds design, writing and SEO time.
Copywriting. Supplying your own text costs less. Having the agency write it costs more but often converts and ranks better.
Photography. Real photos of your team and premises are worth budgeting for. Stock photos are cheaper but less convincing.
Integrations. Booking systems, CRMs, inventory and quoting tools add development time.
Ecommerce. Product count, variants, shipping rules and migrating from another platform all affect the price.
Migration and SEO. Moving from an old site needs redirects so you don't lose existing rankings.
Revisions. Unclear briefs lead to extra rounds. A clear brief keeps costs down.

What ongoing costs should you budget for?

Domain name: typically around $20 to $50 a year for a .com.au.
Platform and hosting: typically around $20 to $80 a month for a small business site on a hosted platform such as Webflow or Shopify, before apps.
Apps and plugins: these vary, especially on Shopify, so ask for a list with monthly costs.
Support and changes: care plans in the market typically range from about $100 to $500 a month, or you pay per change.
Marketing: Google Ads, SEO or both, to bring people to the site.

Is it cheaper to hire a web designer outside Melbourne?

Not necessarily. In our experience, Melbourne and Sydney pricing is broadly similar, and scope moves the price far more than the city does. The real reasons to look interstate are fit, process and the work an agency can show you. Projects run on video calls and shared review links, and Melbourne and Sydney share a time zone all year.

Where Leed Agency fits

Leed Agency is based in Cronulla, Sydney, and works with businesses Australia-wide remotely. Our approach to cost is simple: high-quality websites, built for any budget. You can start from our library of 100+ premium templates, customised to your brand, or go fully custom. We build on Webflow or Shopify, whichever suits the business, and we're a Google Partner and a Shopify Partner with 97+ projects completed and a 5.0 rating on Google Reviews.

We quote every project after a free consultation, so you know what's included before you commit. See how we design websites, look through our success stories, or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a small business website cost in Melbourne?

In our experience, a template-based small business site typically costs about $2,000 to $6,000 in the Australian market, and a custom-designed site about $8,000 to $25,000. Scope matters far more than city.

Is a template website bad for SEO?

No. SEO depends on page structure, content, speed and technical setup, not on whether the design started from a template. A well-built template site can rank as well as a custom one.

What ongoing costs does a website have?

Budget for your domain name, platform or hosting fees, any paid apps, support or changes, and marketing such as Google Ads or SEO. Ask every agency to list these before you sign.

Is web design cheaper in Melbourne than in Sydney?

In our experience, pricing in the two cities is broadly similar. The number of pages, copywriting, integrations and ecommerce needs affect cost far more than location.

Does Leed Agency publish its prices?

No. Leed Agency, based in Cronulla in Sydney, quotes every project after a free consultation and offers both template-based and fully custom builds to suit different budgets.