How Long Does It Take to Build a Website?

One of the first questions every business asks is “how long will my website take?” The honest answer depends on the size and complexity of the project — but here are realistic timelines so you can plan with confidence.

Just as importantly, we’ll cover what actually speeds a project up or slows it down — because a lot of that is in your hands.

Typical timelines

A simple brochure website of up to five pages usually takes 3–5 weeks from kickoff. A larger business site with custom design and copywriting typically takes 6–10 weeks. eCommerce stores and bespoke web applications take longer again — often 8–16 weeks — because there’s more to design, build and test.

These are working timelines, not promises made in a vacuum: a good agency will give you a clear schedule up front.

What slows projects down

The single biggest cause of delay is content — waiting on text, images and feedback from the client. Scope changes mid-project and slow approvals also add time. The build itself is rarely the bottleneck.

The best thing you can do to keep your project on track is gather your content early and give prompt, clear feedback.

How we keep it on schedule

We work to a clear plan with defined stages and deadlines you can hold us to, and we help with content and copy so nothing stalls. Regular check-ins keep everything moving and avoid nasty surprises near launch.

A well-run project is a calm one — and that’s how we like to work.

What causes projects to run over time

The most common cause of website project delays is slow content delivery from the client. A web designer can only build what they have been given: without final copy, photography and approval of wireframes and designs, work stops. Having content ready before the design phase begins typically halves project duration.

Scope creep — adding features or pages during a project that were not in the original brief — accounts for most other delays. Each addition, however small, adds to build time and testing requirements. A clearly agreed scope at the start, with a defined process for handling change requests, keeps timelines predictable. We set this expectation clearly at the briefing stage of every project.