Powered by web.com


Building a functional website is vital in establishing your business’s online presence. When setting up your site, you’ll probably wonder how long it will take to finish.    

The short answer: it depends. It could take anywhere from minutes to months to build a website, depending on several factors that influence the website creation timeline. Understanding these factors will help you plan and set realistic expectations for the website’s launch.   

In this article, we’ll examine the main factors that influence the web development timeline, how long it takes to build a website, and practical tips to help speed up the process. 

Factors That Influence How Long it Takes To Build a Website 

The Type of Website 

A significant factor affecting website development is the type of website you’re creating. Each website type has designs, features, and requirements that can affect the web development process.    

Below are some popular website types: 

Basic Websites 

These websites are usually simple and don’t require many features. Examples include personal blogs and portfolios.  

Business Websites 

Business or corporate websites often require extensive customization and unique features that align with the company’s branding. These websites typically include elements such as: 

  • Service pages 
  • Contact forms 
  • Company information 

eCommerce Websites 

This website type requires additional features that provide a seamless shopping experience. These features include: 

  • Product listings 
  • Shopping carts 
  • Payment gateways  
  • Inventory systems 
  • Shipping features 

Custom Websites 

Custom websites require many highly specialized features, back-end development, and advanced coding that aren’t achievable using templates. These advanced websites require professional site builders. Some features of custom websites include: 

  • Interactive elements (such as custom forms) 
  • Booking and reservation systems 
  • Search function 
  • Live chat and support 
  • User login 
  • User dashboard 

These features enhance the website’s user experience and functionality. Additional features can be included depending on the business needs. 

Complexity 

A simple blog or portfolio is easier to make than a big, complex eCommerce site that requires payment processing, inventory management, and other advanced functions. 

Customization 

If you plan a custom-built website with many unique features, expect the web development timeline to be longer. The more intricate and personalized your website is, the longer it must be tested and refined. 

Skill Level of Web Developers 

Professional website builders can speed up the process with their streamlined processes. Their expertise and efficiency allow them to quickly handle complex tasks, troubleshoot issues, and implement features. 

User-friendliness of the Website Builder and CMS 

The learning curve of your website builder and content management system (CMS) can also influence how fast the entire process would be. These can speed up web development if they are less complex to set up and manage. 

How Long Does it Take To Build a Website?  

Building a website can take a few days to several months, depending on factors like the site’s complexity, features, and tools. Another key factor that can influence your timeline is the method or platform you choose to build your website. 

Let’s look at each option: 

Hiring a Web Design Service 

Estimated time to build a website: 2 to 6 months 

Working with a professional web development team can take longer because it requires a lot of collaborative processes. They typically offer complete services, including design, content creation, and post-launch support, which extends the development timeline. 

Using a CMS 

Estimated time to build a website: 1 to 2 weeks for a basic site 

Building a website on a CMS like WordPress can take up to two weeks using a pre-made theme and simple plugins. However, if your site has complex functions, like eCommerce or custom designs, it could take several weeks or months. 

Using a Website Builder 

Estimated timeline to build a website: In just a few minutes

If you’re making a basic site with a website builder, expect a faster development process. Website builders are best for small businesses and personal sites. They’re ideal for portfolios, too, as long as you don’t need much customization. 

For example, Web.com’s website builder includes easy-to-use drag-and-drop tools that make it easy to create a simple website within the day or for a few days.  

More complex sites with custom features or extra pages may take up to three months.  

Breakdown of the Website-building Process  

1. Planning & Research 

Before designing, plan your website first. This step is necessary because the results of your planning will serve as the framework for the next steps in the web development process.  

This step involves: 

  1. Identifying your website goals: Define the objectives you want to achieve with your website. Are you planning to sell products, promote your company, or provide information? 
  1. Conducting research and competitor analysis: Research what your target audience needs and examine your competitors’ content. Doing this step helps identify the gaps that your website could provide. 
  1. Creating sitemap: A sitemap represents your website content’s overall structure, navigation, and organization. During this stage, you will outline your website pages, and features like videos, images, contact forms, and other interactive elements. 
  1. Setting a budget: Setting a budget ensures you can cover the cost of building a website with the necessary features and customizations. 
  1. Selecting a relevant domain name: A domain name is the specific web address people type into their browser to access your website. 
  1. Choosing a web hosting provider: A hosting provider stores and manages your website files and applications on their server to make them internet-accessible. This is a necessary step because your website’s stability, security, and performance rely on the quality of your hosting. 

2. Design & Development 

Your website’s look and feel come together in the web design process. The design and development stage combines your website’s visuals and functions. It ensures it is both attractive and seamless.   

Here are the steps it entails: 

  1. Wireframing: This involves creating a blueprint of your website’s layout and outlining where key elements will be placed.  
  1. Creating visual designs: During this step, you’ll integrate your brand’s identity with your website’s visual elements. This involves choosing color schemes, images, and fonts. Creating mockups is also part of this process to give a clearer picture of the final website. 
  1. Enhancing web security: Securing your website’s data enhances its safety against data breaches. A professional developer will install security plugins to prevent hacking attacks.  Additionally, your web developer will secure an SSL certificate, which authenticates your website’s identity and provides an encrypted connection between users and your website. 

3. Content Creation 

Your website’s layout and design are not the only things to consider in the design phase; you should also create content. The time it takes depends on the type and the amount needed.  

Here are a few examples of website content: 

Text Content 

This includes search engine-optimized copies for web pages such as the home page, ‘About Us’ page, service and product descriptions, blog pages, calls to action, and the ‘Contact Us’ section.   

Visual Content 

Including visual elements like images, icons, infographics, and videos boosts your website’s appeal and establishes a more professional branding. Each content type has its own set of procedures, so allocate enough time for creation, review, and optimization. 

4. Testing  

Testing your website before launching is the key to checking if everything is functional, responsive, and secure. Refining your website is necessary to identify and address any issues before the official launch.  

Before you launch your website, it should undergo various test runs and checks, such as: 

  • Browser testing: This test verifies that your website functions properly across different browsers to ensure a consistent user experience. 
  • Responsiveness testing: Your website should be responsive across devices (phones, tablets, and desktops) to ensure it adapts to various screen sizes. 
  • Speed testing: Your website’s loading speed is important to provide a better user experience. According to Google, a website’s bounce rate increases by 32% when loading time increases from one second to three seconds.  
  • Broken link testing: This ensures all your website’s internal or external links are working and redirecting to the correct web pages. 
  • Readability testing: Well-written content loses its impact if it’s not easy to read. Readability testing ensures your website’s text is clear, engaging, and user-friendly. This involves checking for error-free content, selecting legible font sizes, ensuring high contrast between text and background, and formatting text for easy scanning. 

Once you finish all the tests and adjustments, it’s time to get the final go-ahead. 

5. Launching 

After completing thorough testing and final reviews, it’s time to launch your website. Once your site is live, remember to promote it to your target audience. Here are a few ways to do it: 

  • Social media: Share your website launch on social media to reach and engage your audience. 
  • Email marketing: If you already have newsletter subscribers, send them an exciting launch announcement highlighting the key content and features they might find useful. 
  • Advertising: Launch targeted ad campaigns on Google or Instagram to drive traffic to your website’s landing page.  

Remember to have a regular maintenance schedule to ensure your website stays fresh, functional, and relevant to visitors. Always check for broken links and optimize content to improve user experience and keep your site performing at its best. 

How can you Speed up the Website-building Process?  

Use Templates 

Pre-made layouts let you skip the long web design phase and focus on customizing the site to your brand and adding content. Templates are perfect for simple websites like portfolios, blogs, or small business sites. It’s a practical solution for anyone who wants to create a professional website quickly and efficiently.  

Keep the Design Simple 

Opt for clean, straightforward layouts if working within a tight timeframe. A simple design can often be more effective and user-friendly than a complex one, speeding up the development process.  

Have Your Content Ready 

Prepare your text, images, and videos before creating your website. Having everything ready to go will streamline the content creation phase and prevent delays during development.  

Use Automated Tools 

AI-powered tools speed up design and content generation tasks by automating repetitive processes and providing tailored suggestions. These tools are handy for beginners or those with limited time and resources. 

Work With a Professional Team 

If you want better results for your custom and complex website, hire a pro team. Experienced web developers and designers can efficiently handle complex tasks, fix issues, and apply best practices. 

Create Your Website in Minutes With an AI-powered Website Builder 

The time it takes to build a website depends on factors like the complexity of the design, the type of website, and the tools used. Basic websites can be completed in weeks, while more complex websites — like eCommerce stores or custom-built sites — may take several months to build.  

You can speed up the process by using web templates, creating content in advance, and using AI website tools to generate texts, logos, and domain names.  

Website Builder is part of Web.com, where you can leverage an AI-powered website builder to create your website in a matter of minutes. With drag-and-drop functionality and all the tools you need to get your site live in one place, Web.com makes the website building process fast and simple. Get started with a free trial from Web.com today!  

Build a website that stands out and connects with your audience instantly. Use AI-powered tools to create a site that reflects your brand, drives engagement, and delivers a seamless user experience. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

How do I know if my website is ready for launch? 

Before launching, ensure your website meets the following criteria: 
 
Content accuracy: All text, images, and multimedia should be error-free and appropriately placed. 
Functionality: Test all links, forms, and interactive elements to confirm they work correctly. 
Design consistency: Ensure a cohesive appearance across all pages and devices. 
Search engine optimization: Incorporate relevant keywords to your content that your customers will likely search for. For example, if you sell  e-bikes, you can use “best electric bicycle for city riding” in your product pages and descriptions. 
Performance: Check page loading times and overall site speed. 
Security: Implement security measures, such as SSL certificates, to protect user data. 

What should I do if I miss my website launch deadline? 

Missing a website launch deadline can be challenging, but addressing the situation promptly and effectively is important. Here’s how to manage it: 
 
Identify the reasons behind the missed deadline: Understanding whether delays were due to scope changes, resource constraints, or unforeseen challenges will help you choose the right action. 

Determine if the project’s scope adjustments are necessary: Prioritizing key features for the initial launch and scheduling additional enhancements for later phases can help get the project back on track.  

Develop a plan to address potential risks and prevent future delays: This may involve reallocating resources, adjusting timelines, or enhancing team collaboration to ensure smoother progress. 
 
After resolving the immediate issues, conduct a retrospective to identify what went wrong to avoid similar situations in the future. 

How long does it take to get my website indexed by search engines? 

The time for search engines like Google to index a new website varies, typically ranging from a few days to several weeks. Factors influencing this include website structure, content quality, and the presence of backlinks.

Optimize your site for search engine crawlability to expedite indexing. Also, consider submitting a sitemap using tools like Google Search Console. 

How often should I update my website after it launches? 

You should comprehensively review your website’s design and functionality every two to three years to keep pace with technological advancements and user expectations. 

Do I need to hire a developer? 

Hiring a developer depends on your website’s complexity and technical skills. For simple websites, user-friendly website builders are enough without professional help.

However, hiring an experienced development team is better to ensure optimal performance and scalability for complex sites with custom features or a unique design. 

Start Your Web.com 30 Day Free Trial

Related articles