How long does it take to build a website?

Between 2 days and 16 weeks depending on build type. Templates take 2 to 5 days, small business custom sites 4 to 6 weeks, ecommerce stores 6 to 10 weeks, and large custom builds 10 to 16 weeks.

How long does a 5-page website take to build?

A 5-page customised template takes 2 to 3 days. A 5-page custom-designed website takes 3 to 4 weeks when content is ready at kickoff.

Why do website projects run late?

The most common causes are late client content, slow approvals, scope changes mid-project, third-party integrations that behave unexpectedly, and no single decision-maker on the client side.

Can a custom website be built in two weeks?

Yes, for a focused 3 to 5 page site when all content is ready, the client approves within 24 hours, and the scope is frozen. Most agencies charge a rush premium of 20% to 40% for this.

How long does an ecommerce website take to build?

A typical ecommerce store takes 6 to 10 weeks. Product data entry, payment and shipping configuration, and checkout testing add the extra time over a brochure site.

Website Launch Timeline: How Long a Website Really Takes (Week by Week)

Key takeaways

Template: 2–5 days. Small business custom: 4–6 weeks. Ecommerce: 6–10 weeks. Large custom: 10–16 weeks.

Content is the number one cause of launch delays; supply it before design starts.

Each approval that takes a week instead of a day adds a week to launch.

Fixed scope and a named decision-maker are the fastest ways to protect the timeline.

Post-launch: expect 30 days of fixes, then a 90-day performance review.

"How long does a website take?" has a real answer, but only once you know the build type and the state of your content. This guide gives week-by-week timelines for four common projects, explains where delays actually come from, and shows what you can do before kickoff to launch faster.

The short answer by project type

Template website with your content ready: 2 to 5 days
Small business custom website (5 to 10 pages): 4 to 6 weeks
Ecommerce store (up to 100 products): 6 to 10 weeks
Large custom or web application: 10 to 16 weeks

These figures assume content arrives on time and feedback comes back within two business days. Miss either and add one to four weeks.

Template website: 2 to 5 days

A premium template is already designed, tested, and responsive. The work is swapping in your brand, copy, and images, then connecting forms and analytics. Day one: purchase and brand setup. Day two: content placement. Day three: forms, analytics, domain, SSL. Days four and five: review and go-live. This is why founders launching on a deadline often start from a template and upgrade later.

Small business custom website: 4 to 6 weeks

Week 1: Discovery and structure

Kickoff call, goals, audience, competitor review, sitemap, and page-by-page content outline. Deliverable: approved sitemap and wireframes.

Week 2: Design

Homepage design first, then inner page templates. One or two revision rounds. Deliverable: approved designs for every page type.

Weeks 3 to 4: Development

Responsive build, CMS setup, forms, integrations, SEO foundations (metadata, structured data, sitemap), and performance tuning. Content is placed as it arrives.

Week 5: QA and content finalisation

Cross-browser and real-device testing, accessibility pass, final copy edits, image optimisation, redirects from the old site.

Week 6: Launch and stabilisation

DNS switch, SSL, analytics verification, Search Console submission, and a seven-day watch for bugs.

Costs for this type of project are broken down in our web design packages guide.

Ecommerce store: 6 to 10 weeks

Everything above, plus product data modelling, catalogue import, payment gateway setup and testing, shipping and tax rules, and transactional emails. Product photography and descriptions are the usual bottleneck. Budget two weeks for catalogue preparation before development even starts. Pricing detail is in the ecommerce website cost guide.

Large custom or web application: 10 to 16 weeks

User accounts, dashboards, custom integrations, or complex booking logic push projects into this range. Discovery alone can take two to three weeks because requirements need to be specified precisely. Expect fortnightly sprint reviews rather than a single design approval.

Where the delays actually come from

In the projects we have audited, delays were almost never caused by design or development. They were caused by:

Late content (the number one cause). Copy and images that arrive weeks after the build is ready.
Slow feedback. Approvals that take ten days instead of two.
Too many decision makers. Five stakeholders with conflicting opinions on the homepage.
Scope changes mid-build. "Can we also add a booking system?" in week four.
Access problems. Nobody knows the domain registrar login.

How to launch faster

Write your copy, or commission it, before kickoff. Even rough drafts help.
Collect logo files, brand colours, photos, and testimonials into one shared folder.
Locate your domain registrar, hosting, and analytics logins.
Nominate one decision maker with authority to approve.
Agree a two-business-day feedback window in the contract.
Freeze scope after wireframe approval. Park new ideas for phase two.

What happens after launch

Launch is not the end. Google typically needs two to eight weeks to index and begin ranking a new site, which is why SEO foundations must ship on day one rather than be bolted on later. Plan a thirty-day review to fix bugs, check analytics, and adjust copy based on real behaviour. Read the ultimate website launch checklist for the full pre-launch list.

Realistic expectations

If an agency promises a custom ten-page site in one week, they are either using a template (fine, but say so) or cutting QA and SEO. If they quote four months for a brochure site, they are overbooked. A healthy studio quotes four to six weeks for a small business site and hits it when content is ready. Our process page shows exactly what each week looks like with us.