StartupCostLab

Website cost calculator

Updated 10 November 2026Reviewed by TomasHow we calculate

Hosting is often advertised at an introductory price that rises at renewal, and the domain is usually cheaper in its first year than later. A website that looks cheap on day one can cost noticeably more by year three. This calculator separates the first year from the renewal years and adds up the total over the time you plan to keep the site.

With these inputs, the first year costs about $200 and each renewal year about $218. Over the period you chose, the site costs $636 in total.

The price shown at checkout. A placeholder until you enter your host’s real price.

Look for the renewal price in the plan details or terms.

First-year cost
$200
Each renewal year
$218
Total over 3 years
$636
Where the 3-year total goes
  • Design$60.00
  • Hosting$288
  • Domain$48.00
  • Extras$240

First year

Design
$60.00
Domain, first year
$12.00
Hosting, twelve months at intro price
$47.88
Plugins, email and maintenance
$80.00
First-year cost
$200

Each renewal year

Domain renewal
$18.00
Hosting, twelve months at renewal price
$120
Plugins, email and maintenance
$80.00
Renewal-year cost
$218

Over 3 years

Total cost
$636
Average per year
$212
Average per month
$17.66

How this calculator works

The calculator covers design (building it yourself, a paid template or a freelancer), hosting at an intro price and a renewal price, the domain at its first-year and later-year price, and yearly extras such as plugins, business email and maintenance. It does not include payment fees on a store, advertising, content writing or your own time.

The steps

  1. Add the design cost once, in the first year.
  2. Hosting is charged at the intro price for the term you pay for, then at the renewal price for the remaining months of your plan.
  3. The domain costs its first-year price in year one and its renewal price in every later year.
  4. Add yearly extras. The first-year cost, one renewal year and the total over your chosen number of years come from these parts.

Assumptions

  • The hosting prices are placeholders until you enter your host’s own intro and renewal prices.
  • A multi-year term is paid up front, but the first-year figure counts only twelve months of it.
  • Prices stay the same over the years you plan. In reality, renewal prices change.
  • Taxes such as VAT are not included.

Two worked examples

A blog you build yourself

Building it yourself leaves hosting and the domain. The first year costs $47.88, each renewal year $114, and three years cost $276.

First year

Design
$0.00
Domain, first year
$12.00
Hosting, twelve months at intro price
$35.88
Plugins, email and maintenance
$0.00
First-year cost
$47.88

Each renewal year

Domain renewal
$18.00
Hosting, twelve months at renewal price
$95.88
Plugins, email and maintenance
$0.00
Renewal-year cost
$114

Over 3 years

Total cost
$276
Average per year
$91.88
Average per month
$7.66

A small business site built by a freelancer

Design is the biggest cost, $2,000, but over five years the total of $4,571 also includes $527 for hosting and $84.00 for the domain.

First year

Design
$2,000
Domain, first year
$12.00
Hosting, twelve months at intro price
$47.88
Plugins, email and maintenance
$392
First-year cost
$2,452

Each renewal year

Domain renewal
$18.00
Hosting, twelve months at renewal price
$120
Plugins, email and maintenance
$392
Renewal-year cost
$530

Over 5 years

Total cost
$4,571
Average per year
$914
Average per month
$76.19

Costs people forget

  • Renewal prices. The intro price applies to the first term only. Look for the renewal price before you buy.
  • Domain privacy and extras. Some registrars charge for privacy or email on top of the domain.
  • Backups and security. Some hosts include backups, others charge. A site that is hacked costs far more than the tool.
  • Plugins and licences. Paid plugins often renew yearly. Add them in the extras.
  • Payment fees. A store pays card fees on every order. Our Shopify calculator shows them.
  • Updates and changes. A site needs updates. Either you do them or you pay someone.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a website cost per year?

It depends on how it is built and hosted. Enter your own prices and the calculator shows the first year and the renewal year.

Why is the renewal price higher?

Many hosts discount the first term to win customers and charge the regular price afterwards. Look for it in the plan details.

Is a longer hosting term cheaper?

Often the monthly price is lower, but you pay for the whole term up front and the discount ends at renewal.

Do I need a paid template?

Not always. A paid template or theme can save time. The calculator includes it as one option.

Does this include an online store?

It covers the website, not product costs or payment fees. See our Shopify monthly cost calculator for fees.

Are the example prices real?

No. The defaults are placeholders. Enter the prices you are quoted.

Related calculators

StartupCostLab provides estimates for planning only. Results depend on the numbers you enter and on fees that platforms change. This is not financial, tax or legal advice. Fee data last reviewed 10 November 2026; confirm current prices on each provider’s own site before you spend money.