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How Long Does It Take to Build a Website in 2025?
Wondering how long does it take to build a website in 2025? Discover timelines for beginners, pros, and businesses—plus tips to speed up the entire process.
Starting your own website feels overwhelming, right? It recalled staring at its empty computer screen, unsure where to start or how much time it would take. Building a website used to require coding skills and months of work. By 2025, building a website will be easier than ever.
To be honest, how long it takes to build a website from scratch depends mainly on some factors. The platform you choose, the complexity of your design, the arrangement of your content, and your technical expertise are all key. Several websites may be completed in a few hours, though others may take weeks or even months to complete.
This article breaks down the practical timelines for various website-building strategies. You’ll find out how long does it take to build a website from scratch using popular platforms such as WordPress and Squarespace. They will continue to explore how long to design a website and find solutions to specific problems of small businesses.
Whether it’s building your first personal portfolio or starting a photography website, understanding these timelines can help you plan more efficiently. What good thing is this? Today’s website builders have significantly reduced the time it takes to get online. Things are different now. It used to take months to build a website, but those days are long gone.
Ways to Build A Website in 2025
If you want to build a website in 2025, you will have many more options than you do now. ”How long does it take to build a website“ is a question you might ask. Each strategy takes a different amount of time to do and requires a different skill level to handle. Understanding these techniques can help you choose the right direction for your project.
Website Builders (Fastest Option)
Modern website creators are the quickest way to build an online presence. These platforms use a drag-and-drop interface, so there’s no need to learn programming first. Using these creation tools, they can create a simple and good-looking website in half an hour.
Popular website builders include:
- Wegic: a no-code website builder for any need
- Squarespace: Known for stunning visual designs
- Wix: Offers an extensive app marketplace
- Weebly: Simple interface for beginners
- Shopify: Best for e-commerce sites
The time to build a basic website usually ranges from 2 to 10 hours. If the design and customisation are complex, it may take 15 to 30 hours to complete. The average person can get their first website online at the weekend.
Content Management Systems (CMS)
More than 40% of the world’s websites are built with WordPress. The reason why this trend has become popular is that it can adapt to various occasions and can be adjusted according to the preferences of different people. If someone just wants to make a website or blog for themselves, they can use a web framework such as WordPress. It doesn’t even take a month, and you don’t need to know how to code.
CMS platforms provide middle-ground solutions between simplicity and control:
- WordPress.org: Self-hosted with unlimited customisation
- WordPress.com: Hosted version with fewer options
- Drupal: Advanced features for complex sites
- Joomla: Balance between ease and functionality
How long does it take to build a website to go live using a CMS? A basic WordPress website will take about 5 to 15 hours to build. When building a professional website, its production time may extend to around 40 to 80 hours if you want to customise the website theme and functionality.
Custom Development from Scratch
Building a website from scratch allows them to clearly understand every part. This method requires you to have programming knowledge in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and possibly several back-end languages. It is difficult to estimate how long it will take to build a website from scratch because it depends on many factors, like the size and complexity of the website, the skills and experience of the person building the website, and the time and resources available. Custom development involves some phases:
- Planning and wireframing (5-10 hours)
- Design creation (10-20 hours)
- Frontend development (20-60 hours)
- Backend programming (15-40 hours)
- Testing and optimisation (5-15 hours)
It usually takes 60 to 200 hours to build a custom website. More complex applications or online business platforms may take longer.
Hybrid Approaches
Many places now use different building techniques to build things. You can first build the basic framework of the website, and then add customised scripts for different functions. This hybrid strategy combines speed with the need for personalisation. Common hybrid strategies include:
- Using WordPress with premium themes
- Starting with Squarespace, then adding custom CSS
- Building on website builders with third-party integrations
- Combining multiple platforms for different site sections
How long does it take to build a website to go live using hybrid technologies? Expect it to take 10 to 40 hours, depending on how in-depth personalisation is. This strategy usually finds the best balance between construction time and the quality of the final result.
How Long Does it Take to Build A Website from Scratch?
Building a website from scratch is the most labour-intensive part of web design. They need to write every line of code from scratch, make all the visual elements by themselves, and implement various functions without any ready-made templates and frameworks.
Planning and Design Phase
If you want to build a successful website, you must do the preliminary preparation work properly. This initial phase usually takes 10 to 20 hours for most tasks. At this stage, they need to finalise the wireframe design, figure out the user trajectory, and then build the entire framework.
- Defining the target audience and goals
- Creating site maps and navigation structures
- Designing mockups and prototypes
- Choosing colour schemes and typography
- Planning responsive breakpoints
Great designers usually spend more time studying their competitors and current design trends. How long does it take to build a website from scratch depends heavily on how much planning you invest upfront. Being well prepared can really save time when creating.
Frontend Development Timeline
Frontend development involves creating the visual interface users interact with. Typically, this process takes between 30 and 80 hours on most sites. The specific project schedule will vary depending on the complexity of the design and the interactive functions. He built an information storage site for the Internet service provider he previously worked for, using pure HTML and CSS, which shows that even a very basic site can take a while to build. Today's websites must be able to automatically adapt to various screen sizes, run properly on different browsers, and be specially optimised for mobile devices.
Frontend development tasks contain:
- Writing semantic HTML markup
- Creating responsive CSS layouts
- Implementing JavaScript functionality
- Optimising images and media files
- Testing across different devices and browsers
Advanced animations, complex layouts, and interactive elements can double the development time. Newbies are often surprised at how many details are involved in building a website from scratch, and the whole process takes much longer than they imagined.
Backend Development Requirements
Backend development powers the functionality behind the scenes. A simple static site might be able to skip this step, but a dynamic site requires a lot of backend work. This phase will generally add 20 to 60 hours to the mission time.
Backend development encompasses:
- Database design and implementation
- Server-side programming logic
- User authentication systems
- Content management functionality
- API integrations and third-party services
The choice of programming language affects the speed of development. PHP, Python and Node.js all have different learning difficulties and development speeds. If you want to build a website from scratch, it will take a lot more time if its backend functions are more complicated.
Testing and Launch Phase
Evaluation checks ensure your website functions properly in a variety of usage environments. This key stage is often overlooked, but typically takes 10-25% of your overall creative time. Proper testing prevents costly fixes after launch.
Complete testing includes:
- Cross-browser compatibility checks
- Mobile responsiveness testing
- Performance optimization
- Security vulnerability assessment
- User experience validation
Experienced developers say that it can take anywhere from six weeks to six months to complete a 25 to 40 page website. This plan requires careful evaluation and quality assurance.
Total Timeline Expectations
How long does it take to build a website from scratch? Most developers report these general timeframes:
- Simple portfolio sites: 60-120 hours
- Business websites: 100-200 hours
- E-commerce platforms: 200-400 hours
- Complex web applications: 300+ hours
These approximate estimates require a moderate level of programming expertise. Newbies should anticipate doubling these plans as they learn the knowledge. Good developers may be able to use various techniques and reuse code, which can shorten the construction period by 20% to 30%. The learning curve can greatly affect the time it takes to build a website from scratch.
First-time developers often underestimate the time needed for debugging, browser compatibility, and responsive design implementation.
How Long Does it Take to Build A Website to Go Live in WordPress?
How long to design a website? WordPress changed the way websites are created by finding the ideal balance between simplicity and flexibility. Understanding the WordPress development timeline helps you plan your project effectively and set realistic expectations.
WordPress Setup and Installation
When you first start using WordPress, there are a few initial steps that usually take 1 to 3 hours to complete. Just open the control panel and click the Add New Page option under the Pages menu, and the entire WordPress operation process becomes very simple. The initial setup process includes:
- Purchasing hosting and a domain name
- Installing WordPress through a hosting provider
- Configuring basic settings and preferences
- Setting up security measures and backups
- Installing essential plugins for functionality
Most hosting companies now provide one-click WordPress setup. This progress has greatly reduced the technical difficulties that previously made it intimidating for novices to build a website on WordPress.
Theme Selection and Customisation
Choosing and customising a WordPress theme is a particularly important step in the entire development process. One thing they like about WordPress is that there is an amazing variety of themes available. Whether it is a small business website, an online store, or a personal blog, they can always find a suitable theme to meet their needs.
Theme-related tasks typically require 3-10 hours:
- Browsing and evaluating available themes
- Installing and activating the chosen theme
- Customising colours, fonts, and layout options
- Configuring theme-specific settings
- Testing responsive design across devices
Premium themes generally provide more customisation options, although they may take more time to learn. How long it take to build a website to go live in WordPress depends mainly on how much they want to switch the theme.
Content Creation and Page Development
To add content to a WordPress site, they need to create several pages and posts, and then design, in conclusion, the structural layout of the site. Creating your splash page is pretty simple. Just go to All Pages and click "Add New Page" in the WordPress dashboard.
Content development typically consumes 5-20 hours:
- Writing and editing page content
- Creating blog posts and articles
- Uploading and optimising images
- Setting up navigation menus
- Organising content with categories and tags
Want your initial page to show up? Just follow these simple steps: Go to the backend panel, find "Pages", and then click "Add New Page". Enter the name and content of the website you want. Click Publish to make the page active. It is so simple and easy to use that even users with little technical skills can use WordPress.
Plugin Installation and Configuration
WordPress plugins are like adding buffs to your site, making it more powerful without having to write code yourself. Installing and configuring the plugin will take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours of project time, depending on the complexity of the plugin.
Common plugin categories include:
- SEO optimisation tools
- Security and backup solutions
- Contact forms and user interaction
- E-commerce and payment processing
- Social media integration
People should never underestimate the importance of backup! Install a backup plugin such as UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy to automatically protect your website. Critical plugins such as this are best installed when you first set up your system.
Testing and Optimisation
Before you launch your WordPress site, you need to check it carefully. How long to design a website? This step takes about 3 to 8 hours, and the main thing is to make it run smoothly on different browsers and various devices.
Testing activities include:
- Checking all internal links and navigation
- Testing contact forms and interactive elements
- Optimising site speed and performance
- Verifying mobile responsiveness
- Testing SEO settings and meta information
Want to know which visitors visited your website and what they did? Use Google Analytics to track your website traffic. With Google Site Kit, you can easily connect it to your WordPress site.
Total WordPress Development Timeline
How long does it take to build a website to go live in WordPress varies significantly based on your goals and experience level:
- Basic blog or portfolio: 8-20 hours
- Small business website: 15-40 hours
- E-commerce store: 25-60 hours
- Custom business solution: 40-100+ hours
These time lengths assume it is using existing themes and plugins. If custom development is done, it could significantly extend these estimates. Most beginners can get their first WordPress site up and running in two to four weekends of dedicated work.
The growth of the WordPress ecosystem shows that the time it takes to build a website with WordPress has been greatly reduced in recent years. Today's themes and plugins can handle many complex functions that previously required writing code to achieve.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Website on Squarespace?
Squarespace is widely praised for its beautiful templates and easy-to-use interface. This platform makes it much easier to build a website with its very direct drag-and-drop functionality and well-designed templates.
Account Setup and Template Selection
If you want to use Squarespace, you must first create an account and select your template. This initial work usually takes 1-2 hours of full concentration. The first step is to create a Squarespace account. This requires filling in an email address and password, choosing an account type, picking a domain name, and sorting out billing. The setup process includes:
- Creating your Squarespace account
- Browsing template categories and designs
- Previewing templates with demo content
- Selecting the template that matches your vision
- Configuring basic account settings
Squarespace has over 100 professionally designed templates. Each template is specially optimised according to a specific industry or usage scenario. If you want to build a website on Squarespace, the first step is to choose a suitable template.
Content Addition and Page Creation
Their editor is block-based, and adding content to Squarespace is done via this editing mechanism. Just click "Pages" in the main menu, select "+ Add Page", pick a page type, and start adding content. Whether you want to create a standard page, write a blog post, make a photo album or a page to sell things, a certain platform has the kind of tools that are easy to understand at a glance to help you turn your ideas into reality. Content creation typically requires 3-12 hours:
- Writing and formatting text content
- Uploading and arranging images
- Creating galleries and portfolios
- Setting up blog posts and articles
- Organising content with clear navigation
When building a website, you design the framework of the page, insert your own assets, and then create the style of the website. This methodical method helps it stay consistent as it builds its site.
Design Customisation and Styling
You can switch the template of Squarespace whenever you want, without requiring coding knowledge. Design modifications usually take 2-8 hours, depending on the complexity of the content to be changed. Customisation options involve:
- Adjusting colours, fonts, and spacing
- Modifying layout and page structures
- Adding custom CSS for advanced styling
- Configuring mobile-responsive settings
- Personalising headers, footers, and navigation
First, click the "Edit" button at the top of your Squarespace website, then click "Edit Site Header". Fill in the details you want under the Site Title & Logo field to start giving your site a new look.
Functionality and Features Setup
Squarespace has integrated many functions directly into the software, and these functions can only be used by installing plug-ins on other platforms. Setting these properties will typically add 2 to 6 hours to your development timeline. Built-in functionality includes:
- Contact forms and appointment booking
- E-commerce and payment processing
- Blog management and commenting
- Social media integration
- SEO tools and analytics
They can use blogging tools to write drafts, browse all articles, modify content directly on the web page, and use apps to write articles anytime and anywhere, review drafts with the team, and set when to publish articles.
Testing and Launch Preparation
Squarespace is a website platform that requires much less testing than websites developed from scratch. The platform automatically takes care of technical details such as mobile responsiveness and browser compatibility. The test usually takes 1 to 3 hours.
Pre-launch activities include:
- Reviewing all pages and content
- Testing contact forms and interactive elements
- Configuring SEO settings and meta descriptions
- Setting up Google Analytics integration
- Connecting a custom domain name
Squarespace Development Timeline
How long does it take to build a website on Squarespace depends on your content preparation and customisation needs:
- Personal portfolio: 4-10 hours
- Small business website: 8-20 hours
- E-commerce store: 12-30 hours
- Complex business site: 20-50 hours
What these time periods mean is that it assumes you have the material ready in advance. In various website projects, the most time-consuming part is producing content materials. Squarespace's streamlined process means that it usually takes less time to create a website than it does on other platforms. The system's preset functions and professional interface design save it a lot of tedious setting steps. The great thing about this platform is that it is well-designed and very easy to use. Even ordinary people can create a good-looking website without knowing technology. Whereas becoming proficient in the platform’s excellent personalisation options may take a little more time.
How Long Does it Take to Build A Website for A Small Business?
Small businesses need to plan carefully when building a website so that they can balance a professional look with a limited budget. The timeline depends on the specific business requirements, the complexity of the materials, and the development strategy chosen, so it varies greatly.
Planning and Strategy Phase
Preparing a strategy for a small business website usually takes 5 to 15 hours. The purpose of this stage is to build the framework of the website, giving it various functions and an overall approach. During the website launch process, the biggest bottleneck is whether the required materials can be obtained quickly. Strategic planning includes:
- Defining business goals and the target audience
- Researching competitor websites and strategies
- Planning site architecture and navigation
- Determining required functionality and features
- Creating content strategy and timeline
Good preparation can significantly impact how long does it take to build a website to go live. Rushing to prepare often leads to a costly switch during the project.
Content Development and Preparation
For small businesses, producing website content is the most labour-intensive part. This stage usually takes 15 to 40 hours, depending on how much material is needed. Essential content requirements involve:
- About page describing business history and values
- Service or product descriptions with benefits
- Contact information and location details
- Customer testimonials and case studies
- Blog content for ongoing marketing
Time is money. If you want to build your website, go for it! But then again, it might take several hours to acquire all the knowledge and optimise it. Many companies underestimate how long to design a website. Professional copywriting can make the process faster, but it will also increase the cost of the project. When building a small business website, the construction period often depends more on how quickly the materials can be prepared rather than how long it takes to develop technical breakthroughs.
Design and Branding Integration
To make the corporate website look unique, but not too much, it must indicate the brand characteristics while keeping a professional and reliable image. The design work usually takes 8 to 25 hours, depending on the level of customisation. Design considerations involve:
- Incorporating existing logos and brand colours
- Creating a consistent visual hierarchy
- Selecting appropriate imagery and graphics
- Ensuring mobile-responsive layouts
- Maintaining professional appearance standards
Many small companies like to use online website building tools or WordPress templates, which saves them a lot of time on design. Tailor-made design work can significantly optimise the time it takes to build a website for a small business project.
Functionality Implementation
Small business websites generally need to have specific functions beyond just displaying basic information. Doing this will typically add 5 to 20 hours to the development schedule. Common functionality requirements:
- Contact forms and lead generation
- Appointment scheduling systems
- E-commerce capabilities for product sales
- Customer review and testimonial systems
- Integration with existing business tools
Design and development are two different processes. Trying to do both at the same time to speed up a product has often resulted in me getting bad design, bad development, or both. This shows the importance of maintaining these two processes separate.
SEO and Marketing Setup
Small businesses need to create a website that is both search engine-friendly and easy for local users to find. On-page SEO setup usually takes 3 to 10 hours to complete. SEO implementation includes:
- Keyword research and content optimisation
- Local business listing and map integration
- Meta descriptions and title tag optimisation
- Google Analytics and Search Console setup
- Social media integration and sharing
Expert SEO advice can shorten the time it takes to build a website for your small business while ensuring long-lasting results.
Testing and Launch Process
Small business websites need a thorough review to ensure they appear professional. Generally speaking, the inspection should be completed 3 to 8 hours before launch. Testing priorities contain:
- Cross-browser and device compatibility
- Contact form and lead generation functionality
- Mobile website design and loading speed
- Content accuracy and professional presentation
- Integration with business systems and tools
Small Business Website Timelines
How long does it take to build a website for a small business varies by method and requirements:
- DIY website builder: 15-40 hours
- WordPress with premium theme: 25-60 hours
- Custom professional development: 40-120 hours
- Full-service agency project: 60-200 hours
These approximations cover material generation, which typically accounts for 30-50% of the comprehensive project duration. If the company has ready-made materials on hand, it can greatly shorten the development time and save a lot of trouble. Choosing between a do-it-yourself method and professional advancement will affect both your timing and the end result. How long does it take to build a website for a small business depends largely on how many staff they have and their technical skills. Most small businesses benefit from a method that combines expert design with manageable ongoing maintenance requirements. This balance allows development to take longer and success to last longer.
Ready to Launch Your Website Project?
Since we are building a website in 2025, there will be more options and faster website advancement than before. Whether they choose to build a website quickly or invest in custom website development, knowing the actual time required can help them plan more effectively.
The main factors that affect the time it takes to build a website are the platform you choose, the level of material preparation, the complexity of the design, and the technical requirements. A basic site can be created in a few hours using today’s builders, but a complex custom solution could take months. Regardless of which approach you choose, material preparation generally takes the most time. If you can get the final text, pictures and tactical plan done before you start development, you can significantly shorten the project time. How long does it take to build a website to go live depends more on preparation than technical implementation.
Consider your long-term goals when choosing development approaches. Quick solutions work perfectly for getting online fast, while custom website development provides unlimited growth potential. The right choice can meet current needs while taking into account future expansion plans.
Take Action Now
Are you ready to turn your website dreams into reality? Pick Wegic AI and start using it today. Remember, it’s not how long it takes to build a website that matters; it’s taking that critical first step in creating your online presence that’s truly critical.
Written by
Kimmy
Published on
Jul 30, 2025
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