Landing page — 1–2 weeks
Single page, focused conversion goal, minimal custom features. Design 2-3 days, development 3-5 days, content 1-2 days, testing and launch 1-2 days.
Website development timeline.
From planning to launch: realistic timelines for your web project. Landing pages in 1-2 weeks, business sites in 4-8 weeks, e-commerce in 8-12 weeks, custom apps in 12-20+ weeks. Development eats ~40% of the schedule.
Landing page: 1–2 weeksBusiness site: 4–8 weeksE-commerce: 8–12 weeksWeb app: 12–20+ weeksRush timelines available
Updated 2 min read
Website timelines vary by complexity. A focused landing page can ship in 1-2 weeks. A standard business website typically runs 4-8 weeks: one week of discovery, two of design, three of build, one of QA. E-commerce builds with payment integration and inventory take 8-12 weeks. Custom web applications and SaaS platforms run 12-20+ weeks depending on backend complexity.
Where does the time go? Development is the longest phase at about 40% of the project. Design runs roughly 25%. Discovery and planning eat 15%. Testing and launch close it out at 20%. The single biggest cause of slipped timelines is not engineering — it is content delays and stakeholder approval cycles. Having copy, images, and brand assets ready before development starts can save 2-3 weeks on its own.
What affects your timeline
Faster vs. slower.
Factors that speed things up
Clear requirements and scope, existing brand guidelines, content ready before development, quick feedback and approvals, single decision-maker, and using a proven tech stack instead of inventing a new one.
- Clear requirements and scope
- Content ready before development
- Quick feedback and approvals
- Single decision-maker
Factors that slow things down
Unclear or changing requirements, custom illustrations or photography that have to be commissioned, complex CRM/ERP integrations, multiple stakeholder approvals, and scope creep mid-project.
- Unclear or changing requirements
- Custom illustrations / photography
- Complex integrations (CRM, ERP)
- Scope creep mid-project
Phases
Where the time actually goes.
i.
Discovery & planning (15%)
Requirements, competitive analysis, sitemap, technical specifications, content strategy, timeline and milestones. The phase most clients underestimate.
ii.
Design (25%)
Wireframes, visual design concepts, mobile responsive designs, design system creation, client feedback rounds, final approval.
iii.
Development (40%)
Frontend development, backend / CMS setup, database integration, third-party integrations, performance optimization, SEO implementation.
iv.
Testing & launch (20%)
Cross-browser testing, mobile device testing, performance testing, security audit, content migration, DNS and hosting setup.
By project type
Timeline by project type.
Business website — 4–8 weeks
5-15 pages, blog, contact forms, basic SEO setup. Discovery 1 week, design 2-3 weeks, development 2-3 weeks, testing and launch 1 week.
E-commerce website — 8–12 weeks
Shopify or custom storefront, payment integration, inventory management. Discovery 1-2 weeks, design 2-3 weeks, development 3-5 weeks, product setup 1-2 weeks, launch 1 week.
Custom web application — 12–20+ weeks
SaaS platforms, dashboards, complex functionality. Requirements 2-3 weeks, UI/UX 3-4 weeks, backend 4-8 weeks, frontend 3-6 weeks, testing 2-3 weeks.
FAQ
Common questions.
How long does it take to build a website?
Website development timelines vary by complexity. Landing pages take 1–2 weeks, business websites 4–8 weeks, e-commerce sites 8–12 weeks, and custom web applications 12–20+ weeks. The design phase alone typically takes 2–4 weeks.
What takes the longest when building a website?
Development is typically the longest phase at about 40% of total project time. However, waiting for content from clients and approval delays often extend timelines more than the actual build work. Having content ready before development starts can significantly speed up the process.
Can a website be built in a week?
Simple landing pages can be completed in 1–2 weeks. However, a professional business website with multiple pages, custom design, and proper SEO typically requires 4–8 weeks minimum. Rush projects are possible for an additional fee but may compromise thoroughness.
Get started
Get your custom timeline estimate.
Every project is unique. Tell us the scope and we'll provide a detailed timeline specific to your website needs.
Get a timeline estimateHave one specific question? Email hello@werz.ai