How much does it cost to build a Shopify website?
- Development
- Shopify
- 1 Min
The cost of creating a Shopify website can vary widely — from completely free (using Shopify’s trial and a free theme) to over $20,000, depending on the project's complexity, design requirements, and desired features. Key cost factors include the chosen Shopify subscription plans, theme type, app usage, and whether you work with a developer or agency.
Find out what can affect the cost of building your website on Shopify with some price guidance included!
Table of Contents
Shopify is a great eCommerce platform that allows you to sell your products online very easily. Whether you're new to the game, or an established e-commerce brand, Shopify can be a great solution for you.
However, there are costs involved in building a Shopify website that most people don't know about. In this article, we'll go over how much it costs to build a Shopify website from scratch, whether you are doing it yourself or planning to get a Shopify development agency to execute a grand migration of an existing global store from another platform.
Shopify Website Cost Breakdown
If you want to DIY, the costs are going to be pretty low. You can find premium (or even free!) Shopify themes that are ready to go for around $99-$300, and then just customise them with your own images and text. If you want more features, than what comes with a ready-made theme, a particular design or just don’t want to do it yourself then this will cost more money (and time).
| Build Type | Estimated Cost | Best For | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do It Yourself - For those willing to put in some hours while saving money. | $0 – $500 (£0 – £400) | Individuals, startups, budget-conscious creators | Free or premium theme (usually $0–$300), self-customisation, no coding needed |
| Simple Build with Premium Theme - You hire pros to tweak and set up a ready-made theme for you. | $500 – $10,000 (£400 – £8,000) | Small businesses, teams without in-house devs | Developer tweaks to a purchased theme, setup, styling, basic brand alignment |
| Custom Theme Build - Professionally designed store that’s built around your brand. | $10,000 – $30,000 ( £8,000 – £24,000) | Scaling brands, design-focused businesses | Unique theme design, product page layouts, full control over visuals and UX |
| Custom Build + Integrations - A bespoke store with advanced features and third-party integrations. | $30,000+ (£24,000+) | Complex stores with CRM, logistics, or unique UX needs | Custom design + backend integrations (e.g. CRMs, live feeds, gamification) |
💡 Tip: You don’t always need a fully custom build — many 7-figure stores run on well-optimised premium themes with minor custom tweaks.
If you want to refresh or redesign your store, check out our Shopify store redesign service to get a professional look.
Shopify Website Cost by Business Type
Shopify is flexible enough to serve all kinds of businesses — but your store type will influence both the complexity and the cost. Here's what to expect depending on your business model:
| Business Type | Estimated Build Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-product brand | $500 – $5,000 (£400 – £4,000) | Great for lean startups; often built on premium themes with minimal customisation |
| Local service business | $1,000 – $8,000 (£800 – £6,400) | Useful for digital products, bookings, or memberships |
| DTC e-commerce | $5,000 – $25,000 (£4,000 – £20,000) | Needs strong product presentation, bundling, loyalty, and automation |
| Wholesale / B2B store | $10,000 – $50,000+ (£8,000 – £40,000+) | Often includes custom portals, tiered pricing, and integrations |
| Subscription business | $8,000 – $30,000 (£6,400 – £24,000) | Requires recurring payments, user accounts, and often custom workflows |
What Factors Affect the Cost to Build a Shopify Website?
Now that we have a rough idea of the prices, let’s dive into details and see what will be affecting the cost of your new website, whether you do it yourself or hire a Shopify agency. These are only some of the main factors that can affect the cost of building a Shopify website.
Developers' Tip: Don't be afraid to get quotes for professional jobs. When hiring professional developers, you are paying for their time and some tasks may be smaller and cheaper than you think!
Shopify Website Design & Development Cost
The design stage can be simple or complex — and that’s where the cost really shifts.
| Design Factor | Impact on Cost |
|---|---|
| Number of custom pages/templates | More unique layouts = more time and cost. Basic builds include homepage, product page, and a few static pages. Add-ons like "Find a Stockist" or "Timeline" need extra work |
| Number of iterations | More rounds of feedback and design tweaks = longer project and higher cost. |
| Design direction | Clear brand guidelines help reduce time and cost. Starting from scratch requires more creative work. |
| Unique features or styling | Custom graphics, animations, or UX elements mean more hours and testing — and more budget. |
Functional Requirements
Some features come standard with Shopify. Others don’t. Here's what tends to push the price up:
Advanced search & filtering
Example: Size, price, colour filters. These often need extra coding or third-party apps.
Custom product builders or bundles
Think: "Build your own box" or mix-and-match packs. Apps exist, but often need customisation to work properly.
Subscription-based products
Selling recurring products (like monthly boxes)? You’ll need specific tools and payment setup for that.
Content Creation & Product / Categories Set-up Costs
Whether you DIY or outsource it, setting up content takes time — and time = money.
| Task | Time/Cost Impact |
|---|---|
| Product descriptions, images, SEO text | Can be done in-house or professionally — but adds to the cost either way. |
| Product & category setup | Each product and category needs naming, images, layout tweaks. A large catalogue = higher cost. |
Shopify Integrations & API Costs
Connecting your Shopify store to third-party tools (like CRMs, ERPs, shipping platforms, or accounting software) can be:
Easy: Some apps offer plug-and-play options
Custom: Others require custom API connectors or developer support
Recurring: Some tools have ongoing subscription fees
💡Note: It is almost impossible to provide an estimated cost figure for integrations, as each and every project will be different. Get in touch with our Shopify development team to get an idea of what your project may cost.
Shopify Website Migration Costs
Already have a site with products, customer data, or blogs? You’ll likely need:
Data migration from your old system
Manual cleanup of categories or tags
Testing to ensure nothing is lost
Migration isn’t always expensive, but for large or messy sites it can take time.
Key Factors That Affect Your Shopify Website Cost
As a quick visual recap, here are the biggest factors influencing your total build cost:
Number of products & collections
Type of theme (free, premium, custom)
Custom functionality (apps, builders, bundles)
Number of page templates needed
Design complexity & brand guidelines
Developer hourly rate or agency fees
Content creation (copy, photos, SEO)
Integrations with CRMs, shipping, or ERP systems
Data migration or replatforming needs
Ongoing support and optimisation plans
The more custom you go, the more time and budget you’ll need — but also the more control and scalability you gain.
Small(er) Recurring Costs to Consider When You Build a Website with Shopify
Technically, the costs listed below are costs related to running a Shopify store, rather than building it. However, it is important to take those into account as well, when estimating the project costs.
| Recurring Cost | Typical Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Subscription | $29 – $299/month (Plus: from $2,000+) | Depends on your plan and store size |
| Transaction Fees | 0.5% – 3% per order | Varies by gateway and plan |
| Domain Name | $10 – $40/year | Can be purchased via Shopify or third-party |
| Apps & Plugins | $10 – $200+/month | Based on needs (upsells, reviews, chat, etc.) |
| Maintenance & Refreshes | Varies — plan for updates every 3–6 years | Budget for tweaks, redesigns, or tech fixes |
💡Final Note: These recurring costs might seem small, but they add up. Factoring them in early helps avoid surprises later — and ensures your Shopify store runs smoothly for the long haul.
Not all costs are obvious at the start. Here are some sneaky ones that can quietly grow your budget:
App stacking: Using multiple $10–$30 apps can add up quickly to $100–$200+ a month
Theme-related extras: While Shopify themes usually include all advertised features in the purchase price, some advanced elements may require separate apps or added development to match what’s shown in demos.
Currency, tax, or checkout plugins: If you sell internationally, expect to pay extra for tools not natively included
Design round creep: More revisions = more developer hours
Late integrations: Adding CRM or ERP connections post-launch often means custom development or API work
Pro tip: Make a list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” before starting. It'll help avoid scope creep and keep your project on budget.
Shopify Website Maintenance Cost: What You Might Pay
While Shopify handles hosting, security, and updates, you’ll still need to account for occasional maintenance and improvement work.
| Task | Cost Range | When You’ll Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Bug fixes or quick edits | $50 – $200 (£40 – £160) | As needed post-launch |
| Theme update | $200 – $1,000 (£160 – £800) | Every 12–24 months |
| App cleanup or migration | $0 – $500 (£0 – £400) | Annually or during upgrades |
| Full redesign | $5,000 – $15,000 (£4,000 – £12,000) | Every 3–6 years, depending on brand evolution |
| SEO/content updates | $100 – $1,000+ (£80 – £800+) | Ongoing or seasonal |
Maintenance doesn’t have to be expensive — but planning for it means fewer surprises down the road.
It's important to keep in mind that Shopify development costs can vary greatly depending on the complexity of your project. There are many factors that affect how much it will cost to build a Shopify website, including the size of your store and number of products; the type of theme you choose; how many pages need to be created; customizations like adding apps or plugins; And more!
