Web design hourly rates in 2026: what freelancers and agencies charge
When comparing website quotes you will see hourly rates from under €40 to well over €100. The number alone says little about what the project will cost in the end. Here are current market rates in the German-speaking market, the factors behind the differences and a simple way to compare hourly and fixed-price offers fairly.
Current market rates
On freelancermap, the average hourly rate for web design is €70 (October 2026, asking rates from profiles). Across all freelancers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the Freelancer-Kompass 2026 reports a median of €100 per hour. Agencies usually charge more, because project management, design, development and QA come from different people.
Keep in mind these are asking rates. Longer projects and framework contracts often settle at lower rates.
Why rates vary so much
Two quotes with the same hourly rate can mean very different services. These factors explain most of the range:
- Experience and specialisation, for example shop systems, accessibility or integrations.
- What the rate covers: build only, or also concept, copy, SEO and project management.
- Location and cost base: big-city office, offshore team, solo freelancer.
- Tooling and reuse: whoever uses proven components needs fewer hours.
Hourly rate or fixed price?
A low hourly rate can end up more expensive than a high one if more hours are needed. For clearly scoped projects such as a business website or landing page a fixed price is usually better: the provider carries the risk of overruns and you know the budget upfront. Hourly billing suits ongoing changes, maintenance and projects with unclear scope.
Onravetoni works with fixed prices for new websites (landing page from €600, business website from €1,800) and bills ongoing changes at €30 per hour after approval. That is possible thanks to a team based outside Germany and reusable components.
How to compare offers
To put hourly and fixed-price quotes side by side fairly, ask for the following:
- Ask for estimated hours per work package, not just the rate.
- Ask how many revision rounds are included and what comes after.
- Clarify who owns code, design and accounts after the project.
- Add 12 months of maintenance to compare total cost.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a €30 hourly rate credible?
- It can be, for example with teams in countries with lower living costs. Check references, contract terms, availability and who actually does the work.
- How many hours does a simple website take?
- It depends on scope. Ask for the estimate per page or component instead of one total figure.
- Are rates quoted net or gross?
- In B2B, rates are usually quoted net, plus VAT. Ask if in doubt.
Sources
Send us your brief or an existing quote. We will give you a fixed price with an itemised scope.
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