Part of our complete guide to website design & development.
Signs you actually need a redesign
- It converts poorly — traffic arrives but nobody enquires.
- It’s slow (failing Core Web Vitals) or clunky on mobile.
- Your team can’t edit it without a developer.
- It no longer matches your brand, offer or audience.
- It isn’t accessible (WCAG) — a legal and audience risk.
Protect your SEO (the #1 redesign mistake)
Most redesign disasters are self-inflicted: changed URLs with no redirects, accidental noindex left on from staging, or lost content and metadata. Before launch: map every old URL to a new one with 301 redirects, keep titles/meta, and verify indexing. The Website Launch Checklist covers all of it.
How to plan it
- Define goals and metrics — more leads? faster? easier editing? Pick measurable targets.
- Audit what works — keep the pages that already rank and convert.
- Scope templates, not pages — it’s the template count that drives cost.
- Brief properly with the Website Redesign RFP Template.
Cost and timeline
Most redesigns run $10,000–$40,000 over 4–10 weeks, depending on templates, design and content migration. Estimate yours with the Website Cost Calculator.
FAQ
When should I redesign my website?
When it converts poorly, loads slowly, is hard to edit, isn’t mobile/accessible, or no longer matches your brand – not merely because it looks dated.
Will a redesign hurt my SEO?
It can if you change URLs without 301 redirects, leave noindex on, or drop content and metadata. A redirect map and a launch checklist prevent it.
How much does a website redesign cost?
Typically $10,000-$40,000 over 4-10 weeks, depending on template count, design and content migration.
Should I redesign or rebuild?
If the foundation is fast and editable, a refresh may be enough. If it’s slow, rigid or unmaintainable, rebuild.