How Much Does It Cost to Build an E-Commerce Website?
E-commerce website costs by approach — Shopify launch, custom storefront and AI-enabled commerce — plus ongoing platform, payment and app costs.
Short answer: an online store's cost depends on the platform, catalog size, design approach, integrations and whether you're migrating. A Shopify launch with a customised theme and a modest catalog is the smallest project. A custom or headless storefront is a mid-to-large project. Stores with AI product search, automated operations or custom checkout logic are the largest. On top of the build, expect platform subscriptions, payment processing fees and app costs every month.
For a range for your store, the estimator asks about platform, products, integrations and migration.
Cost by approach
What drives the price
Catalog size and complexity
Fifty simple products is quick. Thousands of products with many variants, bundles or custom options need import tooling and more testing.
Design
A customised theme is far cheaper than a fully custom design. Custom design pays off when brand experience is a key differentiator.
Integrations
Inventory systems, ERPs, third-party logistics, accounting and email marketing each add setup and testing.
Migration
Moving from another platform means products, customers, orders and — critically — URL redirects to keep search traffic.
Ongoing costs
- Platform subscription — e.g. Shopify plans, billed monthly.
- Payment processing — a percentage plus a fixed fee per transaction; rates vary by provider, plan and card type.
- Apps — reviews, subscriptions, upsells; these add up quickly.
- Hosting — for custom or headless builds.
- Maintenance — updates and improvements.
Check current pricing on each provider's site; fees change and differ between the US and Canada.
Where to save and where not to
Save on: starting with a good theme, launching with your best-selling products first, and adding apps only when needed.
Don't save on: product photography, clear product information, checkout testing and page speed. These directly affect whether people buy.
Shopify or custom?
Most stores should start on Shopify. Custom builds make sense for configurators, unusual pricing, complex B2B rules or when platform limits cost you sales. Full comparison in custom e-commerce vs Shopify.
For what happens after launch, see how AI automation can improve e-commerce operations.