How Long Does It Take to Build a Website? What a Realistic Timeline Looks Like
Most custom business websites take four to six weeks. Here's a realistic build timeline, what really causes delays, and how to launch on time.
Kamil Kuś · 2026-11-05T09:30:00.000Z · 2 minute read
Most custom business websites take four to six weeks from kick-off to launch. Online shops usually take eight to twelve weeks, and portals or other custom features can take longer. You'll see offers of "live in a few days", and they're possible, but usually because a template is being filled in rather than a site designed for you.
A typical 4–6 week timeline
Stage | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
Discovery | Week 1 | We agree goals, pages, features and who the site is for |
Design | Weeks 1–2 | Homepage and key page designs, with your feedback |
Build | Weeks 2–4 | The site is built on a private preview link you can click through |
Content and testing | Weeks 4–5 | Final copy and images go in, and we test on phones, tablets and browsers |
Launch | Weeks 5–6 | Go live, connect tracking, submit to Google |
Larger projects follow the same stages, with more time in design and build.
See how larger builds run on our website development in Dublin page, or how we approach a website redesign.
What really causes delays
In our experience, it's rarely the build itself. The usual culprits are:
Waiting on content. Missing photos or page copy is the number one cause of delay.
Slow feedback. A week waiting for design approval is a week added to launch.
Changing the brief mid-build. New features halfway through reset parts of the work.
Domain and hosting access. Logins held by a previous supplier or a former staff member.
How to launch on time
Gather your logo, photos and wording before kick-off. Our pre-build checklist covers it.
Pick one person to give feedback and sign off.
Agree any hard deadline, such as an event or a launch, at the start.
Save new ideas for phase two, so launch doesn't slip.
Can it be faster?
Yes, if the scope is small and the content is ready. A simple site with everything prepared can launch in two to three weeks. Tell us your deadline on the first call, and we'll tell you honestly whether it's realistic.
Related services
Title | URL |
|---|---|
Website Development in Dublin | https://ckwebsitedesign.ie/website-development-dublin/ |
Custom Web Design | https://ckwebsitedesign.ie/website-design-services/custom-web-design/ |
Website Redesign | https://ckwebsitedesign.ie/website-design-services/website-redesign/ |
Get a Quote | https://ckwebsitedesign.ie/get-quotation/ |
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How long does an online shop take?
Usually eight to twelve weeks, depending on how many products you have and how much setup is involved, such as payments, shipping and stock.
What happens if I'm late with content?
The launch date usually moves by about the same amount. We tell you early which items hold up the launch, and we can go live with the essential pages first and add the rest afterwards.
What if I have a fixed launch date?
Tell us at the start. We plan the timeline backwards from your date and flag early if anything puts it at risk.