How long does a website redesign take?
It depends less on the build than on everything around it. The number of pages, whether content and photos are ready, how many people approve, extra features like a store or bookings, and launch details such as redirects and DNS all set the pace. A ready, decisive owner shortens it more than anything the developer does.
The short version
- A redesign moves through planning, a preview, content, the build, review and launch.
- Content and approvals usually take longer than the build.
- More pages, more features and more approvers all add time.
- Your current site stays live until the new one is ready.
- Ask for a written schedule with dates for your part, not only the developer’s.
What are the stages?
- Plan: what the site must do, who it’s for and which pages matter.
- Preview: a design you can try, ideally on your own phone.
- Content: text, photos and details, carried over from what already works where possible.
- Build: the full site on a private address, often called a staging site.
- Review: you check every page; the team fixes what you flag.
- Launch: switch over, add redirects from old addresses, and test forms and email.
What makes a redesign take longer?
| Factor | Why it adds time |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | Each one needs content, review and a redirect |
| Content not ready | The build waits for words and photos |
| Many approvers | Feedback rounds multiply |
| Store, bookings or member areas | More setup and more testing |
| Changing direction mid-way | Work gets redone |
| Domain, DNS or email moves | Extra coordination at launch |
| Missing logins | Launch waits on account recovery |
Why does the timeline matter?
A rushed launch is where problems happen: missing redirects, broken forms, a test-site setting left on. A dragged-out one loses momentum and the content goes stale before it’s live. A clear schedule with dates for both sides avoids both.
What are the common mistakes?
- Planning the build but not the content. Writing and photos are real work. Start them on day one.
- Approving each page separately instead of in one round per stage.
- Adding features after the design is agreed. Keep a “phase two” list instead.
- Launching on a Friday with no one free to watch forms and email over the weekend.
What if the project stalls?
Find the one thing it’s waiting on, usually a decision, a login or content. Agree a date for it. If content is the blocker, launch with the pages that are ready and add the rest after. Our checklist on how to prepare for a redesign prevents most stalls.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take?
Both scale with the same things: pages, features and how ready you are. There’s no honest single number. A good web company gives you a written schedule with your quote and explains what would move it. Our answer on website costs covers the price side.
How does E-3 handle this?
The timeline depends on the drivers above. E-3 tests a redesign on a staging copy first, and you sign off on the plan and the preview before launch. Replies to your questions usually come within one business day. See Can you redesign my website? for how the service works.
Related questions
Common questions
- Can it be done faster?
- Often, if content and photos are ready and decisions are quick. A smaller first version can launch sooner and grow afterward.
- Will my old site stay up during the redesign?
- Yes. The new site is built and reviewed on a private address, then switched in when it's ready.
- What's the slowest part?
- Usually content: final text, photos and approvals. The build itself is rarely the bottleneck.
Rather talk it through?
Call our team, or send a note and we’ll reply within one business day. No pressure and no jargon.