Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How Much Should You Charge for WordPress Development?
WordPress developers typically charge $50–$120 per hour, or $1,500–$15,000 per project. A custom theme build averages $3,000–$8,000; a complex WooCommerce store can reach $10,000–$20,000.
Floor
$50
per hour
Typical
$75
per hour
Premium
$120
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
What changes the price
- Custom theme vs. premium theme customization
- Number of page templates required
- WooCommerce or membership functionality
- Custom plugin development requirements
- Migration from another platform
- Page builder used (Gutenberg, Elementor, ACF)
- Ongoing maintenance plan included
- Speed optimization and hosting setup
Real quote breakdowns
Small Business Brochure Site
A 6-page WordPress site for a landscaping company using a premium theme with custom color scheme.
Breakdown
20 hours at $100/hr: theme setup, page building, contact forms, basic SEO setup, and client training session.
Custom Theme with ACF
A fully custom WordPress theme for a real estate agency with dynamic property listings using Advanced Custom Fields.
Breakdown
75 hours at $100/hr: custom theme development, ACF field groups, custom post types, search/filter functionality, and performance tuning.
WooCommerce Store
A 300-product WooCommerce store with custom product configurator and subscription billing.
Breakdown
140 hours at $100/hr: WooCommerce setup, custom configurator, Stripe + WooCommerce Subscriptions, payment gateway testing, staging + launch.
Frequently asked questions
Should WordPress developers charge less than React developers?
Not necessarily. Custom WordPress development requires deep knowledge of PHP, the WP ecosystem, and performance best practices. Senior WordPress developers legitimately charge $100–$150/hr.
How do I price WordPress maintenance retainers?
Basic maintenance (updates, backups, uptime monitoring) typically runs $50–$150/month. Adding content updates, security monitoring, and priority support bumps this to $200–$500/month.
How do I avoid being undercut by overseas WordPress developers?
Compete on expertise, communication quality, and accountability. US/UK clients increasingly pay a premium for reliable developers who understand their market and can debug problems quickly.
What should I include in a WordPress project contract?
Clearly define the number of pages, functionality list, revision rounds, browser/device testing scope, post-launch support window, and who is responsible for content entry.