The verdict in three sentences
A B2B institutional redesign of 30 to 60 pages in Berlin costs between EUR 45,000 and 90,000 in 2026. Development (EUR 20,000-45,000) and the design system (EUR 8,000-15,000) concentrate two-thirds of the budget. Content migration and accessibility compliance are the most underestimated items: they push a project 10-20 % over budget.
The five phases and their 2026 cost
A serious redesign is not just design. Here is the cost structure by phase for a Berlin group.
| Phase | 2026 range (EUR) | Indicative duration |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery & strategy | 3,000 - 6,000 | 2-3 weeks |
| Design system + mockups | 8,000 - 15,000 | 4-6 weeks |
| Development & integration | 20,000 - 45,000 | 8-14 weeks |
| Content migration | 4,000 - 9,000 | 3-5 weeks |
| Accessibility compliance | 3,000 - 7,000 | 2-4 weeks |
| Total | 45,000 - 90,000 | 5-8 months |
Discovery looks optional but prevents costly back-and-forth during development. Underfunding it is the leading cause of overrun.
Line items as a percentage
To arbitrate a budget, think in shares rather than absolute amounts.
| Line item | Budget share | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery & strategy | 6-8 % | Reduces overall risk |
| Design system | 15-20 % | Reusable across subsidiaries |
| Development | 40-50 % | Dominant item |
| Content migration | 8-12 % | Often underestimated |
| Accessibility | 6-10 % | Mandatory for public/large firms |
| QA & training | 8-10 % | Do not cut |
The design system is a profitable investment: reused on subsidiary sites, it halves the cost of the next redesign.
Mini case study
Sophie, communications director of a Berlin industrial group (600 employees), is preparing a 45-page redesign arbitration. She targets EUR 62,000: discovery (5,000), design system (12,000), development (32,000), migration (8,000), accessibility (5,000). The design system will be reused on the two subsidiary sites planned for 2027, saving around EUR 20,000 of design per site. Across three sites, the EUR 12,000 design-system investment saves nearly EUR 28,000 net.
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FAQ
Why does a redesign cost more than a new site?
Because of migration: reworking 40 existing pages, their URLs, rankings and content takes 3-5 weeks. A new site starts from a blank page with no debt.
Is accessibility compliance mandatory?
For public bodies and large firms in scope, yes. Budget EUR 3,000-7,000 for audit and fixes; retrofitting it later costs twice as much.
How long does an institutional redesign take?
Between 5 and 8 months in 2026, sign-off milestones included. The limiting factor is almost always content availability and internal approvals.
Can payment be staged?
Yes: 30 % at discovery, then milestones at each validated phase. This aligns spend with delivered value.
Do I need a headless CMS?
For an institutional site with multi-level editorial governance, yes: budget +EUR 3,000-8,000, but it streamlines approval workflows.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the page count, accessibility requirements and your arbitration timeline, and we will price each phase separately. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
