The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, redesigning an aging mid-market institutional website sits between 18,000 and 40,000 EUR (net), plus a prior audit of 2,500 to 5,000 EUR and content migration of 3,000 to 8,000 EUR. The real trade-off is full redesign versus partial modernization: the former maximizes conversion gain (+25% to +45% on forms), the latter limits risk and budget. Plan for 10 to 16 weeks and 200 to 500 EUR/month of maintenance.
Full redesign or partial modernization?
It all depends on the age of the technical foundation and design debt. A site over five years old, non-responsive or slow, justifies a full redesign; a recent but poorly converting site calls for targeted modernization.
| Criterion | Partial modernization | Full redesign |
|---|---|---|
| Net price 2026 | 18,000-26,000 EUR | 28,000-40,000 EUR |
| Scope | Design + key pages | Architecture + design + CMS |
| Expected conversion gain | +15% to +25% | +25% to +45% |
| Timeline | 8-10 weeks | 12-16 weeks |
| Project risk | Low | Medium |
| Lifespan | 2-3 years | 5-7 years |
Partial modernization is a good compromise if the technical foundation still holds. As soon as the structure or CMS caps SEO performance, a full redesign becomes more profitable over a 3-year horizon.
Often-forgotten side costs
The headline redesign price hides side costs worth 20 to 30% of the total budget. Anticipating them avoids overruns.
| Side cost | Net range 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Prior audit (UX, SEO, technical) | 2,500-5,000 EUR | Essential before a firm quote |
| Content migration | 3,000-8,000 EUR | By page volume and languages |
| 301 redirects & SEO | 1,500-3,000 EUR | Preserves acquired ranking |
| Imagery / photo refresh | 1,000-4,000 EUR | Shoot or premium stock |
| Accessibility compliance | 2,000-5,000 EUR | Mandatory for some players |
Content migration and 301 redirects are critical: mishandled, they drop organic traffic by 20 to 40% for several months. This is the line to secure first.
Mini case study
Marc, CFO of a B2B distribution mid-market firm (150 staff), weighs a redesign at 30,000 EUR net plus 4,000 EUR of audit and 6,000 EUR of migration, i.e. 40,000 EUR net total. The site currently generates 40 quote requests/month; a +35% conversion lift adds 14 leads/month. With an average converted-lead value of 3,200 EUR margin and a 10% close rate, that is about 4,500 EUR additional margin/month, or 54,000 EUR/year. The project pays back in under 10 months.
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FAQ
Full redesign or modernization: how to decide?
If the foundation is over 5 years old, non-responsive or slow, choose a full redesign. Otherwise, targeted modernization of design and key pages is often enough.
Why pay for an audit before the redesign?
The 2,500-5,000 EUR audit secures the quote and identifies high-traffic pages to preserve. It is insurance against bad surprises and SEO loss.
What conversion gain should I really expect?
In 2026, a well-run redesign improves form conversions by 25 to 45%, depending on the starting quality. The gain mostly comes from UX and speed.
How do I avoid losing my ranking?
With an exhaustive 301 redirect plan and careful content migration, budget 4,500 to 11,000 EUR together. This is the line never to sacrifice.
What is the equivalent budget in Dubai?
In 2026, a comparable institutional redesign is negotiated between 20,000 and 50,000 USD, with premium design and multilingual (including Arabic RTL) expectations.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your site's age, the target option (modernization or full redesign), an indicative budget between 18,000 and 40,000 EUR net and your timeline. 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.
