The verdict in three sentences
If your site is under 4 years old, runs on a healthy stack and converts decently, a targeted partial redesign (design, funnel, performance) is enough and costs two to three times less. If technical debt is heavy (a plugin-bloated CMS, unreadable code, fragile security), starting over costs more but eliminates a risk that will otherwise return. The real danger is not the build budget: it is SEO traffic loss if migration happens without a 301 redirect plan.
Three scenarios, three budgets
In Amsterdam, a mid-market firm rarely weighs "tweak" against "rebuild" on clear criteria. Here are the 2026 figures, ex-VAT (Dutch VAT is 21 %).
| Scenario (2026 ballpark) | Scope | Budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partial redesign | Design + funnel + perf, same CMS | EUR 4,000-9,000 | 6 weeks |
| Full redesign | New design + new CMS, content reused | EUR 12,000-25,000 | 10 weeks |
| From scratch | New stack, new IA, content redone | EUR 15,000-35,000 | 14 weeks |
A partial redesign preserves SEO equity and the CMS; ideal when the problem is cosmetic or conversion-related. A from-scratch build is warranted when the information architecture is obsolete or the stack can no longer evolve.
The decision tree: age, debt, SEO
| Criterion | Partial redesign | Full redesign | From scratch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site age | < 4 years | 4-6 years | > 6 years |
| Technical debt | low | medium | high |
| SEO traffic to preserve | high | medium | low or to rethink |
| Page count | < 30 | 30-100 | > 100 or new IA |
| Current CMS | healthy | ageing | blocking |
| Available budget | tight | medium | comfortable |
Simple rule: as age and debt rise, the cursor slides toward a rebuild. But whenever SEO traffic is a major asset, prudence demands keeping the URL structure or orchestrating exhaustive 301 redirects.
Cost vs SEO risk
A poorly prepared migration can erase years of ranking. The cost of a redirect plan is marginal against the risk.
| SEO migration item | Cost (estimate) | Risk if skipped |
|---|---|---|
| Existing URL audit | EUR 800-1,500 | loss of indexed pages |
| 301 redirect plan | EUR 1,000-2,500 | -20 to -30 % traffic |
| Preserving tags/metas | included | ranking drops |
| 90-day post-migration monitoring | EUR 900-1,800 | undetected drift |
| Sitemap + Search Console | included | slow reindexing |
Budget EUR 3,000-6,000 to secure the SEO side of a full redesign: it is the insurance that protects a far larger asset.
Mini case study
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Bram is marketing lead at an industrial mid-market firm in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. His CMS site is 7 years old, 140 pages, 18,000 organic visits/month. A full-redesign quote at EUR 19,000 sits against a from-scratch build at EUR 28,000. Technical debt is real (32 plugins, outdated PHP), but the SEO traffic is worth, by his estimate, about EUR 6,000/month in leads. He picks the full redesign with a dedicated EUR 5,000 SEO budget: preserving traffic wins. Target outcome: zero ranking loss, LCP halved, and EUR 9,000 saved versus a from-scratch build, reinvested in content.
FAQ
How much is a website redesign in 2026?
From EUR 4,000-9,000 for a partial redesign to EUR 12,000-25,000 for a full one. A fully new site runs EUR 15,000-35,000 depending on page count and stack.
Will I lose SEO traffic during a redesign?
Not if a 301 redirect plan is in place and metas are preserved. Without one, loss can reach 20-30 % over several months.
When should I start over rather than redesign?
When the site is over 6 years old with heavy technical debt and an obsolete information architecture. Redesigning would only patch a doomed foundation.
How long does a redesign take in Amsterdam?
Around 6 weeks for a partial redesign, 10 for a full one, 14 for a from-scratch site, content and QA included.
Should I budget SEO migration separately?
Yes. Plan EUR 3,000-6,000 for the audit, redirects and 90-day monitoring. It is the cheapest insurance against traffic loss.
Let's scope your project. Send us your site's age, CMS, page count and SEO traffic, and we will settle rebuild vs redesign with a costed budget. 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.
