What Does Website Copywriting Cost?
By CodexierPublished 5 min read
Most website projects are delayed by text, not code. The design is ready, the developer is waiting, and the pages are still full of placeholder text because nobody budgeted for writing them. This guide explains how copywriting is priced, what the different models include, where the real work goes, and how to plan copy for a small company site without overpaying or under-delivering.
Per page, per word or per project
| Model | How it works | Good when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per word | A fixed rate per delivered word | Long texts with clear briefs | Rewards length, not clarity |
| Per page | A fixed price per web page | Sites with similar page types | Unclear how long a page is |
| Per project | One price for the whole site | Small sites with a clear scope | Check the number of revision rounds |
| Per hour | Time actually spent | Unclear scope, ongoing work | Hard to budget in advance |
Rates vary widely with experience and specialisation, so we do not quote market figures here. Ask every writer what is included in the price.
What research and interviews add
Good web copy starts with understanding what your customers ask, what makes you different and what makes people hesitate. A writer gets that from an interview with you, sometimes with a few customers, and from reading competitors' sites. That work is often a third or more of the effort on a small project, and it is what separates copy that sells from copy that sounds like everyone else's.
- Kickoff interview with the owner or sales lead.
- Review of existing material: brochures, quotes, emails that answer common questions.
- Competitor review, to find what everyone says and what nobody says.
- Optional customer interviews, which often produce the most useful phrases.
- One or two feedback rounds per page, with a clear deadline.
SEO copy vs plain copy
Plain copy explains your offer clearly. SEO copy does the same but is also built around what people actually type into Google: each page targets one search intent, uses the terms customers use, answers the follow-up questions and links to related pages. That requires keyword research before writing, and it is why SEO copy is more expensive per page. For a local service company it is usually worth it on the service pages and not needed on pages like 'About us'.
If you write in both Swedish and English, budget each language as its own text. A direct translation rarely matches how people search in the other language.
AI drafts plus editing: the real saving
AI tools are good at producing a first draft quickly, and many writers use them. What they cannot do is know your prices, your process, your guarantees and what your customers actually worry about. Without that input the result is generic text that could belong to any competitor. The saving is on typing time; the interviews, fact-checking and editing still take the same effort.
Where AI helps
First drafts from a detailed brief, rewording, shortening, meta descriptions, alternative headlines.
Where it does not
Knowing what makes you different, getting facts right, a consistent tone, legal claims like guarantees and prices.
What to budget for a small site
A typical small company site has a home page, three to six service pages, an about page and a contact page. Budget copy as a separate line in the project, decide who owns each page, and set a deadline for text before design is finalised. Use the checklist below to compare offers.
- Which pages are included, and roughly how long each is.
- Whether interviews and research are included or extra.
- Whether keyword research and SEO optimisation are included.
- How many feedback rounds are included, and what extra rounds cost.
- Whether meta titles and descriptions are written too.
- Who owns the text and whether it can be reused elsewhere.
Our guide to who should write your website copy helps you decide between doing it yourself, a copywriter or your web agency. Our business website packages are built around your content; prices are on our pricing page, and you can ask in a short call what copy help is included for your case.
When you do not need a copywriter: if you write clearly, know your customers' questions by heart and have time before launch, you can write the first version yourself and pay only for editing. That is often the best value for a small site.
Frequently asked questions
Should copy be written before or after design?
Before, or at least in parallel. Design built around real text works better, and placeholder text hides problems like headings that are too long.
Is it fine to use AI-written text on my website?
Yes, if a person who knows the business edits and fact-checks it. Unedited AI text tends to be generic and can contain claims you cannot stand behind.
Who owns the copy I pay for?
It should be you. Make sure the agreement transfers the rights so you can reuse the text in brochures, ads and future sites.
How long does copywriting for a small site take?
Usually a few weeks including interviews and feedback rounds. The bottleneck is often the customer's time to review, not the writing.
Stuck on the text for your new site?
Book 15 minutes. We will look at what you have, suggest which pages to write first, and tell you what would be included in a fixed-price website project.
Book a free 15-minute call