Website Redesign Scope Checklist: What Is Included and What Costs Extra

A written scope should cover page and template count, who writes copy and sources images, SEO and migration work, integrations, approvals, revisions and post-launch support. Page count is a common starting point, but distinct page templates and functionality are often a better signal of effort. Write these down before you ask for quotes, and mark each task as client, provider or undecided.

By the publisher · Updated 2026-11-08

What a complete redesign scope contains

Most disputes about a redesign come from tasks nobody assigned. "Redesign" can mean a new look on the same pages, a new structure, or a rebuild on a new platform. A scope says which one you are buying.

A complete scope names:

Pages and templates: how many of each, and which are new, kept or removed
Content: who writes the copy, who sources or shoots images and video, and who loads it into the site
SEO: what on-page and technical work is included
Migration: what moves from the old site, and how old URLs are redirected
Integrations and functionality: forms, booking, payments, email, analytics, CRM and anything custom
Approvals and revisions: who signs off, at which stages, and how many rounds of changes are included
Timeline: key dates, and what happens if content or feedback arrives late
After launch: hosting, maintenance, training and a support window

The checklist near the end of this page turns each item into a line you can fill in. For what these things tend to cost overall, see how much a website redesign costs.

Pages versus templates: what drives the price

Page count is the number most buyers start with, and it is the number providers are often asked about first. In a thread where two designers asked what to charge for a seven-page redesign, the answers pointed back to what the client needs, their budget and the functionality, rather than a single per-page figure.

The practical distinction is this:

A page is one URL with its own content, such as an About page or one service page.
A template is a distinct layout that many pages can share, such as a home page, a standard content page, a service page, a blog post or a contact page with a form.

In our experience of how projects are scoped, designing and building a new template usually takes more effort than adding another page that reuses an existing template. Treat that as practical guidance, not a measured rule. Providers price differently, and some do charge per page. Content, approvals and migration of each page can still add real work.

So ask every provider two questions: how many templates does your quote assume, and what happens to the price if I add a page or a template? A commenter in a small-business pricing thread put it as evaluating cost based on the problem at hand rather than the number of pages. That is a fair way to read any quote.

Worked example: same page count, different effort

This example is illustrative. It uses no prices because the point is the shape of the work, not the amount.

Site A: seven pages, three templates. - Templates: home, standard content page, contact page with a simple form - Pages: Home, About, four service descriptions, Contact - The four service pages reuse one standard layout, so most effort goes into the home page, the standard layout and the content.

Site B: seven pages, five templates. - Templates: home, service page, team page, blog or news listing with post layout, and a contact page with booking - Pages: Home, one service page, Team, Blog listing, one blog post, Contact, Book - Each new layout needs its own design and build, and the booking feature needs an integration.

Both sites are "seven pages", but Site B asks for more design decisions, more build work and more testing. A quote based only on page count would hide that. A quote that lists templates and functionality makes the difference visible, and makes two bids easier to compare.

Content: copy, images and video

This is the most common gap. The question "who writes the content?" has no standard answer. It is whatever the scope says.

In a discussion about pricing a six-page redesign, one commenter noted that if the client already has the text and images, the cost should stay relatively low, but that content creation, UX strategy, graphics and photo sourcing can make expenses add up quickly.

Decide and write down:

Copy: Will you supply final text, will the provider write it from your notes, or will they edit what you provide? Is it new copy for every page or only key pages?
Images: Do you have usable photos? Will the provider use stock images, and who pays for licences? Is a photo shoot needed, and who books it?
Video and graphics: Who produces, edits and compresses any video? Are icons, illustrations or logo changes included?
Loading content: Who enters text and images into the finished site? This is often assumed to be included and often is not.
Deadline: When must your content arrive, and what happens to the timeline if it is late?

If you plan to supply copy yourself, be honest about whether it will be ready. Late content is one of the easiest ways for a project to run over.

SEO, migration and redirects

"SEO included" can mean anything from page titles to a full technical audit. Ask for specifics.

Things to put in writing:

On-page basics: page titles, meta descriptions, headings and image descriptions. Who writes them?
Technical basics: site structure, mobile layout, page speed and a sitemap. What is checked, and by whom?
Migration: which existing pages, posts, images and files move across, and which are retired. Who decides?
Redirects: every old URL that changes needs a redirect to its new equivalent. Is a redirect map included, and who tests it after launch?
Tracking: are analytics and any tags carried over, and who confirms they still work?

Changing URLs without redirects is a common way for a redesign to lose visitors from existing links and search results, so make this an explicit line item. We plan a separate guide on migration and redirects. Until then, use these questions as your minimum list.

Integrations and functionality

Anything that connects your site to another system, or does more than display pages, should be listed separately, because it is where extra charges tend to appear.

Common items to check:

Contact and enquiry forms, and where the submissions go
Booking or scheduling tools
Online payments or a shop
Email marketing sign-up and CRM connections
Analytics and advertising tags
Search, member logins or gated content
Third-party embeds such as maps, reviews or video
Language versions

For each one, write down whether it already exists and must be reconnected, or is new, and who holds the account and pays any subscription.

Also decide on accessibility early. The W3C notes that accessibility is most efficient to include from the very beginning of a project, and its design tips include basics such as sufficient text contrast. Ask what standard the provider builds to and how it is checked, so it is not a late add-on.

Approvals, revisions and timeline

Unlimited changes and vague sign-off are how scope creep starts. Agree the following before work begins:

Decision-maker: one named person who gives final approval, and who else gives feedback
Stages: what you approve at each point, such as structure, design for each template, and the finished build
Revision rounds: how many are included at each stage, and what a "round" means
Change requests: how new requests after approval are priced and scheduled
Timeline: start date, review windows, launch date and what delays the schedule
Launch and after: who pushes the site live, who checks it, and whether a support window for fixes is included
Ongoing costs: hosting, domain, updates and maintenance, which are usually separate from the project fee

Put your own response times in writing too. A provider who waits two weeks for feedback will reasonably re-plan the schedule.

Printable checklist

Copy this list, print it, and mark each line C (client), P (provider) or ? (undecided). Resolve every "?" before you ask for quotes, or ask each provider to state their assumption.

Pages and templates - ☐ Number of pages kept, new and removed: ____ Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Number of distinct templates: ____ Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Site structure and navigation: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Price if a page or template is added later: Owner: C / P / ?

Content - ☐ Writing or rewriting copy: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Sourcing or buying images: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Photography, video or graphics: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Loading content into the new site: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Content delivery deadline: ____

SEO and migration - ☐ Page titles, descriptions and headings: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Technical SEO checks: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Moving existing pages, posts and files: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Redirect map and post-launch testing: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Analytics and tags carried over: Owner: C / P / ?

Integrations and functionality - ☐ Forms and where they send data: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Booking, payments or shop: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Email, CRM and other connected tools: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Accounts and subscriptions held by: C / P / ? - ☐ Accessibility standard and checks: Owner: C / P / ?

Approvals, revisions and timeline - ☐ Final approver named: ____ - ☐ Approval stages: ____ - ☐ Revision rounds included per stage: ____ - ☐ How change requests are priced: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Start and launch dates: ____

After launch - ☐ Who launches and checks the site: Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Fix-it support window: ____ - ☐ Hosting, domain and maintenance (separate from project fee): Owner: C / P / ? - ☐ Training or handover: Owner: C / P / ?

If you are still weighing whether to do this yourself, DIY versus hiring a freelancer or agency shows how the same checklist changes the cost on each route.

Next step: compare quotes against your checklist

Send the same completed checklist to each provider and ask them to confirm, line by line, what their price includes. Two quotes with different totals may simply cover different work. Once the answers are in, put them side by side and look at the gaps rather than the headline figure.

The quote comparison guide shows how to do that. More background is in the guides hub.

Questions

Is the price based on page count or templates?

It depends on the provider. Page count is a common starting point, but distinct templates and functionality usually say more about how much design and build work is involved. Ask each provider how many templates their quote assumes and how much a new page or template adds.

Who normally writes the copy in a redesign?

There is no standard. Some providers expect you to supply final copy, some write it for an extra fee, and some only edit. Practitioners in pricing discussions note that content creation can add a lot to a project, so settle this in writing and set a date for content delivery.

What integrations commonly cost extra?

Booking tools, payments or a shop, CRM and email connections, member logins and custom features are the usual candidates, and so is reconnecting analytics and tags. A simple contact form is often included, but confirm where submissions go. Check who owns each account and pays any subscription.

How detailed should my scope be before asking for quotes?

Detailed enough that two providers would price the same work. At a minimum, state pages and templates, who handles content, SEO and migration, the integrations you need, approvers and revision rounds, and the support you expect after launch. If something is undecided, say so and ask providers to state their assumption.

Does SEO come included in a redesign?

Not necessarily. Some quotes cover only page titles and descriptions, while others include technical checks and redirects. Ask exactly which tasks are included and who tests redirects after launch.