Bluehost does not charge a separate fee to build a website yourself. Every hosting plan includes the WonderSuite website builder and the AI-assisted WonderStart setup, both of which are free with your hosting subscription. If you want a professional designer to build the site for you, Bluehost offers a marketplace with third-party design services, and prices for those range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on scope.
What Is Included Free with Bluehost Hosting
Every Bluehost shared hosting plan includes two DIY website building tools at no extra cost:
- WonderStart (AI-assisted setup): You answer two questions (what the site is about, your experience level) and Bluehost generates a starting layout using its WonderBlocks page builder. The result is a styled homepage, an About page, and a Contact page in around five minutes. Good for anyone who wants a draft to work from rather than starting with a blank screen.
- WonderSuite (full drag-and-drop builder): The complete Bluehost-native page builder. You can redesign your site, add sections, change fonts and colors, and manage pages without touching code. Competes with Elementor for usability on basic sites.
- WordPress (classic install): Bluehost is an official WordPress.org recommended host. One-click WordPress install puts you in front of the standard WordPress admin with full theme and plugin flexibility.
For most small business owners and bloggers, the free tools are sufficient. The Bluehost setup guide walks through all three options and explains which path suits which type of site.
Bluehost Professional Website Design: Costs and What You Get
If you do not want to build the site yourself, Bluehost offers professional design services through its marketplace and partner network. The pricing structure changed when Bluehost retired its older “Blue Sky” design package. Current options:
- Bluehost Marketplace professionals: Third-party designers and agencies available through the Bluehost dashboard. Prices range widely. A basic 5-page business site typically costs $200 to $600. A custom WooCommerce store starts around $800 to $2,000 depending on complexity.
- Bluehost Professional Services (managed): For clients who want Bluehost to handle setup, theme customization, and launch, managed onboarding packages are available via the sales team. These are quoted individually rather than listed publicly.
- Third-party WordPress designers: You can hire any WordPress developer independently of Bluehost. Sites like Upwork, Toptal, or local agencies charge $500 to $5,000+ for a full custom build, depending on scope.
The short answer: if the question is how much Bluehost charges to build a website for you, the realistic range for marketplace services is $200 to $2,000. If you are willing to use the free DIY tools, the cost is zero beyond your hosting plan.
WonderStart vs. Professional Services: Which Should You Use?
The choice depends on your time, budget, and how specific your design requirements are:
- Use WonderStart or WonderSuite if: you have a few hours to spend, your site is a standard brochure or blog, and you do not have highly specific branding requirements. Most small business owners can produce a clean, functional site in a day using these tools.
- Use a professional service if: you need a custom design that matches established brand guidelines, you are building an eCommerce store with custom logic, you are launching under a deadline and cannot afford to troubleshoot WordPress yourself, or you simply do not want to touch the technical side at all.
What the Bluehost Website Building Service Includes
When Bluehost offers professional website building through its marketplace services, a standard package typically includes:
- Custom WordPress theme installation and configuration
- Up to 5 to 10 pages built from your content
- Contact form, basic SEO plugin setup, and Google Analytics integration
- Mobile-responsive design
- One round of revisions
More comprehensive packages add keyword research, local directory listings (Google Business Profile, Yelp, Yahoo), blog post writing, and social media profile setup. These are the services referenced in older Bluehost marketing as the “full-service website service.” They are still available via marketplace partners but are not bundled into standard hosting plans.
How Much Does a WooCommerce Store Cost on Bluehost?
Building an online store with WooCommerce on Bluehost adds cost beyond the hosting plan. WooCommerce itself is a free plugin, but a functional store typically requires paid add-ons. Here is what to budget:
- WooCommerce plugin: free. Install from the WordPress plugin repository in one click.
- Theme with WooCommerce support: $0 (Storefront) to $60-100 one-time for a premium theme such as Astra or Flatsome. Budget around $59 for a reliable premium theme.
- Payment gateway: Stripe and PayPal are free to install. Transaction fees apply (Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). WooCommerce Payments has the same fee structure.
- Essential paid extensions: WooCommerce Subscriptions ($199/year), PDF Invoices ($79/year), and shipping plugins vary by carrier. A basic functional store can add $0-200 per year in extensions depending on what you sell.
- Professional setup via Bluehost Marketplace: A custom WooCommerce build through Bluehost's marketplace typically runs $800 to $2,000+, depending on the number of products, custom design work, and payment integrations required.
For a simple self-built store using a free theme, WooCommerce, and Stripe, the total cost beyond hosting is close to zero in year one. For a professional build with a premium theme, a marketplace developer, and essential extensions, budget $1,000 to $2,500 for the initial build plus $100-300 per year in recurring extension costs.
Verdict: How Much Does Bluehost Charge to Build a Website?
Nothing for DIY. WonderStart and WonderSuite are included with every Bluehost hosting plan. For professional design services via the Bluehost marketplace, expect to pay $200 to $2,000+ depending on scope. If your budget is tight and you have a few hours, the free tools are a capable starting point. If you need a polished result fast and can invest $500 or more, the marketplace design services or an independent WordPress developer are both reasonable options. Once your site is live and you need to manage your account credentials, see our guide on how to change your Bluehost cPanel password. If you are still evaluating the host, our overview of what Bluehost is covers the company, plans, and what is included on each tier.
