37 Latest Web Design Statistics For 2024: The Definitive List
With over 1.8 billion websites on the internet, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your website is well designed and fit for purpose.
Website design is important, and if you’re in the process of designing a new website, you need to know the industry secrets in order to make the best design decisions.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the latest web design statistics to help you learn more about website design and how it affects your website visitors.
Editor’s top picks – web design statistics
These are our most interesting statistics about web design:
- 59% of people prefer browsing ‘beautiful and well-designed’ sites than basic ones. (Source: Adobe)
- 39% of web users are drawn to color more than any other visual element when visiting websites. (Source: PR Newswire2)
- Most mobile users expect a website to load in 3 seconds or less. (Source: Web Performance Guru)
General web design statistics
The way your website is designed can have a huge effect on user experience, sales, and more. Here are some general web design statistics that highlight the importance of good website design.
1. 59% of people prefer browsing ‘beautiful and well-designed’ sites than basic ones
It’s a common belief that if a website does its job, it doesn’t really matter what it looks like. And whilst this is partially true, Adobe found that many web users do care a little bit about how a website looks. According to Adobe, given 15 minutes to browse, web users would rather explore a beautiful and well-designed website than a simple one.
Source: Adobe
2. First impressions of websites are 94% related to design
For many companies, the first interaction customers have with their business is via their website. According to a study published on Research Gate, around 94% of first impressions are design-related. That’s why it’s so important for businesses to get it right when it comes to web design.
Source: Research Gate
3. The average cost of designing a basic website is $3200
Although it’s possible to design your own website using themes and tools, many companies choose to have their websites professionally designed. This can help to ensure that your designs are well-rounded and function well.
The good news is that if you want to go down the professional route, it won’t break the bank. On average, the cost of a basic website is around $3200, however many web designers charge less than $2000.
Source: GoodFirms
4. It takes 2 months on average to design a website with basic features
Working with web designers is usually seamless and hassle-free. From the point of ideation to delivery, most web design projects take around two months. So if you’re thinking about working with a professional, make sure you speak to your designer about timescales so that you can adequately prepare.
Source: GoodFirms
5. It takes 0.05 seconds for users to create an opinion about your website
When a visitor reaches your website, you have a frighteningly small window to make a good impression and grab their attention. A study conducted by Behaviour and Information Technology found that it takes only 50 milliseconds for users to form an opinion about your website and your business.
And while the majority of that opinion will be informed by design, website load times play a factor too. Fortunately, having a fast website is easier than ever thanks to cloud hosting platforms, and CDN providers such as NitroPack.
Source: Behaviour and Information Technology
6. Around 50% of internet users say that website design is a crucial factor in formulating an opinion about a brand
Unsurprisingly, the way your website is designed can have a big effect on what people think about your business.
A study published by PR Newswire found that over half of internet users said web design was a crucial factor in formulating an opinion about a business. So, a well-designed website really can do wonders for your business.
Source: PR Newswire
7. 39% of web users are drawn to color more than any other visual element when visiting websites
When you choose a color for your business branding, it shouldn’t be a random decision. Color can have a big effect on users, and one study found that website visitors are drawn more to color than any other visual element on your website. So be sure to do some research on color psychology before choosing the color scheme for your website and branding.
Source: PR Newswire2
8. Low conversion rate is the top reason people redesign websites
Websites should be built for conversions, and if you find that your website isn’t converting as well as it should be, it could be because of your web design. In a survey by GoodFirms, web designers reported that 80.8% of web redesign projects are a result of poor conversions rates.
Source: GoodFirms
9. 7 out of 10 small business websites don’t include a call to action
Fancy website design elements are all well and good, but if you don’t have a call to action, your website is unlikely to convert as well as you’d like. However, calls to action are one element of web design that many businesses overlook. Reportedly, 7 out of 10 small business websites don’t include a call-to-action.
Source: Small Business Trends
10. 84.6% of web designers said that crowded web design was the most common mistake by small businesses
Although it’s important to ensure that your website is well-designed, you should try to steer clear of overcrowding. In a survey of over 200 web designers, 86.4% of them agreed that the most common web design mistakes small businesses make is overcrowded designs.
Source: GoodFirms
Mobile responsive web design statistics
No matter what your website focuses on, you can be sure that a good percentage of your traffic will come from mobile users. Here are some web design statistics related to mobile website design.
11. 54.8% of internet traffic came from mobile devices in 2021
In 2021, over half of the world’s internet traffic came from mobile phones and tablets. For that reason, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile. Although this is the case, many businesses overlook this and spend too much time optimizing their designs for desktop users.
Source: Statista1
12. 61% of internet users have a higher opinion of companies with mobile-friendly website design…
As you can see from the website statistics above, people are keen to use their mobile to search the web. In addition to that, people have a lot of expectations about how well websites should function on mobile devices. According to WebFX over half of web users have a higher opinion of websites with a responsive web design.
Source: WebFX
13. …And over 50% report they are less likely to engage with sites with bad mobile-friendly website designs
In addition to that, websites that function poorly on mobile devices can also cause users to become disengaged. Over half of web users reported that they are less likely to use sites that don’t have mobile-friendly website designs.
Source: WebFX
14. Around ¾ of users are more likely to return to a website if it’s mobile-friendly…
One goal that many website owners hope to achieve is encouraging return traffic. According to statistics published by WebFX, this goal will be easier to achieve if your website is mobile-friendly. Around 75% of users reported they’re more likely to return to a website that is mobile-friendly.
Source: WebFX
15. …And 67% say they’re more likely to make a purchase if a website is mobile-friendly
And, if your website is used for sales and marketing purposes, then mobile friendliness should be a top priority. The same article by WebFX stated that 67% of web users are more likely to make a purchase from a website if it is easy to use on a mobile device.
Source: WebFX
16. 32% of small businesses already have a mobile app
In order to make digital content easily accessible for users, many small businesses choose to create apps that are specifically designed for use on mobile devices. As many as 34% of SMB’s already have dedicated mobile apps. Since designing a website that is both desktop and mobile-friendly can be a challenge, building an app can sometimes be a good option for businesses.
Source: Top Design Firms
17. Most mobile users expect a website to load in 3 seconds or less
Mobile users have high expectations when it comes to website design, and they’re not willing to settle for less simply because they’re using mobile devices. According to Web Performance Guru, most mobile users will expect a website to load fully in less than 3 seconds.
Source: Web Performance Guru
18. If a website doesn’t work on their mobile most users will only try to access a website or application twice before moving on
In addition to this, users have little patience for websites that don’t load easily on their mobile devices. In fact, most people are only willing to try to load an unresponsive website twice before they move on to a different website.
Source: Web Performance Guru
E-commerce web design statistics
For e-commerce stores, web design that is optimized for making sales is really important. Here are some facts and web design statistics related to e-commerce store design
19. 90% of shoppers believe image quality is the most important factor when making online purchases
When online shopping, people are keen to get a good look at what they’re purchasing before adding it to their basket. According to Meero, online shoppers want to see high-quality product images when online shopping. In fact, 90% of shoppers reported that this is the most important factor for them when making online purchases.
Source: Meero
20. Using larger product photos can increase sales by more than 9%
If you’re keen to improve your sales figures, a simple change to your web designs could be just what you need. According to Meero, increasing the size of your images can increase your sales figures by as much as 9%. However, although bigger is better, make sure increasing the image size doesn’t reduce the image quality.
Source: Meero
21. Red buy buttons can increase sales and conversions on e-commerce websites can increase by as much as 34%
Every aspect of your website will have some impact on your customers. In fact, things as simple as the color of your buy buttons can have a huge impact on sales. A study by CXL showed that the best color for buy buttons is red, and using red buy buttons can increase sales by as much as 34%.
Source: CXL2
22. 60% of people said that usability is the most important web design characteristic when it comes to online shopping
When it comes to web design for e-commerce, the majority of customers just want the website to be easy to use. According to Statista, 60% of web users say usability is the most important web design characteristic when online shopping.
By putting a strong focus on usability, you can reduce churn and increase customer retention.
Source: Statista2
On-page web design statistics
When it comes to web design, it’s all about the user’s on-page experience. Here are some web design statistics that will tell you more about how users interact with websites and can help inform your design decisions.
23. Users spend around 6 seconds looking at a logo before moving on
Logo design is an important part of your business branding, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by web users. According to an eye-tracking study published by Missouri University of Science and Technology, users spend over 6 seconds on average looking at business logos.
That’s more time than they spend looking at any other element on your website.
Source: Missouri University of Science and Technology
Note: If you need help getting a professional logo, try one of these online logo makers.
24. They also spend around 6 seconds looking at the navigation bar
After logos, users spend the second-longest amount of time looking at the navigation bar. According to the Missouri University of Science and Technology study, people spent more than 6 seconds on average viewing the navigation bar. So when it comes to designing your website, be sure to spend time making your navbar useful and attractive.
Source: Missouri University of Science and Technology
25. Users spend 80% of their time viewing information on the left of the page
Where you place the information on your website can mean the difference between a successful business and an unsuccessful one. According to NNGroup, people spend as much as 80% of their time on your website looking at the left side of the page. For this reason, it’s a good idea to place important information and images in this prominent position.
Source: NNGroup2
26. 95% of users view all or part of an introductory paragraph if it is bolded
Most homepages include some sort of header and a body of introductory text. However, if you want this text to grab the reader’s attention, it’s a good idea to make it large and bold. It may seem obvious, but bold text works, and 95% of people view at least part or all of the introductory paragraph if it’s bolded.
Source: CXL
27. Images hold user attention for around ½ a second longer than text does…
Want something to stand out to your visitors? Try presenting it in an image format. According to CXL, images hold a reader’s attention for 1/2 a second longer than text does. So where possible, it’s a good idea to use infographics and images in place of text.
Source: CXL
28. …And large high-quality images are the most appealing
And, if you plan on using images to get your message across, make sure that they are high quality. CXL also found that users find high-quality images more appealing than small, or low-quality ones.
Source: CXL
29. Website visitors spend 57% of their time above the fold…
The fold is the part of the screen that users can’t see past without scrolling. According to a study by NNGroup, web visitors now spend 57% of their time on a website above the fold. In terms of website design, this means that it’s a good idea to put most of your important information above the fold.
However, in the past, the fold was much more important than it is today. In 2010, users spent around 80% of their time above the fold. There are a few reasons why this may be the case.
It could be related to the changing technology landscape; viewers are increasingly accessing websites on different types of devices, with different screen sizes, and different folds.
It could be that designers are getting better at their jobs and successfully inviting users to scroll down. Or it could simply be that the longer users have had to get used to navigating the internet, the more conditioned we have become to scroll.
Source: NNGroup
30. … and 81% of their time viewing the first three screenfuls of info
While people are more willing to scroll past the fold now than a decade ago, there is still clearly an interaction cost to scrolling. People like to scroll as little as possible, which is why 4/5 of users don’t go past the first three screenfuls.
Source: NNGroup
31. 65% of viewing time above the fold is focused on the top half of the viewport
In other words, website visitors spend most of their time looking at content towards the top of the page. So, it’s a good idea to lead with the most important information, and place a call-to-action above the fold and on the top half of the page.
Source: NNGroup
32. 88.5% of website designers believe slow loading is the main reason people leave a website
The way you design your website can have a big effect on load speeds. Too many design elements, images, and effects can cause your website to load too slowly, and this is a big deal. Not only will your website be penalized by Google for slow loading, but it can also cause visitors to leave your website altogether.
According to a survey by GoodFirms, 88.5% of website designers believe that slow loading is the main reason people leave websites, and therefore fast loading should be a priority when designing your website.
Source: GoodFirms
33. 73.1% of website designers believe lack of responsiveness is the main reason people leave a website
Responsiveness is also extremely important when designing your website. If buttons and other elements don’t respond quickly when users click them, they may leave your website and go to a competitor website. 73.1% of website designers think that this is the main reason people leave websites.
Source: GoodFirms
Web design trends statistics
Staying up-to-date and on-trend when it comes to website design is essential. Here are some web design statistics related to current and future trends in the industry
34. By 2030, the number of website designers in the US will exceed 200,000
As of 2020, the number of website designers in the US was around 179,000. However, as the industry continues to grow, and more businesses realize the importance of professional web design, this number is expected to grow. By 2030, Statista predicts there will be around 205,500 people employed as website designers in the US.
Source: Statista3
35. 88.5% of website designers reported that ‘Flat design’ is currently the most popular design trend
Gone are the days when website designers tried to evidence their expertise with flashy designs and stylistic effects. These days, flat design, a minimalist approach to web design that utilizes simple visual effects and emphasizes functionality is more popular. According to 88.5% of website designers, this is the most popular trend in the industry at the moment.
Source: GoodFirms
36. 61.5% of website designers said that they are currently using expressive typography in their designs
Another popular trend in the web design industry right now is expressive typography. This refers to the usage of creative fonts to emphasize meaning or create a certain ‘vibe’. In a GoodFirms survey, 65.1% of website designers said this was one of the web design trends they are following right now.
Source: GoodFirms
37. 42% of small businesses plan to build mobile apps in the future
With such a large proportion of web searches coming from mobile devices, more and more businesses are keen to optimize for mobile users. One of the easiest ways to do this is via mobile apps. According to Top Design Firms, 42% of small businesses are planning to take the plunge and develop mobile apps in the near future.
Source: Top Design Firms
Web design statistics sources
Final thoughts
So there you have it – 37 interesting facts and design statistics that tell us more about the state of web design.
The importance of web design is a big deal. So be sure to consider these statistics when evaluating your approach to web design.
What’s next? If you offer web design or development services, I recommend checking out our article on additional revenue strategies for web designers. These strategies work great for freelancers and agencies alike.
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