What Should I Expect in Website Design Revisions? (Reddit Client Experiences + What's Normal)
What to expect during website design revisions — Reddit client experiences, revision-round norms, and expert guidance from a Vancouver, BC web design agency.
Most professional website packages include 1–2 rounds of revisions on the design phase, with additional rounds billed hourly. A 'round' means one consolidated batch of feedback, not 20 emails over three days
Quick answer: what's normal for website design revisions
Most professional website packages include 1–2 rounds of revisions on the design phase, with additional rounds billed hourly. A 'round' means one consolidated batch of feedback, not 20 emails over three days. Reddit's r/graphic_design and r/webdev consistently agree — clear round limits protect both the client and the designer from scope creep.
What a 'revision round' actually means
A revision round is one consolidated batch of feedback delivered as a single document, addressed by the designer, and then reviewed together. Sending three emails at 9am, one at noon, and two more at 4pm counts as chaos, not a round. The revision cycle is: designer delivers work, client reviews, client sends one document of feedback, designer implements, client reviews the result. That's one round.
Typical revision limits by package price
$2,500 template-based builds usually include one revision round. $5,000 semi-custom builds usually include two. $10,000+ custom builds may include three, or unlimited within a fixed timeline. Beyond the included rounds, expect hourly billing at $75–$175/hour depending on the agency. Our packages clearly specify revision limits in writing — if a proposal doesn't, ask before signing.
Why unlimited revisions is often a trap
Some agencies advertise 'unlimited revisions' as a selling point. In practice this means one of two things: (1) the base price is padded to account for endless changes, or (2) 'unlimited' comes with fine print — capped at 30 days, or a fixed number of hours, or with a subjective 'reasonable use' clause. Reddit designers universally warn against unlimited revision promises because they attract clients who don't decide, and projects that never launch.
What's a revision vs a new scope item
This is the fight that ruins projects. A revision: 'the headline copy is wrong, please change it.' A scope change: 'we've decided to add a booking system to page three.' A revision: 'move the CTA button up.' A scope change: 'let's add e-commerce.' A revision: 'change the accent colour to teal.' A scope change: 'redo the entire brand palette.' Any professional agency will call out scope changes in writing and quote them separately. Not doing so is what leads to $9,000 projects billed as $4,500.
How to make revision rounds efficient
Follow these six rules. (1) Consolidate all feedback from all stakeholders into one document. (2) Include screenshots with specific annotations. (3) Describe the problem, not the solution — 'the headline doesn't tell me what you do' not 'make the headline bigger.' (4) Assign one decision-maker. (5) Give feedback within the timeline agreed to (usually 3–5 business days). (6) Don't add new ideas mid-round — hold them for the next round or the next project. See How Do I Communicate My Design Preferences Without Being Difficult.
What good revision feedback looks like
Bad: 'I don't like the homepage, can we try something else?' Good: 'On the homepage: (1) the hero photo feels generic — can we use the team photo instead? (2) The CTA says "Learn More" — I want it to say "Book Free Consultation." (3) The testimonial section is below the fold — I want at least one testimonial in the first screen.' Every line is a specific problem the designer can act on.
How long revisions take
For a small business site, expect 3–5 business days per revision round: 1–2 days for the designer to implement, 1–2 days for you to review, and a day of buffer. Two revision rounds typically add 2 weeks to a project timeline. Delays here are the #1 reason websites launch late — usually because feedback took 3 weeks to arrive, not 3 days.
According to the data
According to a 2023 industry survey by Web Design Ledger, projects that exceeded 3 revision rounds finished on average 6 weeks late and 34% over budget. Projects that stayed within 2 rounds launched on time 78% of the time. Discipline on revision scope is one of the strongest predictors of project success — for both client and designer.
What we include at Cloud Peak Solutions
Every project we run includes 2 structured revision rounds, a single shared feedback document, and one client decision-maker. Additional rounds are billed transparently at our published hourly rate. See real launched work in the portfolio, or contact us for a written scope. Related reading: What's the Typical Process for Designing a Website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a professional small business website cost in Canada?
Most small business websites in Canada cost between $1,500 and $8,000 for a one-time build, or $23–$95 per month on a managed plan. See our current packages for exact pricing.
How long does it take to build a new website?
A typical small business website takes 2–4 weeks from kickoff to launch. Larger custom builds with e-commerce or booking systems usually take 4–8 weeks.
Do you handle hosting and ongoing maintenance?
Yes. Every Cloud Peak Solutions plan includes hosting, SSL, backups, security updates, and monthly content edits so your site stays fast and secure.
About the Author
This article was written by the team at Cloud Peak Solutions, a Vancouver-based web design and digital marketing agency helping small businesses across Canada and the US get more customers online through professional web design, local SEO, and Google Business Profile management. Learn more at cloudpeak.solutions.
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