An e-commerce website in Nigeria can cost roughly ₦400,000 for a simple online store to ₦2,000,000+ for a more advanced or custom-built store in 2026. The final cost depends mainly on design, product catalogue size, variants, payments, delivery, inventory, platform and custom functionality.
If you are comparing online-store quotes, the price only becomes useful when you know what the quote includes. A store with 20 products, one payment method and manual fulfilment is not the same project as a catalogue with 2,000 products, multiple variants, automated delivery rules and an inventory system.
How much does an e-commerce website cost in Nigeria?
For planning purposes, a basic online store may sit around ₦400,000–₦700,000, a professional store around ₦700,000–₦1.2 million, and an advanced or custom store around ₦1.2 million–₦2.5 million+. A specialised custom platform can move beyond that range.
These are planning bands, not official fixed Nigerian industry prices. A developer may quote outside them because the platform, product catalogue, design, integrations, content and support model are different.
Small catalogue, standard checkout and straightforward fulfilment.
Stronger custom design, larger catalogue and better growth foundations.
Complex rules, integrations, inventory or custom business workflows.
What determines the cost of an e-commerce website?
The largest cost drivers are the parts that change the amount of planning, configuration, development and testing required.
Design
A theme or template can reduce design time. A custom shopping journey with clearer product discovery, stronger trust signals and a tailored checkout requires more design work.
Development
Platform configuration is different from custom development. A store that needs special pricing rules, dashboards or external systems needs more engineering and testing.
Number of products and variants
Uploading 20 products is not the same workload as structuring 2,000 products with sizes, colours, storage options, bundles or packages.
Payment, delivery and inventory
Paystack, Flutterwave, bank transfer, delivery zones, pricing rules, stock levels and order workflows all affect scope. Guest checkout is simpler than accounts, saved addresses and order history.
Integrations and custom functionality
CRM, POS, accounting, ERP, shipping, WhatsApp and other APIs can make the store more useful, but each integration adds configuration, testing and maintenance considerations.
How much does a basic e-commerce website cost?
A basic store can reasonably start around ₦400,000–₦700,000 when the catalogue and workflow are straightforward. It may include responsive design, categories, product pages, cart, checkout, one payment integration, basic order management, WhatsApp/contact integration, basic SEO, SSL and admin access.
It may not include hundreds of product uploads, advanced inventory, marketplace functionality, automated delivery, a mobile app, ERP integrations or custom business logic. The important question is not whether the price sounds low; it is whether the scope matches what the business needs.
How much does a professional e-commerce website cost?
A professional store may sit around ₦700,000–₦1.2 million when it needs a stronger catalogue experience and more deliberate growth foundations. It can include better custom design, product variations, reviews, coupons, filtering, a smoother checkout, delivery configuration, analytics, stronger SEO and performance work, more testing and more revisions.
For example, a growing beauty or fashion brand with a larger catalogue, product variants and a better checkout is a different project from a basic store with ten products. The budget rises because the business is asking the website to handle more decisions.
How much does a custom e-commerce website cost?
A custom e-commerce platform should be priced from requirements, not from a normal website page count. It can move into millions of naira when it includes a custom frontend, backend, database, admin dashboard, advanced inventory, multiple vendors, vendor dashboards, commissions, multiple warehouses, custom pricing rules, ERP/POS integration, subscriptions, wallets or specialised workflows.
That does not mean every custom project has the same price. It means the project is closer to building software than assembling a standard online store. The right first step is a written requirements document and a clear delivery plan.
WooCommerce vs Shopify vs custom e-commerce website
There is no universally best platform. The right choice depends on how much control, convenience and custom functionality the business needs.
| Factor | WooCommerce | Shopify | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | Lower–medium | Medium | High |
| Flexibility | High | Medium | Very high |
| Technical maintenance | Higher | Lower | Higher |
| Custom functionality | High | Medium–high | Very high |
| Best suited to | Growing stores wanting control | Fast launches and easier management | Specialised requirements |
WooCommerce may suit businesses wanting flexibility and control. Its total cost still includes hosting, maintenance, themes, extensions and development where needed. Shopify may suit businesses prioritising easier management and faster setup. Its subscription, apps, payment arrangements and development work still contribute to the total. Custom development may make sense when standard platforms cannot handle the business efficiently.
Shopify’s official payment-gateway guidance says merchants can connect with more than 100 payment providers worldwide and should check available options by country. WooCommerce’s official pricing and extension ecosystem likewise make it important to budget for the full ownership model rather than only the core platform.
How much does payment integration cost?
The developer’s setup or integration fee is separate from the payment gateway’s transaction fees. A simple Paystack or Flutterwave integration may be a modest part of the project, while multiple payment methods, reconciliation, refunds, webhooks or custom checkout logic increase the work.
Paystack’s official Nigeria pricing page currently lists local transactions at 1.5% + ₦100, with the ₦100 fee waived for transactions under ₦2,500 and local fees capped at ₦2,000 per transaction. It lists international transactions at 3.9% + ₦100. Flutterwave’s official Nigeria support page lists Nigerian local cards at 2.0% and international cards at 4.8% on the page currently available. Verify the provider’s current terms before launch because payment pricing can change.
Bank transfer may be useful for some Nigerian businesses, but it still needs a clear order-confirmation and fulfilment process. Multiple payment options can improve flexibility while also adding testing and reconciliation work.
How much does e-commerce delivery integration cost?
Manual fulfilment is usually the simplest starting point: the business receives an order and confirms delivery separately. Configured delivery zones, location-based pricing, delivery rules, third-party logistics integrations and automated tracking require increasing levels of setup and testing.
Nigerian delivery can involve different locations, fees, dispatch partners and customer communication. A quote should state whether it covers only an order notification, a set of delivery zones, or a full logistics workflow.
How much does it cost to maintain an e-commerce website?
There is no single maintenance price because online-store ownership has several different cost categories. Separate the one-time build from recurring platform costs, per-transaction costs and marketing.
- One-time: design, development, initial setup and configuration.
- Recurring: domain, hosting or Shopify subscription, premium plugins/apps, backups, security, support and content updates.
- Per transaction: payment gateway charges and delivery charges.
- Marketing: SEO, advertising, social media and content.
What does an e-commerce website cost for a small Nigerian business?
Here are three planning scenarios. They are illustrative examples, not quotes or guarantees.
Small fashion brand
20–50 products, variants, one payment gateway, basic delivery setup, WhatsApp/contact and responsive design.
Planning range: ₦400k–₦700kGrowing beauty brand
Larger catalogue, variants, reviews, coupons, filtering, better checkout, delivery configuration and analytics.
Planning range: ₦700k–₦1.2m+Custom marketplace
Multiple vendors, vendor dashboards, commissions, advanced inventory, custom admin and complex workflows.
Requirements-led estimateCan you build an e-commerce website with ₦200,000?
Possibly, but usually only with significant compromises. A ₦200,000 project may be possible for a very small catalogue using a template or hosted setup, limited customisation, one straightforward payment method and manual delivery.
It is unlikely to include a large product upload, custom storefront, advanced inventory, multiple integrations, automated fulfilment, extensive content work and ongoing support at the same time. Two developers can quote very different prices because they may be describing completely different scopes.
Compare the scope, not just the price. Ask how many products, which features, which integrations, how many revisions and what happens after launch.
What should be included in an e-commerce website quote?
Ask for a written scope before accepting the quote. At minimum, check:
The build checklist
- Design and whether it is custom or theme-based
- Development and platform configuration
- Product catalogue and product-upload responsibility
- Payment integration
- Delivery setup
- Mobile responsiveness
- SSL and security basics
- SEO basics
- Analytics
- Testing and deployment
- Training
- Maintenance and post-launch support
Also ask who owns the domain, hosting account, store access, source code where applicable and product data.
Should you sell through Instagram or build an e-commerce website?
You do not always have to choose one. Instagram can attract attention and start conversations. WhatsApp can help a customer ask questions and complete a sale manually. An e-commerce website gives products, checkout, information, trust and search visibility a more structured home.
Social media plus a website can be practical: use social platforms for discovery and conversations, then use the store for catalogue, checkout, order information and repeatable processes. The right timing depends on product demand, operational readiness and budget.
What should you look for when hiring an e-commerce developer?
Look for a portfolio that shows more than attractive screens. Ask whether the developer understands your business, can explain the scope clearly, has payment and mobile experience, understands SEO and security, offers a support plan, and will give you ownership and access to the store.
- Portfolio and relevant commerce experience.
- Understanding of your products and fulfilment process.
- Clear scope and transparent pricing.
- Payment, mobile, SEO and security competence.
- Maintenance, ownership and access after launch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an e-commerce website cost in Nigeria in 2026?
A practical planning range is roughly ₦400,000–₦700,000 for a basic online store, ₦700,000–₦1.2 million for a professional store, and ₦1.2 million–₦2.5 million or more for an advanced or custom store. Actual quotes depend on scope, platform, catalogue, integrations, design and support.
Can I build an e-commerce website with ₦200,000?
Possibly, but usually only with important compromises: a small catalogue, a template or hosted setup, limited customisation, simple delivery and little or no advanced inventory or automation. Compare the included scope before accepting the price.
Is WooCommerce cheaper than Shopify in Nigeria?
Neither is always cheaper. WooCommerce may have lower platform licensing but requires hosting, maintenance and sometimes paid extensions. Shopify bundles hosting and software into a subscription, while apps, payment arrangements and development still affect the total cost.
How much does Paystack integration cost?
The developer’s integration or setup fee is separate from Paystack’s transaction fees. Paystack’s official Nigeria pricing page lists local transactions at 1.5% plus ₦100, with the ₦100 fee waived below ₦2,500 and local fees capped at ₦2,000 per transaction; verify current terms before launch.
How much does it cost to maintain an online store?
Maintenance depends on the platform and workload. Budget separately for domain, hosting or platform subscription, premium plugins or apps, backups, security, technical support, content updates and marketing. Payment and delivery charges are separate again.
How much does a custom e-commerce website cost?
A custom e-commerce platform can move into millions of naira because it may include a custom frontend, backend, database, dashboards, inventory rules, vendors, integrations or specialised workflows. It should be estimated from written requirements rather than a page count.
How many products can an e-commerce website handle?
The number depends on the platform, hosting, catalogue structure, images, variants, search, inventory and integrations. A store with 20 products is a different workload from one with 2,000, even when both use the same platform.
Do I need a website if I already sell on Instagram?
Not always immediately. Instagram and WhatsApp can be useful for attention and conversations, while a website provides a structured place for products, checkout, information, trust and search visibility. Many businesses use both.
Final thought
The right e-commerce budget is the one that matches how your business needs to sell and fulfil orders. Start with the catalogue, customer journey, payment, delivery and operational requirements. Then compare what each developer is actually offering.
If you are still working out the broader cost of a website, read how much a website costs in Nigeria in 2026. When you are ready to discuss the right scope, you can review Drey Studio’s website development service or book a consultation.
Sources and current pricing references
- Paystack official pricing — local and international transaction fees.
- Flutterwave official Nigeria pricing support — payment-processing fee guidance.
- Shopify Nigeria payment gateways — payment-provider availability and country guidance.
- WooCommerce official pricing — platform and ownership-cost context.