Website and online store for a tile and bathroom showroom: costs, timelines and a complete guide

Building a website for a tile and bathroom showroom is one of the most underrated investments in the trade — and one of the most rewarding when it is done right. A customer looking for porcelain, ceramic tiles, sanitaryware or bathroom furniture almost always starts with Google and with images: they want to see how a tile looks on a wall, what the format is, whether it is in stock and how much it costs per square metre. If your showroom does not show up online with a clear catalogue and strong visuals, the order goes to the competitor who invested in their digital storefront.

In this guide we break down exactly what such a site costs in 2026 (all figures are in euros), what the realistic timelines are, what each price tier includes, which costs are hidden, and how to avoid the classic mistakes. The goal is to leave you with a clear sense of budget and priorities, not with vague talk.

We cover the three models that genuinely apply to this business: the catalogue site (a shop window without direct sales), a full online store with cart and checkout, and the hybrid "showroom + enquiry" model, which is often the smartest starting point in this highly visual niche.

Why a tile store has specific needs online

Tiles and bathrooms are not sold like clothes or books. The product is heavy, bulky, sold by the square metre or by the box, carries technical parameters (format, thickness, PEI wear rating, slip resistance R9–R13) and is intensely visual. That creates requirements a standard template rarely covers well.

Units and packaging. Customers ask "how much do I need for a 12 m² bathroom." A good site automatically calculates the number of boxes from the area plus a wastage allowance (typically +10%).
Large-format visualisation. You need high-resolution images, zoom, "in room" galleries and ideally a 3D configurator or a "bathroom set" tag that groups tiles, sanitaryware and furniture into one finished look.
Technical filters. By colour, effect (marble, wood, concrete), format (60x60, 60x120, 120x280), application (floor, wall, façade, pool), slip-resistance class.
Stock and batches. Dye lots run out; the customer wants to know whether there is enough of a single batch for the whole project.
Local selling. A large share of revenue comes from people in the region who later visit in person. Local SEO and clear showroom details are therefore essential.

The three website models for a tile and bathroom store

1. Catalogue site (shop window)

Shows products with prices and specs but without online payment. The customer browses, filters, builds a list and sends an enquiry or visits the showroom. Ideal for a start, for B2B wholesale, and for retailers whose logistics and exact quotes require human contact.

2. Full online store

Cart, card payment, delivery, invoices, integration with stock software. It makes sense when you also sell lighter items (adhesives, grout, accessories, bathroom furniture, taps) and want real online orders across the whole country.

3. Hybrid "showroom + bathroom configurator" model

Combines the visual power of the catalogue with enquiry and quoting tools. The customer assembles a bathroom online, gets an indicative estimate and books a visit or consultation. This model usually delivers the highest conversion for a mid-sized showroom because it respects the real buying journey.

Real price ranges (in euros)

The figures below are indicative market ranges for 2026. All prices are in euros (€). Where exactly your project lands depends on the number of products, the level of design, the integrations and the features.

Tier	Indicative price	Suitable for
Brochure showroom site (5–7 pages, gallery, contact, map)	~€500–2000	A small store wanting presence and local SEO
Custom business site (catalogue up to ~300 products, filters, enquiry)	~€2000–6000	A showroom presenting its range without online payment
Online store (cart, checkout, delivery, m² calculator)	~€3000–15000	Active online selling of tiles and bathroom accessories
Complex project (ERP integration, B2B pricing, configurator, multilingual)	€8000+	A store chain, distributor or large importer

A €300 offer for an "online store" almost always means an off-the-shelf template with your logo — no custom design, no area calculator, no serious SEO foundation. Conversely, €25,000 for a simple catalogue is often paying for a name rather than a result. The sensible zone for a quality, ranking site for a mid-sized showroom runs from a few thousand euros upward depending on features.

What you get at each tier

Price is not the goal in itself — what matters is what it covers. Here is what each tier should genuinely include so you do not end up with a "finished site" that does not sell.

Base tier (brochure): mobile-responsive design, up to ~7 pages, a project gallery, a "Showroom" page with map and opening hours, a contact form, basic SEO (titles, meta descriptions, Google indexing).
Catalogue tier: everything in the base tier plus a product catalogue with filters, product pages with specs and availability, a wishlist, an enquiry form with file attachments (a plan/drawing), a blog for SEO.
Online store: everything in the catalogue tier plus a cart, card and cash-on-delivery payment, shipping calculation by weight/volume, automatic invoices, a "how many boxes do I need" calculator, email/SMS notifications, an orders dashboard.
Enterprise tier: all of the above plus synchronisation with stock software/ERP, differentiated B2B pricing, a bathroom configurator, multilingual support, advanced reports and user roles.

Template versus custom design: the comparison

This is the decision that most affects the final result. Here is the honest comparison, specifically for the tile and bathroom trade.

Off-the-shelf template

Pros: cheaper to start, fast, sufficient for a very small store.
Cons: looks like hundreds of other sites, weak control over large-format visualisation, heavy code (slow loading), hard to add specific features like an area calculator.

Custom design to a brief

Pros: a unique identity that sets your brand apart; optimised speed and Core Web Vitals; features tailored for tiles (filters, configurator, bathroom sets); better SEO and higher conversion.
Cons: a higher upfront investment and a longer timeline.

For a store whose product is entirely visual, custom design almost always pays off — the buyer chooses with their eyes. That is exactly what we do: a site built by a professional designer, powered by our own in-house AI tool, with a unique design to your brief, no templates and strong visual effects. And most importantly, with no risk: you do not pay until you have seen the finished design. See examples and start your project at http://wdesigner.net .

Timelines: how long it really takes

Timelines depend on the volume of content (product photos and data are usually the bottleneck) and on the level of functionality.

Brochure site: 5–10 working days.
Catalogue site (up to ~300 products): 3–5 weeks, with product entry often taking longer than the design itself.
Online store: 4–8 weeks depending on integrations (payment, delivery, stock).
ERP/configurator project: 2–4 months.

Speed-up is possible when you already have product photos and a spec table. If you rely on the studio for photography and descriptions, add time — but you gain in quality and SEO.

Hidden costs few people mention

The build is a one-off, but the site also has running costs. Plan for them upfront to avoid surprises (figures in euros, per year unless stated otherwise):

Domain (.com or local): ~€10–30 per year.
Hosting: ~€50–200 per year for a catalogue; for an image-heavy store — ~€150–600 per year for faster/cloud hosting.
SSL certificate: often free (Let's Encrypt); a premium one if needed ~€30–80 per year.
Maintenance and updates: ~€30–200 per month depending on scope (security, updates, small changes, backups).
Payment processor: a fee of ~1–2.5% per transaction on card payments.
SEO and content: to grow actively on Google — ~€300–1000 per month depending on ambition; the minimum is technical SEO at build time.
Product photography: if you lack quality visuals, budget for it — for a visual trade this is a key investment.

Checklist before you order a site

Before you sign, run through this list — it saves misunderstandings and extra costs:

Who enters the products — you or the studio? How many products at launch?
Do you have a structured catalogue (SKU, format, price/m², stock, photos)?
Do you need an area and wastage calculator?
Will you sell online, or only take enquiries?
Is a link to stock/accounting software required?
Who owns the code and content after handover? (The answer should be: you.)
What do the warranty and post-launch maintenance cover?
Has the mobile version been tested — over 70% of visits come from phones.

Common mistakes that cost money

The most expensive mistakes in this trade are predictable: heavy, unoptimised images that slow the site down; missing filters that make customers give up; a catalogue without stock levels that leads to disappointed orders; and neglected local SEO that leaves the store invisible to people nearby. Another frequent mistake is paying in full upfront to an unverified provider — which is exactly why the "pay after you see the design" model protects you directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a tile and bathroom online store cost?

Indicatively, from ~€3000 for a simpler store to €15,000 and up for one with an area calculator, integrations and custom design. A catalogue site without payment starts around ~€2000, and a plain brochure site around ~€500. The exact price depends on the number of products and features.

How long does it take?

Brochure — 5–10 days; catalogue — 3–5 weeks; full online store — 4–8 weeks. If you have photos and product data ready, the timeline shortens considerably.

Should I choose a template or a custom design?

For a visual product like tiles, custom design almost always wins — a faster site, better visualisation and higher conversion. A template only does the job for a very small store on a limited budget.

Can I add products myself afterwards?

Yes. A properly built site has a simple admin panel from which you add products, photos, prices and stock without being technical. A short training session can be arranged.

Will my store show up in Google?

With technical SEO at build time, a proper catalogue structure and local optimisation — yes. For durable rankings on competitive terms, ongoing SEO work plus content (a blog, bathroom renovation guides, tile-selection advice) is needed.

What is the risk if I do not like the design?

With us the risk is zero — we build the design first, you see it, and you only pay once you are satisfied. For a unique site dedicated to your showroom, built quickly and effectively, tell us about your project at our site.