I find with standard websites I typically figure it will take 15-25 hours from concept to finished product.

http://www.slideaway.ca - portfolio

http://www.modsuperstar.ca - now with 23% more iron

I was hoping this thread would spark more interest.
Thanks for the response though, interesting to know.

Does that include client meetings/phone calls/emails and site revisions?

I would spend at least 40 hours on the project you described. I often go over the number of hours I calculate at the beginning. But that is because I'm trying to learn new techniques with every project. If I were to use the same things that I'm used to I would probably underestimate each project. But I don't mind going over, because it's a learning experience.

It really is a learning experience on every project.
I usually work with the same mindset when I am doing freelance, but at the day job, it is a bit more tough because the whip is constantly being cracked for us to be billable 90% of the time. It is a balance however, I usually pad a little bit for my own learning sake, so I can have some time to try the new technique.

It is good to hear that number though Ivan, I don't think that is too long at all, but since I do not chat too often with other designers, I was wondering if maybe it was just taking me obsurdly long to get the job done. Good design, which is well thought out should take some time. What kind of site do people honestly expect to get in 10 hours?

It is a tough spot to be in some times at my day job becasue clients want these extravagant sites, but get sticker shock when they see the estimate. It is a relatively new start up company however, so the portfolio is still not what I would like it to be, and I think we just don't have enough quality pieces yet to attract the sort of clientele I would like us to be doing work for. But then, how do you get a kick ass folio built up when people are only willing to pay you enough to throw a site together? The answer is working your ass off double time to give them twice the site they paid for. Without a smokin' folio though I suppose you really just can't walk around telling people "trust me, you give me enough time and money and I will give you a reallllly cool and functional site".

Well, that is my rant.

All in good time.

At my last job they usually estimated at least 100 hours, usually more. But, this includes everything....meetings, site-mapping, design, building/coding, programming, templatizing, Q&A, SEO, content management, etc, etc.... And the client received an award winning custom website.
For freelance work, I've begun to make it a $1000 minimum job. Or, I charge $50 per hour and give a firm estimate. If the client's a cheap bastard then I don't want to work with them anyways. If they understand that you have to spend money to make money then I'm happy and they're happy and a nice website is created.
My advice: Be firm and confident! I'm not saying blatantly overcharge but your service is valuable and the customer should pay exactly what your service is worth.
Web design isn't taken as seriously as most of the other media jobs today but it's becoming more and more serious and businesses are beginning to realize that if they want to make money they probably need a nice website.

Thank you for starting up this thread. This is always a tough part of my work as well. I do freelance work as a site jobs making websites. But the people who come to me for work usually are very cheap and don't realize how much work goes into it all. I always try to add something new to each website I create, and that usually makes it take a little longer. The last site I put together was just like the one you described for your hypothetical, and it took me about 35 hours. Apparently, from what I've heard I'm grossly under charging. I'm not going to say exactly how much or I'll look like a fool. Hehe.

Thanks for the insight.
- JoshuaTree