How to Build a Website for Free From Scratch

in tutorialweb · 6 min read

Clear step-by-step guide for beginners and entrepreneurs to create, style, and deploy a static website for free using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and

Overview

how to build a website for free from scratch is a practical, step-by-step guide to create a functional website without spending money. This guide walks you through planning, writing HTML, styling with CSS, adding JavaScript, and deploying on a free host so your site is live on the web.

What you will learn and

why it matters:

  • How to structure content with HTML for accessibility and search engines.
  • How to apply responsive styles with CSS so the site works on phones and desktops.
  • How to add basic interactivity with JavaScript.
  • How to publish your site using free tools like GitHub Pages.

These skills let you ship landing pages, portfolios, and MVPs without budget barriers.

Prerequisites:

  • A computer with internet access.
  • A free GitHub account (or willingness to create one).
  • Basic familiarity with text editing (VS Code recommended).

Time estimate: ~3-6 hours total depending on customization.

Step 1:

Plan content and structure - how to build a website for free from scratch

Action to take:

  1. Decide site purpose: portfolio, product landing page, blog, or business info.
  2. Sketch pages: Home, About, Contact, and any product or blog pages.
  3. List main content blocks: header, hero, features, contact form, footer.
  4. Choose a color palette and two fonts (Google Fonts).

Why you are doing it:

Planning prevents rework and keeps development focused on user goals and SEO. A small content plan helps you prioritize and complete a simple MVP fast.

Example checklist:

  1. Define goal and target audience.
  2. Write 3-5 headlines and one paragraph for each page.
  3. Choose site title and logo text.

Expected outcome:

A one-page or small multi-page site outline and basic content ready to paste into HTML files.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: Scope creep - adding too many features. Fix: Limit to 3 main sections for initial launch.
  • Problem: No assets (images/logos). Fix: Use free images from Unsplash or icons from Font Awesome free CDN.

Time estimate: ~20 minutes

Step 2:

Create project files and local workspace

Action to take:

  1. Install VS Code (or use a simple editor).
  2. Create a project folder, e.g., mysite.
  3. Inside, create index.html, styles.css, script.js, and an assets folder.

Why you are doing it:

A consistent folder structure keeps files organized and makes deployment predictable.

Commands and examples:

Use the terminal to create the structure:

mkdir mysite
cd mysite
echo "<!doctype html>" > index.html
mkdir assets
touch styles.css script.js

Expected outcome:

A minimal project directory with the core files ready for edits.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: Files open in wrong encoding. Fix: Ensure UTF-8 in your editor settings.
  • Problem: Browser caching shows old files. Fix: Use hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R) or disable cache in dev tools.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Step 3:

Build the HTML skeleton

Action to take:

  1. Open index.html and add semantic HTML structure: header, main, footer.
  2. Insert placeholder content from your plan.
  3. Link to styles.css and script.js.

Why you are doing it:

Semantic HTML improves accessibility, SEO, and makes styling predictable.

Example HTML (simple starter, keep as single code block):

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
 <meta charset="utf-8" />
 <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" />
 <title>My Site</title>
 <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css" />
</head>
<body>
 <header>
 <h1>My Site</h1>
 <nav><a href="#features">Features</a> <a href="#contact">Contact</a></nav>
 </header>
 <main>
 <section id="hero">
 <h2>Welcome</h2>
 <p>Short value proposition paragraph.</p>
 </section>
 <section id="features"></section>
 <section id="contact"></section>
 </main>
 <footer>© 2025 My Site</footer>
 <script src="script.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Expected outcome:

A working HTML page you can open in a browser and view content structure.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: Missing linked CSS/JS. Fix: Check file paths and refresh.
  • Problem: Mobile layout looks broken. Fix: Ensure meta viewport tag is present as shown.

Time estimate: ~30 minutes

Step 4:

Style the site with CSS

Action to take:

  1. Add a responsive base style in styles.css.
  2. Use a CSS reset or set box-sizing globally.
  3. Create layout with flexbox or grid and add typography rules.

Why you are doing it:

CSS transforms plain HTML into a usable, attractive interface that adapts to devices.

Example CSS snippets:

Use these core rules in styles.css:

Expected outcome:

A readable, responsive page with styled header, content blocks, and footer.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: Styles not applied. Fix: Confirm link rel and path; check browser dev tools for errors.
  • Problem: Fonts look wrong. Fix: Ensure fonts are loaded from Google Fonts if used and referenced correctly.

Time estimate: ~40 minutes

Step 5:

Add JavaScript for interactivity

Action to take:

  1. Implement small behaviors: mobile nav toggle, smooth scrolling, and simple form validation.
  2. Keep JS unobtrusive and feature-detect where needed.

Why you are doing it:

JavaScript improves user experience without requiring server-side code.

Example JS snippet:

Expected outcome:

Clickable links that smoothly scroll to sections and a more polished feel.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: querySelector returns null. Fix: Ensure elements exist before attaching listeners or run code after DOMContentLoaded.
  • Problem: JS errors block execution. Fix: Open dev tools console to locate and fix errors.

Time estimate: ~25 minutes

Step 6:

Initialize Git and push to GitHub

Action to take:

  1. Create a free GitHub account and new repository named mysite (or your domain).
  2. Initialize git locally, commit, and push to GitHub.

Why you are doing it:

GitHub provides free hosting via GitHub Pages and version control for your project.

Commands and examples:

Expected outcome:

Your project is in a remote repository on GitHub and ready for deployment.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: Authentication fails. Fix: Use GitHub CLI auth, PATs, or set up SSH keys; follow GitHub instructions.
  • Problem: Remote branch conflicts. Fix: Pull remote changes or force push only if safe.

Time estimate: ~15 minutes

Step 7:

Deploy on GitHub Pages (free)

Action to take:

  1. In your GitHub repo, open Settings > Pages.
  2. Select branch “main” and folder “/” (root) or /docs if used, then Save.
  3. Wait a few minutes and visit the provided URL, typically your_username.github.io

Why you are doing it:

GitHub Pages hosts static sites for free and integrates with your git workflow.

Expected outcome:

io URL accessible to the public.

Common issues and fixes:

  • Problem: Page shows 404. Fix: Ensure index.html is in the root or selected folder; ensure branch published.
  • Problem: Changes not visible. Fix: Wait a few minutes and clear cache or re-deploy by committing again.

Time estimate: ~10 minutes

Testing and Validation

How to verify it works:

  • Checklist:
  1. Open the site in desktop and mobile browser.
  2. Verify header, content sections, and footer display correctly.
  3. Test navigation links and any forms or interactive elements.
  4. Validate HTML with validator.w3.org and fix critical warnings.
  5. Check site loads over HTTPS (GitHub Pages provides HTTPS).

Run a quick functional test:

  1. Open browser console and ensure no uncaught errors.
  2. Use Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools) for basic performance and accessibility checks.

Time estimate: ~15 minutes

Common Mistakes

  1. Broken links and wrong paths - Use relative paths carefully and test locally using file server or live server extension.
  2. Overcomplicated design before content - Start with simple responsive layout and iterate.
  3. Not testing mobile - Test on emulators and real devices; use media queries early.
  4. Pushing sensitive data - Never commit API keys or passwords; use environment variables for server projects.

How to avoid them:

  • Test frequently, commit small changes, and use version control branches for experiments.

FAQ

Do I Need to Know Coding to Start?

No. Basic HTML, CSS, and small JavaScript snippets are enough to launch a simple site. This guide includes starter code and patterns you can copy and customize.

Can I Use a Custom Domain for Free?

Yes. You can buy a domain (not free) and point it to GitHub Pages or use a free subdomain from Netlify. GitHub Pages supports custom domains and automatic HTTPS.

Will Github Pages Support Dynamic Server Logic?

No. GitHub Pages is for static content. For server-side features, use free tiers of services like Netlify Functions, Vercel Serverless, or Firebase Functions.

How Do I Add Contact Forms Without a Server?

Use third-party services like Formspree, Netlify Forms, or Google Forms to receive submissions without server code.

How Do I Make My Site Responsive?

Use fluid layouts, flexible images (max-width: 100%), and CSS media queries to adjust styles for different screen sizes.

Next Steps

After the initial launch, iterate: add SEO meta tags and sitemap, set up Google Analytics or privacy-friendly analytics, and improve accessibility. Consider adding a blog or CMS via headless options like Netlify CMS or GitHub Actions to generate content. Continue learning HTML, CSS layouts, and progressive enhancement to expand features and polish the site.

Further Reading

Sources & Citations

Tags: web development html css javascript github-pages free-hosting
Ryan

About the author

Ryan — Web Development Expert

Ryan helps beginners and professionals build amazing websites through step-by-step tutorials, code examples, and best practices.

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