# Software project timeline estimator: weeks per phase from scope and team size

> A software project timeline is the sum of its phases: discovery, design, development, testing and launch. Development time grows with the number of unique screens and integrations and their complexity, and shrinks — less than proportionally — as developers are added, because coordination takes time. Design can overlap with development. Enter your scope below to see a phase-by-phase plan in weeks.

- Interactive version: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator
- Type: free instant calculator
- Category: Development cost
- Last reviewed: 2026-10-05
- Publisher: Infikey Technologies (https://infikeytechnologies.com)

## Example result (default inputs)

| Input | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Project type | Web app / SaaS |
| Complexity | Standard (business logic, dashboards) |
| Unique screens or page layouts | 25 |
| Third-party integrations | 3 |
| Developers on the project | 3 |
| Are designs ready? | No, design is needed |

**Estimated timeline: 12.8 weeks.** With 3 developers, this project takes about 12.8 weeks (2.9 months) from discovery to launch.

About 2.9 months end to end — typical for a first release. Weekly demos keep scope and timeline in check.

| Metric | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Discovery & planning | 1.1 weeks |
| UI/UX design | 2.6 weeks (half overlaps development) |
| Development | 7.5 weeks |
| Testing & stabilisation | 1.9 weeks |
| Launch (incl. app store review) | 1 week |
| Total development effort | 19 developer-weeks |

### Timeline by team size

| Item | Value | Detail |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 developer | 30.9 weeks |  |
| 2 developers | 17.6 weeks |  |
| 3 developers (selected) | 12.8 weeks |  |
| 5 developers | 8.9 weeks |  |
| 6 developers | 7.9 weeks |  |

- Doubling the team does not halve the timeline: every extra person adds coordination and review time.
- Rule-of-thumb planning figures only. A real plan comes from breaking the scope into tasks.

Open this result on the website: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator?project_type=web_app&complexity=standard&screens=25&integrations=3&developers=3&design_ready=no

## Use from a link or API

Add these query parameters to https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator (pre-filled page), https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator.md (this plain-text page) or https://infikeytechnologies.com/api/tools/project-timeline-estimator (JSON).

| Parameter | Meaning | Accepted values |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `project_type` | Project type | one of website, web_app, mobile, mobile_native, enterprise |
| `complexity` | Complexity | one of simple, standard, complex |
| `screens` | Unique screens or page layouts | number from 1 to 500, default 25 |
| `integrations` | Third-party integrations | number from 0 to 50, default 3 |
| `developers` | Developers on the project | number from 1 to 30, default 3 |
| `design_ready` | Are designs ready? | one of no, yes |

- Business website: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator?project_type=website&complexity=simple&screens=8&integrations=2&developers=1&design_ready=no
- MVP mobile app: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator?project_type=mobile&complexity=standard&screens=25&integrations=4&developers=3&design_ready=no
- SaaS version 1: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator?project_type=web_app&complexity=standard&screens=45&integrations=6&developers=4&design_ready=no
- Enterprise system: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator?project_type=enterprise&complexity=complex&screens=80&integrations=10&developers=6&design_ready=yes

## How it is calculated

- **Development effort**: (2 + screens × weeks per screen + integrations × weeks per integration) × project-type factor
- **Weeks per screen / integration**: simple 0.3 / 1 · standard 0.5 / 1.5 · complex 0.8 / 2.5
- **Development weeks**: effort ÷ developers^0.85
- **Other phases**: discovery 15%, design 35% (half in parallel), testing 25% of development, with minimums and caps

## The five phases of a software project

| Phase | What happens | Output |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Discovery | Workshops, user journeys, technical decisions, risks | Scope, backlog and plan |
| Design | Wireframes, visual design, prototype testing | Approved screens and design system |
| Development | Sprints of building, code review, weekly demos | Working software |
| Testing | Functional, device, performance and security testing; fixes | Release candidate |
| Launch | Deployment, app store review, monitoring, hand-over | Live product |

## Why more developers is not always faster

Some work cannot be split, and every new person needs onboarding, reviews and meetings. This is why the estimator divides effort by team size raised to the power 0.85 rather than by team size itself.

Adding people late in a project often slows it down. It is more effective to start with the right team size and reduce scope if the date is fixed.

## How to shorten a timeline

- Cut the first release to the workflows that prove the idea.
- Use proven components for login, payments and admin instead of building them.
- Have decision-makers available for quick approvals.
- Prepare content and integration credentials before development starts.
- Run design and development in parallel once the core flows are approved.

## FAQ

### How long does it take to build an app?

A focused cross-platform app with around 25 screens and a few integrations typically takes a few months with a small team. Enter your own screens, integrations and team size above to estimate it.

### How long does a website take to build?

Small business websites often take a few weeks; larger sites with many layouts and integrations take longer. Choose "Website" as the project type to estimate yours.

### How do you estimate a software project timeline?

Estimate development effort from scope (screens, integrations, complexity), divide by an effective team size, then add discovery, design, testing and launch phases.

### Does adding developers make the project faster?

Up to a point. Each developer adds coordination overhead, so two developers are faster than one but not twice as fast.

### Why is testing a separate phase?

Testing happens during every sprint, but the end of a project needs time for full regression testing, device testing and fixing issues found by real users in beta.

## Get expert help

Send these results to an Infikey Technologies specialist from the form on https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools/project-timeline-estimator#estimate or via https://infikeytechnologies.com/contact.

More free calculators: https://infikeytechnologies.com/tools.md

## Disclaimer

This calculator is provided free for general information and planning only. Results are estimates based on the inputs you enter and the assumptions described on this page, reference data such as published prices may change, and actual costs and outcomes will differ. Nothing on this page is financial, legal, tax, investment or other professional advice. Infikey Technologies Private Limited, Infikey Technologies LLC and their directors, employees and affiliates make no warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of this tool or its results, and accept no liability for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, arising from its use or from reliance on its results. Verify all figures independently and seek professional advice before making any decision. Use of this tool is at your own risk.