For most small-business sites, a hosting migration takes a few hours to copy and test, but you should plan for 24 to 72 hours total because DNS changes can take time to reach every visitor.
The reason timelines feel confusing is that there are usually two clocks running: (1) the hands-on move (files, database, settings, testing) and (2) the cutover window (DNS caches updating at different speeds). If you are also transferring the domain to a new registrar (not always needed), that is a separate process that can add several days.
Typical timelines
| Scenario | Hands-on migration work | Typical total time until most visitors see the new site | What usually adds time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small WordPress brochure site (few pages, light media) | 1 to 3 hours | Same day to 48 hours | DNS cache time, plugin conflicts, SSL setup |
| Medium WordPress site (forms, bookings, multiple plugins) | 3 to 6 hours | 1 to 2 days | Form delivery testing, SMTP, caching and firewall rules |
| WooCommerce or lead-heavy site (payments, shipping, integrations) | 6 to 12 hours | 2 to 4 days | Order and payment testing, webhooks, inventory sync, email receipts |
| Large site (big media library, membership, LMS, multi-site) | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 7 days | Large databases, background jobs, advanced server tuning |
| Website plus email migration | Add 2 to 6 hours | Add 1 to 2 days | Mailbox copies, DNS records for mail, device re-logins |
| Domain transfer to a new registrar (optional) | Low effort, but waiting time | 2 to 7 days | Registrar approvals and 60-day locks after a recent registration or transfer |
What changes the timeline
Here are the factors that most often move a migration from “quick” to “takes a bit”:
- Site size: lots of images, video, or backups to move.
- Database size: years of posts, products, orders, or logs.
- Complex features: memberships, portals, scheduling, custom code, or API links.
- DNS and TTL settings: higher TTL values can slow how fast visitors pick up the new destination.
- Email and deliverability: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records may need updates if mail is involved.
- Launch timing: if your phones ring nonstop during business hours (dentists, lawyers, pest control), we usually do the switch after-hours in Eastern time so you avoid surprises.
How we keep downtime low
Most migrations can be done with little to no visible downtime by moving the site first, testing on a temporary URL or staging, then switching DNS only after everything checks out. We also keep the old hosting live during the DNS window so visitors landing on the old path still get a working site while caches update.
If you want us to handle the move end-to-end, our managed plans and migrations are part of our WordPress hosting work, and we can plan the cutover around your busiest Orlando call windows.
After the move, we also confirm your SSL certificate, HTTPS redirects, and mixed-content issues are clean, because that affects user trust and can affect rankings, and our FAQ on does HTTPS affect SEO breaks down what to watch for.
If you want a realistic estimate for your site, the fastest way is to share your platform (WordPress or not), whether you have ecommerce or bookings, whether email is moving, and your domain registrar. With that, we can usually tell you whether you are in the “same day” bucket or the “few days” bucket.
