If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about your current website and whether it truly meets your needs or not. A website redesign isn’t always something that a business or organization wants to do, but often is a matter of necessity. Whether your site has grown long in the tooth or simply isn’t performing as well as you like, it may be time to finally move ahead with your revamp.

But how often should you redesign your website?

Time is money, so let’s get the simple answer out first. Typically, a good rule of thumb is that an average website has an approximate “shelf life” during which it is seen as new, functional and convenient for users. For the typical brand, that timespan is between 24 and 36 months – or 2 to 3 years or so.

Now that isn’t a hard and fast rule – some sites may not need a full redesign in that time, and some may need to be refreshed more frequently as business goals or market demands change. After all, age is only a number, right? However, for the reader looking for a quick answer, it’s usually a good idea to think about refreshing your website about as frequently as most of us get a new smartphone.