Ever found yourself scratching your head over analysing your video production costs? No worries - you're not alone. So, what exactly are you paying for when you commission a video? Whether it's a promotional video or a corporate reel, it’s important to know where your hard-earned money is going. We’ll walk you through the essential elements - like planning, filming, and editing - that determine the price tag of your video production project.
Let’s dive in and learn how to budget like a pro and get the most for your money.
How Video Production Estimates Are Created
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The cost of a video depends on several factors:
- Number of experts involved in planning, shooting, and editing
- Their daily rates
- Equipment and props
- Studio or location costs
- Actors or presenters involved
Want a better idea of what it could cost? Here are some rough estimates from our latest industry survey - backed by years of experience.
Creative Development & Pre-production
This is the blueprint phase where the concept takes shape.
Director
- Day Rate: £500–£1,000
- Or 5–10% of total project fee
- Oversees creative vision and story
Producer
- Day Rate: £500–£1,000
- Manages logistics, crew, and paperwork
- Often overlaps with director in smaller projects
Production Phase
Here’s where everything planned comes to life on set.
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Director of Photography (DOP)
- Day Rate: £650–£2,000
- Crafts the visual look and lighting
Lighting Camera Operator
- Day Rate: £550–£850
- Ideal for mid-tier shoots without a full crew
Videographer
- Day Rate: £450–£650
- Best for fast, all-in-one shoots
Production Assistant
- Day Rate: £250–£400
- Handles on-set logistics and support
Sound Recordist
- Day Rate: £450–£700
- Captures crisp dialogue and ambient sound
Drone Operator
- Day Rate: £600–£1,200
- Provides aerial footage; handles permits too
On-screen Talent
Using Employees or Partners
- Cost-effective, but require signed release forms
Actor
- Day Rate: £250–£500+
Presenter
- Day Rate: £250–£500+
Models
- Day Rate: £250–£1,250
Extras (Background Artists)
- Day Rate: £80–£150
Post-production
This phase brings everything together into the final polished piece.
Voiceover Artist
- £250–£500 per recording
- Ensure rights are clear and unrestricted
Video Editor
- £450–£650 per day
- Crafts the narrative from raw footage
Animator
- £500–£750 per day
- Ideal for infographics, 2D/3D elements
Music
- £50–£200 per track
- Ensure global licensing to avoid extra fees
Videographer Pricing
Straightforward and simple: Just multiply the day rate by the number of days.
Filming - £550–£750/day
Editing - £450–£550/day
Video Output Costs (1–2 min video)
Determining the cost of video production for specific outputs can vary significantly. Here's a breakdown of the estimated costs for various types of video outputs, each typically lasting between 1–2 minutes:
- Product Video: £3,000–£5,000
- Promotional Video: £4,000–£15,000+
- 2D Animation Video: £4,000–£15,000+
- Explainer Video: £4,000–£10,000
- Motion Graphics Video: £3,000–£5,000
- 3D Animation Video: £5,000–£15,000
- TV Advert: £10,000–£500,000
- Brand Film: £5,000–£15,000+
- Lifestyle Video: £4,000–£7,000
- Corporate Video: £5,000–£15,000+
- Interview/Testimonial: £3,000–£5,000
- Website Banner Video: £3,000–£4,000
- Recruitment Video: £3,000–£5,000
- Music Video: £3,500–£15,000+
- Event Highlights: £2,500–£5,000
- Event Video (Full AV): £5,000–£15,000+
- Training/E-learning Video: £5,000–£10,000
- Charity Video: £3,000–£15,000+
Note
1. (the typical tv advert production is £271k, according to Televisual Magazine) this is just for production and organisations typically spend 10% of the project budget on production and the rest on media ie buying airtime slots on TV)
2. This refers to quick shots of the event (typically 1 day) without the full events or on-the-ground sound - Event highlights
3. This refers to the entirety of the event being filmed and edited (typically with the presentation slides being added after too) - Event video
Other Things to Watch Out For
Usage Rights
- It's important to understand the intended use of your video, as rights can vary depending on where and how long the content will be broadcast or displayed.
- Whether it’s for a closed platform, like a subscription-based training site, or a nationwide TV campaign, the duration and geographic reach can impact costs.
- Always aim for global and perpetual rights to avoid future expenses or limitations.
Editing Amends
- The video editing process includes a set number of revisions.
- The industry standard allows for two rounds of changes per edit. However, some providers may apply stricter limits or additional charges for further revisions.
Social Media Versions
- Preparing distinct versions of a video for various social media platforms adds up to additional charges.
- These fees usually reflect the extra time and resources needed to adapt your content to different formats and specifications.
Music Rights
- The complexities of music licensing are well-known, with requirements to clear rights for the recording, performance and lyrics.
- To avoid lengthy and costly negotiations, you can use tracks from pre-cleared music libraries or engage a specialist service to handle licensing
Fair Use
- For non-commercial or educational projects, ‘fair use’ may apply
Talking About Video Production?
Have you picked your production team yet? - Simply Thrilled Can Sort Your Video Production
At Simply Thrilled, we create high-quality videos that won’t break your budget. From corporate and promotional pieces to explainers, animations, event coverage and more - we do it all. Let’s chat about your project and find a solution that fits. Choose Simply Thrilled - where creativity meets affordability.
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