What drives the cost of translating a video — length, word count, subtitling vs voice-over — with typical per-word, per-minute and per-day rates.
In this article
Video translation rates depend on a number of factors — the target language, and whether voice-over, subtitling or transcription is required. Translating audio-video material is an involved process that helps businesses and producers deliver their message to international audiences. The rates below are based on the UK industry standard, a useful guide for the wider market given the UK's role as a hub of audiovisual production.
How to estimate video translation rates
Video length — videos are measured in minutes, with roughly 100–150 words spoken per minute, so rates are often based on run time.
Number of words — the recording is usually transcribed first so the word count can be calculated accurately, and translation is priced from there.
Subtitling or voice-over — whichever route you choose, you start with a good-quality transcription. Subtitling translates the audio and adds it as captions (open, closed or SDH — each with different costs). Voice-over prepares a script from the transcription, then records the audio in the target language in a professional studio. Voice-over generally costs more than subtitling because of the skills and equipment required.
Examples of typical translation fees
Rates are typically calculated per word (from the transcript) or per minute (from the run time), and vary with language difficulty, the nature of the work and word count.
Translation rates per word
| GBP | EUR | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translation rate per word | £0.145–0.20 | €0.18–0.30 | $0.20–0.32 |
Translation rates per 1,000 words
| GBP | EUR | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translation rate / 1k words | £145–200 | €180–300 | $200–320 |
Transcription rates
| GBP | EUR | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transcription rate / minute | £8–10 | €10–13 | $12–15 |
Subtitling rates
| GBP | EUR | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtitling rate / minute | £13–20 | €17–20 | $19–22 |
See our subtitling rates guide for more detail.
Voice-over rates
With voice-over, the final cost depends on whether the video is broadcast or non-broadcast, its nature and other factors. You'll usually account for the BSF (Basic Studio/Session Fee) plus any usage fees on top.
| GBP | EUR | USD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per hour | £300–400 | €350–500 | $390–550 |
| Half day | £900–1,200 | €1,050–1,500 | $1,170–1,650 |
| Full day | £1,800–2,400 | €2,100–3,000 | $2,340–3,300 |
See our voice over rates guide for a detailed breakdown.
Rates per language
Different languages have different price points due to language complexity, voice artist availability and translation resources. Rare combinations, or translators from countries with a higher cost of living, tend to cost more.
Translation services in over 300 languages
GoLocalise offers a comprehensive suite of services for audio-video localisation in over 300 languages — translation, transcription, voice-over and subtitling, all under one roof. Get a quote and we'll take care of your project from start to finish.
