How voice over is priced — talent, usage and project type — so you can budget your next project with confidence.
In this article
Hiring the right voice actor can make all the difference to your project, whether it's a commercial, an audiobook, or an eLearning module. But how do you know what's a fair price for their services? Voice over rates can vary widely, so it's important to understand what you're paying for and why.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about voice over rates, from the factors that influence pricing to the different rates for various types of projects.
Factors Influencing Voice Over Rates
Several key factors affect how much you'll pay for a voice over. Knowing these can help you plan your budget and make an informed decision when choosing a voice actor.
Experience and skill level
A seasoned professional with a strong portfolio and specialised skills — accents, dialects, or unique character voices — will naturally charge more than a newcomer. You're not just paying for recording time; you're paying for their years of experience and the qualities they bring to your project.
Project type and usage
The type of project has a big impact on cost. Voice overs for commercials, broadcast to a wide audience, tend to cost more than internal corporate videos or eLearning modules. For broadcast projects — TV, radio, or online ads — you'll also pay additional usage fees based on the duration of use and market reach.
Industry standards and market trends
Rates are shaped by industry standards and demand. Growing demand for multilingual voice overs has pushed up rates for native foreign-language actors, while the rapid growth of online courses has created more competitive pricing for eLearning.
Geographical location
Where the voice actor is based also affects rates. Hiring talent from the UK or the US, where living costs are higher, may be more expensive than other regions. Being aware of these differences helps you find talent that suits your budget without compromising on quality.
Script complexity and length
A script that requires multiple accents, emotional range, or character changes will cost more, as it demands more skill and effort. Longer scripts take more time to record and edit, leading to higher costs.
Voice Over Talent Rates by Language
Rates can differ significantly depending on the language required. Some languages have higher rates due to their rarity or the unique skill set needed.
English-speaking voice actor rates
For English-speaking actors, rates usually depend on the length of the script and the project type, and can be charged hourly or per half/full day. At GoLocalise, our rates include studio rental, a professional sound engineer, and basic file cleanup — an all-inclusive package.
| BSF | GBP | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per hour | £400 | €500 | $550 |
| Half day | £1,200 | €1,500 | $1,650 |
| Full day | £2,400 | €3,000 | $3,300 |
Non-broadcast projects (such as internal corporate videos) are typically lower, while broadcast projects come with additional usage fees based on scope and duration.
Foreign-language voice actor rates
Rates for foreign-language actors vary by language and the availability of native speakers. Less commonly spoken languages or unique dialects may carry higher rates. At GoLocalise we connect you with voice actors in over 300 languages, accents, and dialects to match your project and budget.
Get Competitive Rates
Get transparent and competitive rates for top-quality voice overs with GoLocalise. Get in touch for a quote.
Typical Voice Over Rates
Voice over rates generally fall into two categories: non-broadcast and broadcast. What you pay depends on which one your project falls into.
Non-broadcast voice over rates
Non-broadcast rates apply to content used internally or privately — corporate videos, training materials, IVR and phone messages. In these cases you only pay the Basic Studio Fee (BSF); there are no usage fees, provided the end product isn't accessible to the general public.
Audiobook narration
Rates for audiobook narration vary with the length of the book and the actor's experience — charged per finished audio hour or as a flat fee plus a usage fee.
| Usage fee | GBP | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per book | £100–£600 | €100–€700 | $100–$780 |
e-Learning and corporate narration
eLearning rates tend to be lower, especially for internal use. If the content will be hosted online, a non-commercial usage fee may apply on top of the BSF. For more, see our eLearning voice over services.
Broadcast voice over rates
Broadcast rates apply to projects aired on TV, radio, or online platforms. They consist of the BSF plus a usage fee that depends on the media type and length of use.
| Usage fee (TV) | GBP | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per ad / video | £700–£2,100 | €700–€2,450 | $700–$2,730 |
| Usage fee (Online) | GBP | EUR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per ad / video | £400–£1,200 | €400–€1,400 | $400–$1,560 |
Broadcast fees are higher due to the extended reach and impact of the content. Duration of use, market size, and media type all influence the cost.
Voice Over Recording Costs
There's a lot more to a voice over project than simply hiring a voice actor. At GoLocalise we handle everything under one roof:
- Accurate transcriptions to build a solid foundation for your project.
- Expert translation, with meticulous proofreading by a second translator.
- Subtitling and captioning in over 300 languages for accessibility.
- Voice matching — the right accent, dialect, or character voice for your project.
- Professional studios with experienced engineers and live direction.
- Audio cleaning, editing, mixing and encoding, prepared for any platform.
How to determine the right voice over rates for your project
Start by clearly defining your project's scope — length, format, and purpose — so you can match the right talent. Think about how the content will be used (internal vs broadcast), since usage drives cost. Gather quotes from several agencies and freelancers to understand the market and what's included, and remember that rates are often negotiable for larger or ongoing projects.
Ready to get started? Request a quote and we'll help you find the right voice at a fair price.
