There's no single price for localising a video — it depends on the method, the runtime and the number of languages. Here's what each approach costs, with real starting rates and the factors that move the figure, so you can budget before you brief.
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“How much does it cost to localise a video?” is the first question every buyer asks, and the honest answer is it depends on how you localise it. Subtitles, voice over and dubbing are three different crafts at three different price points. Below is what each costs as a starting point, and the levers that move it.
The three methods, and what they cost
Every localised video uses one of three approaches for the audio, and that choice is the biggest single driver of cost:
- Subtitles — the most economical, because the original audio stays. Translated subtitles start from about £15 per minute of video. See subtitling rates.
- Voice over (UN-style) — a native voice read over the original. Priced from an all-inclusive studio session (from £400) plus a usage licence for where the audio runs. See voice over rates.
- Dubbing (lip-sync) — the most immersive and the most involved, from about £60 per finished minute for UN-style up to full-cast lip-sync. See dubbing rates.
Not sure which fits your content and budget? The dubbing vs subtitling guide weighs cost, speed and immersion side by side.
The supporting steps: translation and transcription
Two steps often sit underneath the headline method. If there's no script, the video is transcribed first (from £8 per minute). The script is then translated and adapted for the screen (from £0.145 per source word). Good providers include these in the quote rather than surprising you with them later.
What moves the price
Within any method, five things drive the final figure:
- Runtime — subtitling and dubbing scale per minute of video.
- Number of languages — each one repeats translation, casting and recording.
- Number of voices — more characters or speakers means more casting and studio time.
- Method & sync — lip-sync dubbing costs more than subtitles or UN-style voice over.
- Usage & turnaround — broadcast usage rights and rush deadlines add to the base.
A quick way to estimate
For a rough budget, pick your method's per-minute (or per-word) starting rate, multiply by the runtime (or word count), then multiply by the number of languages — and remember the per-project minimum fees on each rate page. It's a ballpark, not a quote: the real number depends on voices, usage and turnaround, which is why we price each project individually.
Get an exact figure
The fastest way to a real number is to send us the video. Read how to localise a video for the full process, explore our audiovisual translation services, or send us your video for an itemised, no-obligation quote — usually the same working day, backed by our Price Match Promise.