The free video production cost calculator with 80+ line items for crew, equipment, post-production, travel, and more. Know your numbers. Win more projects.
Launch the Calculator →Pre-production, crew, equipment, production, travel, post-production, and deliverables — every line item covered.
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Understanding what drives video production pricing helps you create accurate estimates and win more clients. Here's a breakdown of every cost category.
Pre-production includes scriptwriting ($100-$300 per page), storyboarding ($30-$75 per frame), location scouting ($300-$500 per day), casting, creative direction ($100-$175 per hour), and project management ($50-$100 per hour). Skipping pre-production almost always costs more in the long run through reshoots and extended editing.
People are the biggest cost in any production. Typical day rates: directors ($1,000-$3,000), directors of photography ($800-$2,000), camera operators ($500-$1,200), sound recordists ($400-$800), gaffers ($500-$900), hair and makeup ($400-$700), on-camera talent ($500-$2,000+), and production assistants ($150-$300). Rates vary significantly by market — major cities command 2-3x higher rates.
Camera rental ($300-$800/day), lens kits ($150-$400/day), lighting ($200-$500/day), audio equipment ($150-$300/day), plus specialty gear like gimbals, drones, sliders, and teleprompters. Unless you own everything, gear rental adds up quickly.
Location fees ($0-$5,000+), permits, catering ($200-$400/day for crew meals), wardrobe and styling, props, and production insurance ($200-$500/day). Don't forget parking and power access at remote locations.
Airfare, hotels, rental cars, gas, mileage ($0.67/mile), parking, rideshare, gear shipping, and per diem ($60+/day per crew member). Travel costs can represent a significant portion of the budget for remote shoots.
Video editing ($75-$150/hour, typically 8-16 hours for a 2-minute video), color grading ($100-$175/hour), sound design and mixing ($75-$150/hour), motion graphics ($100-$200/hour), VFX, music licensing ($25-$500 per track), voiceover, subtitles, and revision rounds ($100-$200 per round).
The final assets: hero video, social media cuts ($150-$300 each), vertical 9:16 reformats ($150-$250), thumbnails ($50-$100), export encoding, and archiving.
After covering all costs, a healthy profit margin for video production is 15-30%. This covers overhead like software subscriptions, insurance, equipment maintenance, and compensates you for running a business.
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