Understanding Video Editing Costs: Factors, Estimates, and Budgeting Tips

Video editing is a skill that takes a lot of time and expertise to learn. If you have raw video footage that needs to be edited, you may be asking yourself “How much do video editors charge?” The answer to that question is it depends. 

The video editing price will depend on factors like the length of the video, how involved the edits are, and whether or not the editor is a freelancer or working in a production house somewhere. In this guide we’ll walk through what different video editor rates might be, and how you can choose the right editor for your project. 

Factors that Impact Video Editor Rates

Video editor rates can vary from anywhere to $50 to $150 an hour, depending on the project and the editor. Here are some factors that may impact your final fate: 

Experience level

How many years of experience your editor has will likely impact the video editing cost for your project. A beginner video editor may charge $20 to $45 an hour, while someone with more advanced or expert experience may charge $100 or $150 an hour. 

Before hiring a video editor, take a look at their portfolio or prior work. Someone who is a beginner may have the exact experience you’re looking for, saving you some money in the process. But, if you have a more involved project, it may be worth the investment of a more experienced professional to make sure it’s done right. 

Payment type

Another factor that may impact your video editing rates is how the video editor prefers to invoice for the project and be paid. Different models of payment include by the day, by the hour, or a fixed project rate. 

None of these are necessarily better than the others, but they will impact the video editing rates at the end of the day. Before you sign anything with a new video editor, make sure you ask how they like to invoice and what their rate is to check that it’s aligned with your budget.

Freelance or full-time

If your video editor works independently as a freelancer, they get to set their own rates and may have more flexibility in what they charge. Conversely, someone who is a full-time employee in a production house may have less control over their rates, as they’re likely set by the company. 

That said, a freelancer may not have the same resources, tools, or teammates that a full-time employee has. While you may be able to negotiate the video editing rates more with a freelancer, when you work with a production team you may get a more complete experience. 

Learn More About Production Services

Transcendent Enterprise is a full-service production team that can help you with video editing, post-production, and more on your next video project. To learn more about the production services that Transcendent Enterprise offers, get in touch with our team today!