Video Production Cost Calculator

A professional 60-second commercial typically costs $3,000 to $8,000 for live action and $2,400 to $6,500 for 2D animation. This includes filming or animation, basic editing, and 2 revision rounds. Adding scriptwriting ($500), professional voiceover ($400), and motion graphics ($1,000) brings the total to $5,000 to $10,000. Premium brand films with high production values can exceed $15,000.

2D animation is typically 20% cheaper than live action because it eliminates costs for location scouting, talent, equipment rental, and crew. However, 3D animation and mixed media are 50% more expensive than live action due to the specialized skills and rendering time required. For explainer videos and product demos, 2D animation often provides the best value with faster turnaround times.

Short-form social media content (Reels, TikToks, YouTube Shorts) costs $500 to $1,500 per video for professional quality. Under-30-second clips cost $300 to $800. Volume pricing drops the per-video cost significantly: a package of 10 social media videos might cost $4,000 to $8,000 total (20% discount), compared to $5,000 to $10,000 individually. Many businesses commission monthly content packages of 8 to 12 videos.

A standard package typically includes pre-production (concept development, storyboarding), production (filming or animation), post-production (editing, color grading, sound mixing), and 2 revision rounds. It usually does not include scriptwriting, professional voiceover, licensed music, motion graphics, or additional aspect ratio versions for social media. These are common add-ons that can increase the base cost by 30 to 60%.

Two revision rounds are standard and sufficient for most projects when the creative brief is clear. The first revision typically covers major changes to structure, pacing, and messaging. The second handles fine-tuning like timing adjustments, text corrections, and audio levels. If your approval process involves multiple stakeholders, budget for 3 to 4 rounds. Each additional round beyond 2 typically costs $200 to $500.

You can save $500 by writing your own script if you have copywriting experience and understand video pacing. Professional scriptwriters add value by structuring the narrative for visual storytelling, writing to specific time constraints (a 60-second video needs approximately 150 words), and incorporating calls to action naturally. For commercial and brand videos, professional scripting typically improves engagement metrics by 20 to 40%.