Pricing guide + free calculator
How to price video editing
without undercharging
Day rates vs project rates, costing revision rounds, preventing scope creep, and a free calculator that builds an instant quote for any project type — with a range you can actually defend.
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The real reason video editors undercharge
The most common pricing mistake video editors make isn't quoting too little per hour. It's quoting based on the number of hours they've spent on similar projects — without accounting for the full cost of running a freelance business, the actual billable utilisation rate across the year, or the time that revision rounds genuinely consume.
A video editor charging £350/day who works 46 weeks × 5 days × 100% utilisation would earn £80,500 gross. In practice, with 65% utilisation (a realistic figure for an established freelancer), they earn £52,325 gross — and after £6,500 in business expenses and approximately 28% effective tax, take home closer to £33,000. That's not a comfortable London salary. The solution isn't to work harder — it's to set the day rate correctly from the start.
Revision rounds are the second underestimated cost. An editor who includes "unlimited revisions" in a project quote has given away an open-ended liability. Even "reasonable revisions" without a defined limit typically adds 25–40% to the total post-production time on commercial projects. Quoting two defined rounds and charging for the rest is standard practice — not an aggressive position.
Every variable that affects a video editing price
The cost calculator factors all of these into an instant, range-based estimate.
Project type
A 3-minute social video and a 3-minute commercial have very different edit times. The calculator uses realistic base hours for 7 project types.
Complexity tier
Standard (cut, grade, audio), complex (motion graphics, multi-cam), or premium (VFX, heavy post). Each tier multiplies the base estimate.
Revision rounds
Each included round adds a realistic percentage to the total. Quote them explicitly so clients know what they're getting — and what additional rounds cost.
Add-ons
Social resizes, captions, motion graphics, colour grade, audio mix — each costed as a flat or percentage uplift on the base estimate.
Day or hourly rate
Toggle between billing modes. The estimate normalises to the correct total regardless of how you prefer to quote to clients.
Quantity / series
Quoting a series of 12 social videos? The quantity field scales the estimate — with realistic series efficiencies built in.
How to build a video editing quote
Use the calculator to anchor your estimate — then apply your professional judgement on top.
Anchor to your day rate
Start with your minimum day rate from the day rate calculator. This is the floor — never quote below it, regardless of client pressure.
Choose project type and complexity
Select the project type and complexity tier. The base hour estimate gives you a starting point you can adjust for anything unusual about this specific project.
Add revisions and extras
State the revision rounds included and cost any add-ons. This is the scope definition — both you and the client should read it before you start.
Quote a range, not a point
Use the cost range output. £3,500–£4,500 is a stronger position than £4,000 — it signals considered analysis and leaves room to land at the top end when things take longer than expected.
Who needs a better pricing strategy
Pricing affects every type of video professional.
Freelancers who always win on price
If you never lose a pitch, you're undercharging. Use the calculator to find your real floor, then work towards the market rate for your experience level.
Studios quoting complex projects
For multi-deliverable projects, a structured cost breakdown is far more defensible than a single number. Use the calculator to build the estimate before writing the proposal.
In-house teams justifying budgets
Use the calculator to demonstrate what a project should cost to internal budget-holders who don't understand why a 3-minute video costs what it costs.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know.
The most reliable method is to start with your minimum day rate (calculated from your income target, tax rate, expenses, and billable days), estimate how many days the project will take by phase (pre-production, edit, colour, audio, revisions, delivery), and multiply. Add a range rather than a single figure to account for uncertainty — quote £X–£Y with a scope definition that makes clear what's included. Always state the revision rounds included, as these are the biggest variable in actual project cost.
Price it right — now deliver it right
FileFeedback handles the review stage so projects stay on schedule and within the revision count you quoted — timestamped client feedback on video without the email chaos.
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