How much does video editing cost?
Short answer: between $25 and $250 per finished video for most creators and small brands, or $2,000 to $10,000 a month if you hire an agency on retainer. The spread is enormous because "video editing" covers a 45-second reel and a 20-minute documentary equally.
Below is what each model actually charges in 2026, what moves the number, and how to work out which one is cheapest for the volume you publish.
The three pricing models
| Model | Typical rate | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (hourly) | $25 to $150/hr | One-off projects, or you can brief precisely |
| Freelancer (per video) | $50 to $300 | Predictable, repeatable formats |
| Agency retainer | $2,000 to $10,000/mo | You need strategy and production, not just editing |
| Subscription / pack | $95 to $250 per video | You publish consistently and want fixed costs |
| In-house editor | $45,000 to $80,000/yr | You publish daily and own the pipeline |
The hourly model hides the real cost. A "cheap" $30/hour editor who takes nine hours on a talking-head cut costs more than a $150 flat-rate edit delivered in two days, and you carry the risk of the overrun, not them. Per-video and pack pricing move that risk to the editor, which is why most creators end up there.
What actually drives the price
1. Length and footage volume
Editors price on raw footage more than finished runtime. A 10-minute YouTube video cut from 30 minutes of clean single-camera footage is straightforward. The same 10 minutes assembled from four hours of multi-cam is a different job entirely, and will cost two to three times more.
2. How much motion and design is involved
This is the single biggest multiplier. Cuts, colour and captions sit at the bottom of the range. Custom motion graphics, animated lower-thirds, kinetic typography and branded transitions can double it, because they are design work rather than editing work.
3. Turnaround
Standard is five to seven days. Anything faster is priced as rush. A 48-hour guarantee typically carries a 20 to 40% premium with a freelancer, though subscription services often build it into the base rate. Worth checking before you assume fast means expensive.
4. Revisions
Watch this one. "From $80 per video" often means two rounds, with each further round billed. If your approval process involves several stakeholders, a slightly higher rate with unlimited revisions is usually cheaper in practice, and far more predictable.
5. Who owns the files
Cheaper arrangements often deliver an export and nothing else. If you want project files, source assets and the right to re-cut later, confirm it in writing up front. Buying them afterwards is expensive, and some editors simply decline.
Working out your real cost per video
Take what you publish in a month, not what you publish in a good week. Four videos a month at a $150 flat rate is $600. The same four through an agency retainer at $2,500 is $625 per video, and the agency is only worth that if you are also buying strategy, scripting or distribution.
The break-even against a full-time in-house editor sits at roughly 15 to 20 videos a month. Below that, outsourcing almost always wins on cost and on flexibility.
What ExpertPitch charges
We publish our rates rather than quoting per enquiry. Simple social edits start at $95 per video on the 12-pack, complex edits with motion graphics from $150, and long-form up to 20 minutes from $220. Every plan includes revisions until you approve, a 48 to 72 hour turnaround, and you own everything.
See the full pricing table: pack sizes, per-video rates and what is included at each tier.
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