How much does video editing cost?

One of the main factors in video editing cost is length. This includes both the desired length of the final video and the length of your original footage. If you only want a three-minute highlight reel from your son's dance recital, but you want it created from a two-hour recording of the entire performance, the pro must spend valuable time sorting through footage and using a trained eye to choose the best parts. The more source material (original video footage) you have to be edited, the higher your video editing costs will be. In addition, the longer the finished product, the higher the final cost will be because post-production tasks including color adjustment and image stabilization also take time. Here are a few average pricing examples for simple video editing projects:

• FeatherDot Productions in Orlando, Florida
  • Starting rate for editing of video content: $145 and up for a project
• Another example of media production company costs:
  • $350-$400: Average price range to edit a three-minute, pre-shot video. Includes basic 2-D graphics, image and audio enhancements.
    • 1.5 days: Average time required to complete this project
  • $1,000: Average price range to edit a 30-minute, pre-shot video. Includes basic 2-D graphics, image and audio enhancements.
  • $1,500: Average price range to edit a 90-minute, pre-shot video. Includes basic 2-D graphics, image and audio enhancements.

Additional factors in video editing costs include how polished you want the piece to be and how many additional features you want to include. Video editing prices depend entirely on the outcome you want. Think about your audience when determining what features to include, and communicate with your video editor to receive professional feedback on what details might be needed. For example, if this is a home video of your kids over the years, you may not need total perfection with things like blemish removal, color correction or multiple voice-overs. However, if you are editing a commercial for your company to be used online or on TV, you'll want each second of that 60- to 90-second video to be impeccable. Final costs will increase for more complex projects and higher final production values.

Your production value — how polished you want your video to be — is often determined by the number of add-ons you choose to include. In addition technical video editing (cutting and splicing film clips together), professionals can add graphics, create chapters and menus, and provide voice-over and music overlays for the final product. The more added elements, the higher the total cost. It's helpful to consider exactly what you want the final product to be like, whether you want your wedding video highlight reel to be perfect or are making a commercial spot for social media that may garner millions of views. For commercial projects, investing in a more polished outcome can bring you a greater return on your investment. Here are a few examples of add-on costs:

• FeatherDot Productions
  • Cinematic logo reveals, movie trailer titles, social media calls to action and voice-overs: $85-$200 each, depending on video length
• $250: Starting price for half day of on-location voice-over services from another media company
• $250: Starting price for half day of on-location editing services from another media company

If you are starting a new video project from scratch, such as recording a conference your nonprofit is hosting or filming a local TV commercial for your housecleaning company, you may want to turn every detail over to the pros. When clients request full video production services, the video production company handles every aspect of a project from start to finish, including concept development, scriptwriting, voice-over, filming, lighting, audio, editing and post-production.

Not surprisingly, full video production services cost much more than basic video editing of footage you provide. The video production pro is creating something from nothing on your behalf, working with you to transform your concept into a fully formed commercial, video, film or documentary. You are paying not only for the video editor's time and skills, but for lighting, sets and staging, videography work, story creation, and much more. For a smaller production you may just be working with one to three people for this process, but for a large-scale video production you may need an entire crew. Depending on what you need, how long your film is, and the extent of your post-production edits, costs could range from under $1,000 to many tens of thousands of dollars. Here's one example of a full video production cost for a small project:

• $1,250: Starting rate for a 3-minute video. In addition to full production components it would also include basic 2-D graphics and image and audio enhancements.

If you are new to working with media companies, whether you are seeking their services for personal or professional reasons, there are a few strategies you can employ for finding the right fit. First, consider what you plan to do with your edited video. If you want to highlight the merchandise you sell on your professional social media accounts, look for a video editor who excels in commercial social media shorts and has an aesthetic that you like. If you are seeking a video editor to work with personal footage, such as a mini-documentary of your culinary adventures in France, target a pro who has experience and beautiful clips of other travel videos they have edited. In addition to making sure the pro has experience with your type of content, look through their entire portfolio to get a feel for their style. Ask yourself if you are drawn to their work and if you are compelled to watch their videos — because in the end, you want people to be unable to stop watching your final product. Next, research reviews to see if other customers have had a positive experience with the video editor and were satisfied with the final product. Carefully compare costs and services. When getting quotes, remember that lowest cost doesn't always reflect true value, especially for videos you plan to use professionally. Confirm what services are included for the cost, and take into account the production value of the editor's portfolio, their reputation, and their years of experience. Talk with the pro, and don't hesitate to ask lots of questions to make sure you're comfortable with them, they listen to you, and you communicate well with one another. The video editor will be using your raw material to tell a story for you, so you want to be sure they understand your goals. Most pros will require a deposit for their work. Be sure you have a signed contract that specifically outlines all the details of the editing work and any add-on post-production work to be done. Confirm that final cost is included in the contract and that any timeframes and deadlines are specified. As with all professional services, clear contracts make for happy customers.