If you're a freelance video editor, one of the hardest parts of getting started can be figuring out what to charge.
A client might ask you to edit a 30-second social media video, a ten-minute YouTube video or an entire collection of promotional videos. Treating all of these projects as though they should have the same price doesn't make much sense.
The final video length also doesn't tell you everything about how much work is involved.
A five-minute video can take very different amounts of time to edit depending on the project.
The better approach is to look at the footage, editing requirements, complexity, revisions and final deliverables before deciding on your price.
The type of video makes a big difference.
Before giving a client a price, find out exactly what kind of video they want.
Short-Form
Reels, TikToks, Shorts and other short-form social media content.
YouTube
Long-form videos, interviews, educational content and creator videos.
Commercial
Promotional videos, advertisements and marketing content.
Events
Event highlights, recordings and other footage requiring post-production.
A shorter video isn't always an easier video.
It's easy to assume that a longer video should automatically cost more.
But editing time can depend heavily on what happens inside the video.
A short video may require extensive cutting, subtitles, motion graphics, sound design, colour correction and multiple rounds of revisions.
Meanwhile, a longer video with relatively simple cuts may take less time to complete.
How much footage will you actually have to work through?
The amount and quality of raw footage can have a major impact on the editing process.
Ask the client how much footage they expect to send you and what condition it is in.
- How many video files are there?
- How much total footage needs to be reviewed?
- Is the footage organised?
- Are there multiple camera angles?
- Is there separate audio?
- Does the footage need significant sorting?
Two projects with the same final runtime can have completely different editing workloads depending on the raw footage.
Define the editing requirements before quoting.
"Edit this video" can mean very different things to different clients.
Find out what the client expects you to actually do during the editing process.
- Cutting and arranging footage
- Music selection
- Subtitles or captions
- Motion graphics
- Colour correction
- Sound cleanup
- Transitions and effects
- Thumbnail or additional graphic work
Know what your editing time needs to earn.
One useful way to approach video-editing pricing is to have an internal hourly rate that helps you estimate how much time a project requires.
÷
Realistic billable hours
= starting hourly rate
You can then estimate the number of hours required for the project and use that as one part of your project price.
This is particularly useful when you're still learning how long different types of editing work take you.
Decide how many revisions are included.
Video editing can become time-consuming when a project goes through repeated rounds of changes.
A client may request a different song, new captions, different cuts or changes to the overall structure.
That's why your quote should make the revision process clear.
Short videos can still require significant work.
Reels, TikToks and Shorts may only be a few seconds or minutes long, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are quick to produce.
Short-form content can involve rapid cuts, captions, sound effects, visual effects, motion graphics and timing the edit around music or dialogue.
If a client wants a large number of short videos, a package can sometimes make more sense than pricing every video in isolation.
Longer projects require more than a longer timeline.
Long-form editing can involve reviewing large amounts of footage, creating a coherent structure, removing unnecessary sections and maintaining consistency throughout the final video.
Interviews and podcasts can also involve significant amounts of raw footage and audio that need to be reviewed before the final edit is produced.
Make sure your quote reflects the actual workload, rather than simply charging based on the final runtime.
Don't forget the cost of your tools.
Your editing business may involve expenses for software, storage, hardware, internet, music, stock footage, sound effects and other assets.
These costs are part of running the service and should be considered when determining what your freelance work needs to earn.
If a particular project requires paid assets, clarify whether those costs are included in your quote or billed separately.
Price the editing work — not just the finished video.
There isn't one universal video-editing rate that every freelancer in Kenya should use.
Your starting point should come from your income goals, business costs and realistic billable time.
Then look at the actual project: the amount of footage, final length, complexity, graphics, sound, revisions and deadline.
The more clearly you understand the scope before starting, the easier it becomes to give the client a price that makes sense for both sides.
Pricing another type of freelance work?
Explore the other Service Price pricing guides.
Video editing pricing
How much should I charge for video editing in Kenya?
There isn't one fixed price for video editing. The appropriate price depends on the amount of footage, final video length, editing complexity, revisions, deadline and other project requirements.
Should video editors charge per minute?
Pricing per finished minute can be useful in some situations, but final runtime doesn't always represent the amount of editing work. Consider the raw footage and complexity as well.
How much should a beginner video editor charge?
A beginner should still consider the time, resources and costs involved in completing the project. Being new doesn't automatically mean that the work should be priced unsustainably low.
Should revisions be included in a video-editing price?
You can include a defined number of revision rounds in your project price. Additional work beyond the agreed scope should be clearly addressed before the project begins.
Should I charge separately for music and stock footage?
If a project requires paid assets, make it clear whether those costs are included in your quote or charged separately.