Motion design is one of the most underquoted creative disciplines because clients see the finished piece and not the hours of keyframing, rendering, and iteration behind it. This calculator helps you find a rate that reflects the full cost of what you produce.
// frequently asked questions
How do I price an explainer video project?
Break the project into phases: script and storyboard, style frames, animation, sound design. Quote each phase separately with a clear deliverable and approval gate. This protects you if the client changes direction mid-project and makes the value of each stage visible. A 60-second explainer at studio quality typically runs 80-120 hours of work across all phases. Quote accordingly.
How does render time affect my pricing?
Render time is real working time: your machine is occupied, you cannot take other work, and complex scenes can take hours per frame. For 3D or heavy After Effects projects, either factor render time into your hourly estimate or charge a separate render fee. Clients who compare your rate to a video editor's rate are not accounting for the fact that your computer is working even when you are not.
Should I charge more for style development on new clients?
Yes. Style development for a new client (creating a look from scratch rather than working within an established brand system) requires significantly more iteration and decision-making than executing within a defined visual identity. Quote a style development phase separately at the start of any project where you are defining the aesthetic, not just applying it.
What billable percentage should I plan for?
Motion designers typically bill 55-65% of working hours. Client briefing, style research, render management, and file delivery are all real costs. A project that takes 40 hours of active creative work often requires 55-60 hours of total time. Build that ratio into your estimates rather than quoting only the animation hours.
// how does motion designer pricing compare to animator?
Motion designers and
animators overlap significantly but the distinction matters for pricing. Motion design is primarily 2D, typography-driven, and brand-oriented. Animation spans 2D character work, frame-by-frame illustration, and 3D. Specialist animators (character animators, 3D generalists) command rates comparable to or exceeding senior motion designers because the skill set is narrower and harder to find. If you do both, charge by the type of work, not a blended rate.