Video editing rates are all over the place because the market spans corporate work, short-form content, documentary, and everything in between. Clients rarely understand what editing actually takes. This calculator helps you find a rate that holds up across different project types.
// frequently asked questions
Should I charge per video, per minute, or hourly?
It depends on the project type. Short-form content (reels, shorts, TikToks) is best priced per video because the format is standardised and clients understand what they are buying. Long-form edits (YouTube videos, documentaries, corporate films) are often priced per finished minute because length drives complexity. Hourly works for revision rounds and unclear scope projects. Establish your hourly rate first, then use it to sanity-check any per-video or per-minute quote before you send it.
How do I handle revision rounds in my pricing?
Include one or two structured revision rounds in your project rate and charge your hourly rate for anything beyond that. The key is defining what a revision round is before the project starts. A revision round means one consolidated set of feedback applied once, not an ongoing back-and-forth until the client is satisfied. Clients who expect unlimited changes are describing a different engagement entirely.
How do I price a monthly retainer for ongoing content?
Estimate the average number of videos per month, multiply by your per-video rate, then offer a 10-15% discount for the volume commitment. Define clearly what is included: how many videos, what maximum length, how many revision rounds, and whether colour grading, captions, and music licensing are in scope. Retainers without clear deliverable definitions become unpredictable very quickly.
What billable percentage should I plan for as a freelance editor?
Video editors typically bill 55-65% of their working hours. Footage organisation, export troubleshooting, client communication, and staying current with tools take real time that does not appear on a deliverable. Build it into your rate from the start.