Pricing and quotation guide
Short form video editing cost
Short-form editing can be priced per clip, per recording or as a monthly batch. Reviewing the source recording to find moments is a fixed cost for each recording; each clip then adds editing, reframing and captions. So the more clips you take from one recording, the lower the cost per clip tends to be. A template set up once keeps clips consistent and quick. Footage filmed with vertical framing in mind, and clean audio, lower costs further.
This guide covers cost drivers, pricing options, the review cost, comparing quotes and judging value.
Illustrative diagram
What drives short-form cost
- Recording length
- Longer recordings take longer to review.
- Clips per recording
- Each clip adds editing and captions.
- Reframing
- Landscape footage needs work to go vertical.
- Captions
- Checked captions take longer than automatic ones.
- Shapes and turnaround
- Extra shapes and urgent delivery add cost.
Costs paid to third parties (separate from our fees)
- Recording or filming
- Music licences
- Posting and scheduling
- Thumbnail or cover design
Ask whether the moment list is charged separately from clips.
Pricing options compared
| Option | Suits |
|---|---|
| Per clip | A few clips now and then |
| Per recording | A set number of clips from each recording |
| Monthly batch | Regular recordings and posting |
Choosing an approach
Per clip
Suits you when
- Occasional clips
Watch out for
- Review time charged separately
Per recording
Suits you when
- Each interview or webinar
Watch out for
- Clips included
- Recording length limit
Monthly batch
Suits you when
- Regular content
Watch out for
- Clips per month
- Turnaround
The review cost
Every minute of a recording has to be watched to find good moments. A thirty-minute interview takes less review than a two-hour workshop. If you mark moments yourself while recording or watching back, the editor can skip much of the review, lowering the cost.
Cost per clip
Because review is spread across all the clips taken from a recording, taking six clips rather than two lowers the cost of each. Each clip still needs cutting, framing and captions, so the total rises with the number of clips.
Example: per-recording pricing for a podcast
Illustrative example — not a client case study
Situation: A business podcast records weekly forty-minute episodes.
- A template is set up once.
- Each episode is priced per recording, including a moment list and five vertical clips.
- Extra clips from the same episode are priced at a lower add-on rate.
What this shows: The podcast had predictable weekly costs. This example is illustrative.
Comparing quotes
Check whether review and moment lists are included, clips per recording, recording length limits, reframing, captions, shapes, template cost, revision rounds and turnaround.
Judging the value
Value shows in consistent posting from content you already create, time saved and, over months, how viewers respond. Results depend on the moments chosen, so your input on the moment list matters. Note team hours saved.
Keeping the cost down
Mark moments yourself, record with clean sound and a framing that suits vertical crops, take several clips from each recording and keep to the shapes you use. Share the moment list with your team for quick approval.
Captions
Every clip needs captions, and checking them for names, terms and accents adds a little time to each. Clear audio makes automatic captions more accurate and checking quicker. Ask whether checked captions are included in the per-clip price.
Template setup
A template for captions, colours and a closing card is a small one-off cost. It speeds up every clip and makes your posts recognisable. If your team will cut some clips themselves, ask for it in their editing app.
Reframing
Recordings with two or more people, filmed landscape, need the most reframing, since the editor must cut between speakers to keep each in a vertical frame. A recording set up with separate cameras on each person, or framed with space around a single speaker, reduces this work noticeably.
Turnaround
Clips needed the same day as a recording, for example after a live event, may cost more. A planned batch cycle keeps prices at the standard rate.
Revisions
Agree how many rounds of changes each batch includes, and review all clips together to keep to one round.
Unused moments
A moment list from each recording may contain more candidates than you use. Keeping the list means you can return for more clips later at the per-clip rate, without paying for review again.
Shapes
Short-form platforms tend to favour vertical video. If you also need square versions, each clip needs a second framing pass. Choose the shapes you will actually post.
Questions about short form video editing cost
How is short-form editing priced?
Per clip, per recording or as a monthly batch.
Why does the review cost matter?
Finding moments takes time in proportion to recording length.
Are more clips cheaper per clip?
They can be, as review is shared across them.
Is landscape footage slower to clip?
It needs reframing for vertical.
How can we pay less per clip?
Mark moments, record clean sound and take several clips per recording.
Is short-form editing good value?
Consistent posting from existing content and viewer response.
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