Calculators
Video Ad Production Cost Calculator
Budget a video ad from crew days, talent, locations, editing, motion graphics, music and contingency.
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Budgeting a commercial or social video ad
- Comparing production company quotes
- Deciding how many versions to cut
- Presenting a production budget to a client
About this tool
What the Video Ad Production Cost Calculator does
A video ad budget is built from pre-production, shoot days and post-production. This calculator adds each line, applies a contingency for overruns, and reports the cost per finished minute and per edited version, which makes quotes easier to compare.
Formula
- Shoot = shoot days × (crew + talent per day)
- Post = editing days × editor rate + motion graphics + music
- Total = (shoot + post + locations + pre-production) × (1 + contingency)
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Shoot days | 2 |
| Crew and equipment per day | $2,500 |
| Talent per day | $800 |
| Locations and permits | $500 |
| Pre-production (script, storyboard) | $1,200 |
| Editing days | 3 |
| Editor day rate | $600 |
| Motion graphics | $1,200 |
| Music licence | $300 |
| Contingency | 10% |
| Finished length | 1.5 minutes |
| Edited versions (cut-downs) | 4 |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total production budget | $12,760 |
| Shoot days | $6,600 |
| Post-production | $3,300 |
| Contingency | $1,160 |
| Cost per finished minute | $8,507 |
| Cost per version | $3,190 |
How to read the result
Plan cut-downs at the script stage. Shooting with 6, 15 and 30 second versions in mind costs little extra on the day and spreads the budget across more placements.
Talent usage rights for paid media can cost more than the shoot fee itself, so confirm the media, territory and duration before booking.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
It ranges from a few thousand dollars for a simple social ad to far more for broadcast work. Shoot days, crew size and talent usage are the biggest drivers.
Ten to fifteen percent is a common allowance for weather, overtime and extra edits.
Most campaigns need several lengths and formats. Spreading cost across versions shows the true price of each placement.
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