Voiceover Rates, Pricing & Licensing

Professional voice-over rates vary widely, depending on usage, project type, and other factors. A short IVR recording can start at $75, while a national commercial airing on TV for 12 months can reach several thousands of Dollars. Factors like talent experience, script length, complexity, and post-production costs also affect voice-over rates.

• Suggested non-union industry rates in the US and Canada are typically based on the GVAA Rate Guide.
• Costs for non-promotional material are estimated based on word count, PFM (Per Finished Minute), hourly rate, or per project (i.e., flat project rate)
• E-learning projects are typically priced per word or per minute, ranging from $30 – $55 per finished minute.
• Corporate narration/explainer videos can range from $250-750+, depending on their length and usage.
• Audiobook narration is priced based on PFH (Per Finished Hour) and ranges from $200 – $500 per finished hour.
• Video game character rates range from $200 – $350+ per session, depending on the talent, and with higher compensation for iconic/lead roles.

Standard industry rates for 30-second commercials vary by country, market size, and usage duration. In the US and Canada, GVAA guidelines suggest $1,200-$1,500 for local TV broadcast (12 months) and $3,200-$3,500 for national campaigns.

• Digital and streaming rates are generally lower than TV broadcast, with pricing based primarily on projected impressions and reach.
• Non-union talent offers more flexible pricing and negotiable terms.
• The BSF (Basic Session Fee) compensates voice talent for recording time and is paid separately, even if the recording ultimately goes unused.
• Usage extensions beyond 12 months typically add 10% annually.
• Radio commercials in the US typically run 30-50% lower than TV rates.
• Adding web, social, or radio to TV campaigns increases total usage fees.

Usage fees, or licensing fees, compensate voice actors based on where their recordings are used and the audience size they reach. These fees apply to paid promotional content, such as ads, and typically cover a specific campaign period (typically 13 weeks to 2 years). Buyouts grant unlimited usage rights in perpetuity and are commonly used for internal content or voice overs used organically (without paid advertising).

• Voice recordings used with paid promotion are typically limited to the length of the campaign they are used for.
• Licensing fees vary depending on geographic distribution (local through international) and media channels used (TV, radio, digital, social media).
• When extending voice-over licenses for revenue-generating content, such as commercials, they typically carry a 10% annual fee increase.
• Full buyouts allow perpetual usage, typically for non-promotional voice-overs used in e-learning, IVRs, or organic online videos (without paid ads).

Voice Crafters charges clients a 10% platform fee, and voice actors are charged a 10% commission on every project they are awarded. This model helps us maintain the platform and develop new features.

• For talent, this model is cost-effective than subscription platforms, where they pay regardless of project volume.

• Fees support dispute resolution and customer service.

• All fees are transparent, and there are no surprise charges at checkout.

Both word count and finished minutes can be used for pricing, though word count is a more accurate marker, because finished minutes include pauses and silence that inflate duration without adding script content.

• While word count/finished minutes help gauge the project’s scope, it’s ultimately the usage that determines the final cost.

• Medical, legal, or technical scripts will typically carry a higher cost than standard scripts of equal length because voice actors need extra research and prep time.

• For directed sessions, voice artists may charge an extra fee to account for recording retakes and additional versions.

• To get an accurate quote, Voice Crafters recommend sharing your script and specifying the intended use.

Yes. Voice actors often go by a suggested rate guide (the GVAA Rate Guide in the US and Canada, for example). However, you’ll find most voice actors to be flexible with their rates to some degree.

• You can negotiate lower rates by accepting independent recording instead of directed sessions, raw unedited audio, flexible deadlines, or volume discounts.
• Voice Crafters can help facilitate rate negotiations with talent to find mutually beneficial arrangements.
• Voice actors’ professional-grade equipment, training, and overhead require sustainable rates. paying below-market rates risks compromising quality.
• Long-term partnerships often include custom talent pools with rate structures tailored to their needs.

Typically yes. Most Voice actors include two or more rounds of revisions in the quoted price to ensure your complete satisfaction. This covers pronunciation corrections, direction adjustments, and technical issues.

• Script changes after the recording may incur additional charges, but it can vary from one talent to another.

• Significant script rewrites that change the project scope or duration usually incur an extra fee.

• Always make sure you check the voice talent’s revision policy before commencing the project.

• Voice Crafters recommend providing clear direction and reference materials in advance to minimize revisions.

• Be sure to consolidate all revision notes into a single request when possible as opposed to sending them piecemeal.

Licensing fees can vary significantly by distribution channel and mostly reflect each platform’s audience reach. Broadcast television calls for the highest rates due to massive audiences and regulated airtime. Digital and social media rates can range from minimal fees and perpetual usage for non-promotional, organic content to substantial costs for paid advertising. A 30-second voice over might cost $250 for organic social usage, while the same spot could run $3,500+ on national TV broadcast.

• Streaming platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, and Apple TV will command high fees that approach broadcast rates for commercial ads.
• Longer campaign periods increase usage fees. Typical campaign lengths are 13 weeks, which costs less than 6 months, which costs less than 1-2 years.
• TV broadcast rates are traditionally higher because they have a wide, untargeted reach. Digital ads, on the other hand, are targeted, and so costs vary depending on the ads’ projected impressions.
• Using the same voice over across TV, social, and digital channels increases the total fees but can include bundled discounts.
• Geographic reach significantly impacts licensing fees. Regional campaigns cost more than local ones. National campaigns run about twice as high as regional, and international usage can be 2 – 3 times higher still.

Yes, Voice Crafters offer volume discounts for large-scale e-learning and educational courses, audiobooks, and long-form narration projects reflecting the value of longer recording commitments. Discounts generally range from 10-25% depending on project length, with specific rates negotiated based on total word count, finished minutes, or overall project scope.

• Bulk discounts generally apply to projects of 10,000 words or 60+ finished minutes, with larger projects receiving deeper deductions.

• Regular clients or retainer arrangements often include preferential bulk pricing.

• Recording multiple related projects together often qualifies for bulk discounts, as opposed to separate sessions.

• A script’s word count is a more reliable indicator of scope than estimated runtime, because pauses and timing variations aren’t factored into length estimates.