Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
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Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How Much Should You Charge for UI Animation?
UI animation projects typically cost $1,500–$10,000 depending on scope, fidelity, and whether Lottie/code-ready exports are required. Microinteraction sets run $1,500–$4,000; full onboarding flows can reach $8,000–$10,000.
Floor
$1,500
per hour
Typical
$4,500
per hour
Premium
$10,000
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
What changes the price
- Number of individual microinteractions or states
- Whether Lottie/JSON exports are required
- Complexity of transitions (simple fade vs. physics-based motion)
- Collaboration required with developers
- Fidelity level (prototype vs. production-ready)
- Whether UI design files are provided
- Platform (mobile, web, desktop)
- Number of revision rounds
Real quote breakdowns
Microinteraction Set for Mobile App
A mobile app team needs 6 button states and loading animations delivered as Lottie files.
Breakdown
6 microinteractions, After Effects animation, Lottie export and QA, one revision round per animation.
Onboarding Flow Animation
A SaaS product needs a 5-screen animated onboarding flow with transitions, illustrated character animations, and Lottie exports.
Breakdown
Motion spec review, 5-screen animation, character rig and animation, Lottie exports, developer handoff documentation, two revision rounds.
Full UI Motion System
A product team needs a complete UI motion system: principles, component animations, and a Lottie library for their design system.
Breakdown
Motion principles document, 20 animated components, Lottie library, developer annotation, integration QA support, and Figma spec documentation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between UI animation and motion design?
Motion design is the broader craft of creating animated visuals. UI animation specifically refers to animations within a product interface — transitions, microinteractions, loading states — that serve functional UX purposes.
Should I charge more for Lottie exports?
Yes. Lottie exports require additional QA to ensure they render correctly across devices. Add 15–25% to your animation fee when code-ready exports are expected.
Do I need to collaborate with developers for UI animation projects?
For production-ready work, yes. Factor developer collaboration time (calls, annotation, QA) into your estimate. This is often 2–5 extra hours per project that beginners forget to charge for.
Should UI animators work in After Effects or Figma?
After Effects remains the industry standard for complex UI animation. Figma's native animation tools (Smart Animate, Prototype) are suitable for basic transitions and stakeholder presentations, but not for production Lottie output.