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 Audiobook Narration?
Audiobook narrators charge $150–$400 per finished hour (PFH) for independent authors, and $300–$600 PFH for publishers. ACX royalty share deals are an alternative model for indie authors.
Floor
$150
per hour
Typical
$300
per hour
Premium
$600
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
- Finished hours of audio required
- Genre and complexity (fiction, non-fiction, technical, multi-voice)
- Publisher vs. independent author client
- Royalty share vs. flat fee arrangement
- Inclusion of audio mastering and ACX/Findaway spec compliance
- Number of characters and accents required
- Proofreading or audio sync required
- Turnaround timeline
Real quote breakdowns
Short Non-Fiction for Indie Author
An independent author with a 50,000-word business book needs narration (approximately 5.5 finished hours).
Breakdown
5.5 finished hours at $200/PFH, including QC pass, ACX-compliant mastered WAV files, MP3 delivery.
Fiction Novel with Multiple Characters
A self-publishing fiction author needs an 8-hour novel narrated with 6 distinct character voices.
Breakdown
8 finished hours at $350/PFH (character voice premium), mastered files, QC proofread, ACX and Findaway-compliant delivery.
Publisher Non-Fiction Audiobook
A mid-size publisher commissions narration for a 10-hour business title with author involvement in pronunciation review.
Breakdown
10 finished hours at $500/PFH (publisher rate), pronunciation guide session, publisher QC pass, broadcast-quality mastered files.
Frequently asked questions
How many finished hours does a typical book produce?
A rough rule of thumb: 9,000–10,000 words of prose equals approximately 1 finished hour of narration. A 70,000-word novel yields roughly 7–8 finished hours.
Should I accept ACX royalty share deals?
Royalty share works best for books with strong commercial potential from established authors. For unknown authors or niche topics, a flat fee is safer. A royalty share deal means you may wait years (if ever) to recover your time investment.
What technical specs should my audiobook files meet?
ACX requires: 192kbps or higher MP3, 44.1kHz sample rate, -23 dB RMS with -3 dBFS peak, and -60 dB or lower noise floor. Findaway Voices and Libro.fm have similar requirements. Always confirm specs with the client before delivery.
How do I price audiobooks with heavy accents, dialects, or multiple POV characters?
Add 20–40% to your base PFH rate for multi-character or dialect-heavy narration. Maintaining vocal consistency across a long book for multiple characters is a significant skill premium.