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.
How to Use Per-Word Pricing as a Voice Over Artist
Per-word voice over rates typically run $0.10–$0.40 per word for standard corporate or commercial work. A 500-word script yields $50–$200; a 5,000-word eLearning script yields $500–$2,000.
Floor
$50
per hour
Typical
$300
per hour
Premium
$1,500
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
- Total word count of the script
- Content type (commercial, corporate, eLearning, narration)
- Turnaround requirements
- Technical complexity and pronunciation demands
- Whether audio editing is included
- Delivery format and file specifications
- Usage rights required
Real quote breakdowns
Short Corporate Script (300 words)
A company needs a 300-word product overview VO for internal use.
Breakdown
300 words at $0.25/word, home studio recording, WAV and MP3 delivery, one retake pass.
eLearning Script (2,500 words)
A training provider needs a 2,500-word eLearning module narrated with clear diction and pacing.
Breakdown
2,500 words at $0.25/word, including light audio editing, scene break markers, and one revision pass.
Technical Explainer Script (1,000 words)
A software company needs a 1,000-word technical walkthrough VO with accurate pronunciation of software terms.
Breakdown
1,000 words at $0.35/word (technical premium), pronunciation review, studio-quality edited WAV, 48-hour turnaround.
Frequently asked questions
Is per-word pricing better than per-minute or per-finished-hour for VO?
Per-word is most transparent for scripts clients share upfront. Per-finished-hour is standard in eLearning and audiobooks where you cannot control speaking pace. Use per-word for shorter, well-defined scripts and per-FH for long-form narration.
How do I convert per-word rates to per-minute estimates?
An average speaking pace of 130–150 words per minute means 1 minute of audio equals roughly 140 words. At $0.25/word, that's approximately $35/minute or $2,100/FH — a reasonable corporate VO benchmark.
Should per-word pricing include audio editing?
Define this clearly in your quote. Many voice artists separate recording and editing. If you include editing, build it into your per-word rate or add a flat editing fee. Ambiguity leads to disputes.
How do I handle a script that changes significantly after I've quoted per-word?
Re-quote any script that changes by more than 10%. A major rewrite is a new project. Include a clause in your agreement that revisions resulting in more than X% word count change trigger a new quote.