How Much Does a Voice Actor Cost? A Guide to Voice Over Rates

Demystifying Voice Over Rates

It’s the first question every potential client asks: “how much does a voice actor cost?” While it would be easy if there were a simple price list, the truth is that professional voice over pricing is based on value, not just the time spent in the recording booth.

Think of it like licensing a photograph: a photo for a small company’s internal newsletter costs far less than the same photo used in a global advertising campaign. The value is determined by the audience and the reach.

In general terms, this blog will break down the key factors that influence voice over rates so you can quote and budget confidently for your next project.

The Session Fee

Most quotes begin with a Base Studio Session Fee aka the "turning on the mic" fee. This fee covers the fundamental aspects of the recording process:

• The Actor’s Time and Talent: The skill, preparation, and performance required to bring your script to life.

• Professional Studio Use: The use of a broadcast-quality, acoustically treated recording space, microphone, and audio interface.

• Basic Audio Editing: Removal of breaths, mistakes, and mouth clicks to deliver a clean, ready-to-use audio file.

For some projects, especially long-form narration, this fee is often calculated based on the length of the script (more on that below). But for many projects, the session fee is just the starting point. The biggest variable is usage.

The Usage Fee

When you hire a voice actor, you are licensing a performance for a specific purpose. This license, or "usage," is the single biggest factor in determining the final cost. Usage is typically defined by the type of project.

There are many different voice over genres out there and many different rate structures. Here are some of the most common...

Commercials (TV, Radio & Web) This is where usage is most critical. Commercial voice over rates are based on three things:

1. The Market: Where will the ad be aired? A local cable ad in a single city will cost less than a national network campaign.

2. The Media: Will it be on TV, terrestrial radio, streaming radio (Spotify/Pandora), or paid social media ads (YouTube/Facebook)?

3. The Terms: For how long will the ad run? The standard broadcast cycle is 13 weeks, with options to renew for 1 year or longer.

Corporate & Web Narration This category covers everything from brand videos on your website and trade show presentations to internal announcements. The corporate narration cost is typically calculated based on the script's length, plus a usage fee if the video will be used publicly (like on a website or social media) for a set term, usually 1-2 years.

E-Learning & Training Modules E-learning voice over rates are calculated differently. Since the content is used internally for training purposes, the pricing model is simpler. It's almost always based on the length of the material, calculated either on a Per-Word or Per-Finished-Minute basis. This rate is typically all-inclusive, covering the performance and "in-perpetuity" rights for the company's internal use.

Script Length & Word Count

For narration-heavy projects, the script length is a primary factor. A longer script means more time in the studio for the actor to record and edit. As a rule of thumb, the average speaking pace is about 150 words per minute. So, a 1,500-word script will result in approximately 10 minutes of finished audio.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

To get a fast and accurate quote from any voice actor, be ready to provide this information:

1. The Final Script: Or at least an accurate word count.

2. Intended Usage: Where and how will the audio be used? (e.g., National TV, internal training video, etc.)

3. Usage Term: For how long will you use it?

4. Special Requirements: Do you need a live directed session, audio split into multiple files, or audio synced to a video?

Understanding these components demystifies the quoting process. It ensures you’re getting a fair price for the specific value your project requires.

Coming up in Part 2: Now that you understand how voice over rates are calculated, we’ll cover the nuts and bolts of the business side. We’ll discuss standard payment terms (Net 30, etc.), international currency, and the different forms of payment you can use to hire talent from anywhere in the world.

Thanks For Reading!

To learn more about me, hear some samples, or download my demos, just go to www.tomdheere.com.

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Tom Dheere is a voice actor with over 25 years of experience narrating just about every type of voiceover you can think of. He also helps other voice talents navigate the voiceover industry as the VO Strategist. When not voicing or talking about voicing, he produces the sci-fi comic book Agent 1.22.