AI video pricing
AI Video Generation Cost Calculator
Estimate AI video generation cost from output seconds, cost per generated second, failed renders, editing time, subscriptions, payment fees, client price, and target margin.
Estimate AI video project cost
Replace the defaults with your real content volume, tool rate, labor cost, client price, and target margin.
- 1Set volumeEnter the work you plan to deliver.
- 2Enter costsUse real AI, tool, labor, and fee assumptions.
- 3Check priceCompare margin and minimum price.
- 4Copy reportUse the output in a quote or planning doc.
Next: copy the report or share link, then request a worksheet or send a pricing correction if the assumptions need review.
| Cost line | Formula | Estimated cost |
|---|
Quote report
Adjust inputs to generate a project cost and pricing summary.
Normalize clips to output seconds
AI video platforms bill by credits, clips, or seconds. Converting to cost per output second makes quotes easier to compare.
Budget for failed motion
Video projects often need repeated renders for camera movement, hands, text, timing, and consistency.
Add editing and packaging
Captions, voice, music, cuts, exports, and platform formatting belong in the project cost.
Where costs usually hide
The visible model price is only one line item. Real client projects also include rejected generations, style fixes, manual edits, subscriptions, exports, client review, and payment fees. This page is built around those quote-ready costs.
| Use case | Common hidden cost | Input to adjust |
|---|---|---|
| Short video batch | Repeated renders and manual editing for each clip. | Output seconds, render multiplier, and human hours. |
| Product ad video | Image references, product consistency, captions, music, and approvals. | Retry buffer, script words, and misc costs. |
| Cinematic shot pack | Premium model seconds are expensive at final quality. | Cost per generated second and target margin. |
Connect video tools to calculator inputs
AI video tools often bill by credits, generation seconds, monthly minutes, or plan tiers. Convert the tool's billing unit into cost per generated second before quoting a client project.
| Video workflow input | How to estimate it | Where to enter it |
|---|---|---|
| Credits or generation seconds | Convert model credits or API billing into an effective dollar cost per generated second. | Cost per generated second. |
| Plan minutes | Divide the plan cost by realistic usable generated seconds after failed renders and unused capacity. | Cost per generated second and allocated tool subscription. |
| Failed renders | Budget extra attempts for motion errors, product consistency, hands, text, pacing, and approvals. | Render/revision multiplier and AI retry buffer. |
| Post-production | Include editing, captions, voice, music, exports, thumbnails, and platform formatting. | Script words, human hours, hourly cost, and other project costs. |
FAQ
How is AI video generation cost calculated?
Multiply output seconds by cost per generated second and a render or revision multiplier. Then add script work, retry buffer, editing time, subscriptions, fees, and margin.
Why use cost per second for AI video?
Video providers may bill by credits, plan limits, or clip length. Cost per second is the clearest way to compare providers and estimate project quotes.
Can this calculator handle Runway, Sora, Kling, Veo, or fal?
Yes. Enter the effective cost per generated second from the provider or subscription plan you use.
Sources
Pricing sources were checked on 2026-07-05. Use these links to verify current rates before committing to production budgets or client quotes.