How Much Does Video Editing Cost? Rates by Video Type in 2026

Video editing typically costs $15 to $75 or more per short clip for TikTok, Shorts and Reels, and about $300 to $1,500 for a 10 to 20 minute YouTube video. Freelance editors usually charge about $25 to $150 an hour, and agencies charge more. The price depends on what kind of video you need, how long the raw footage is, how fast you need it, and how much polish it takes. For ongoing short-form work, most creators pay a monthly retainer of about $800 to $3,500 or more.

This guide is for people hiring an editor. If you're an editor setting your own prices, see how to price video editing services.

The short answer: cost by video type

Video type	Typical cost	How it's usually priced
Simple short clip (talking head, podcast, captions)	$15 to $35 per clip	Per clip
Mid-level short clip (B-roll, zooms, branded captions)	$30 to $50 per clip	Per clip
Complex short clip (gaming effects, memes, motion graphics)	$50 to $75+ per clip	Per clip
Weekly short-form clips	About $800 to $3,500+ per month	Monthly retainer
Long YouTube video (10 to 20 minutes)	About $300 to $1,500 per video	Per project or hourly
Podcast episode, full edit	Varies widely with length and cameras	Per episode or hourly

The short-form figures come from our clipper pay rates guide. The long-form figures are ranges from public rate guides we checked in October 2026. They vary a lot, so treat them as a rough guide. Kreatli Marketplace is built for short-form clips, not long-form editing.

Pricing models

Editors price their work in five main ways:

• Per clip: the most common model for short-form. You pay a fixed price for each finished clip.
• Per video: a fixed price for a whole project, such as one YouTube video or one ad.
• Per minute of finished video: common for long-form and corporate work. Public rate guides put it at roughly $20 to $150 per finished minute, depending on complexity.
• Hourly: about $25 to $150 an hour for freelancers in public rate guides. You pay for time, so a clear brief matters even more.
• Monthly retainer: a set number of clips or videos each month for a fixed fee. This is how most creators buy short-form editing once they post every week.

Per-minute pricing doesn't suit short clips well. A 30-second clip can take as long to find and edit as a 60-second one.

Short-form clips: what they cost and why

Short-form editing means turning long videos, streams or podcasts into vertical clips for TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. The editor finds the moment, cuts it to 9:16, adds a hook and captions, and exports it.

Typical prices from our clipper pay rates:

• $15 to $35 for a simple clip, like a podcast or talking-head moment with captions
• $30 to $50 for a mid-level clip with B-roll, zooms or branded captions
• $50 to $75 or more for complex clips with gaming effects, memes or motion graphics
• About $800 to $3,500 or more a month on a retainer

Most of the time goes into finding the moments, not the editing. That's why sending timestamps can bring the price down.

What drives the price

• Raw footage length: a four-hour stream takes longer to review than a 20-minute video.
• Turnaround: same-day or 24-hour delivery usually costs more.
• Captions and motion graphics: animated captions, text, zooms and effects add time to every clip.
• Revisions: agree how many rounds are included before you start.
• Experience and niche: specialists in gaming, finance or a specific style often charge more, but need fewer fixes.
• Volume: a steady weekly batch often gets a better rate than one-off clips.
• Extras: thumbnails, an extra 16:9 version for YouTube, or custom music are often priced separately. Ask what's included.

Freelancer vs. agency vs. in-house

Option	What you pay for	Best when
Freelance editor	Per clip, per video or a retainer	You want flexible volume and a direct relationship
Agency	A higher fee that covers project management	You want it handled end to end and have the budget
In-house editor	A salary plus benefits	You need daily output for one brand all year

Freelancers are usually the cheapest per clip. Agencies cost more because you also pay for their account managers and their margin. For the details, see clipping agency vs. clipping marketplace and freelance clipper vs. in-house editor.

Sample monthly budgets for short-form clips

These examples use the pay guide's per-clip ranges. Your real quote depends on your footage and style.

Clips per month	Simple clips ($15 to $35)	Mid-level clips ($30 to $50)
10	$150 to $350	$300 to $500
30	$450 to $1,050	$900 to $1,500
60	$900 to $2,100	$1,800 to $3,000

Worked example: a podcast wants 12 simple clips a week, about 48 a month. At $25 a clip, that's $1,200 a month. Many editors would offer that as a retainer.

How to get an accurate quote

Editors quote better when they know exactly what you need. Include:

• What the source footage is and how long each video runs
• How many clips or videos you need each week
• Examples of clips you like
• Your caption style, fonts and colors
• Your deadline and how many revisions you expect

Our guide on how to write a clipper job post includes a template. When you're ready, you can hire a short-form video editor on Kreatli Marketplace. You agree pay and terms directly with the editor, because Kreatli doesn't process payments. For more budgeting detail, see how much to pay clippers.

FAQ

How much does video editing cost per minute?

Public rate guides put long-form editing at roughly $20 to $150 per finished minute, as of October 2026, depending on how complex the edit is. Short clips are usually priced per clip instead, at about $15 to $75 or more each, because a 30-second clip can take as long as a 60-second one.

How much do video editors charge per hour?

Freelance video editors typically charge about $25 to $150 an hour, based on public rate guides checked in October 2026. Agencies usually charge more. Beginners sit at the low end, and specialists with strong portfolios at the high end.

How much does a YouTube Shorts or TikTok editor cost?

A short-form editor typically charges $15 to $35 per simple clip, $30 to $50 for mid-level clips, and $50 to $75 or more for complex edits. Creators who need clips every week usually pay a monthly retainer of about $800 to $3,500 or more.

Is it cheaper to hire a freelancer or an agency?

A freelancer is usually cheaper per clip or video. An agency charges more because the price includes project management and its margin. An agency can still make sense if you want someone else to handle the whole process.

How much should I budget per month for short-form clips?

Multiply the clips you need by the per-clip rate. For example, 30 simple clips a month at $15 to $35 each comes to about $450 to $1,050. Weekly volume often moves to a retainer, which typically runs about $800 to $3,500 or more a month.