English voice-over — what does a professional cost?
Search for an English voice-over in Germany and you will find quotes anywhere between 50 and 5,000 euros — with no clear reason for the spread. This note explains how voice-over pricing actually breaks down, which factors truly matter and how to compare quotes on equal terms.
Not one price — four price components.
A serious voice-over quote always contains four elements: base fee (recording in the booth), edit and master (cut, noise reduction, loudness), usage rights (channel, territory, term) and optional translation or script adaptation. Any single flat rate hides one of these blocks — most often usage rights, which then become a problem later.
What a professional English voice realistically costs.
In Germany, base fees for professional English natives in B2B typically sit between 350 and 1,200 euros per recording day — depending on length, preparation and complexity. A three-minute corporate film with script prep, recording, master and worldwide online usage sits between 500 and 1,500 euros. TV or cinema spots run higher because of usage rights.
What lowers price — and what does not.
What genuinely lowers price: an own studio (no rented booth), no middle agency, clearly documented usage, clean scripts without multiple rewrites. What does not lower price honestly: recording quickly at home (room tone, background), machine-translated scripts (broken idiom), sorting usage rights later (legal risk).
Comparing quotes — the points to check.
Compare quotes on the same axis: (1) explicit usage rights including channel and term, (2) delivery format (WAV 48 kHz / 24-bit is studio standard, anything below is a compromise), (3) number of alternate reads included, (4) revisions within the original brief, (5) a firm delivery date. If any of these is missing, that is not a cheaper quote — it is an incomplete one.
Why a concrete quote beats a calculator.
Automated price calculators produce approximations and never include script preparation, translation quality or technical pronunciation. For a two-minute industrial film with 40 technical terms, preparation weighs more than mic time. A concrete, project-specific quote saves more than any flat discount ever could.
Frequently asked questions
Do you publish a price list?
No — deliberately. Every project has different requirements for length, usage and preparation. After a short exchange you receive a concrete quote instead of a misleading flat rate.
What does 24-hour delivery cost?
For standard formats there is no surcharge. On especially complex scripts an express fee is disclosed transparently in the quote.
What does re-recording individual lines cost?
Revisions within the original brief are included. Additional script paragraphs or trims are fairly billed per started slot.
What about usage rights for social media?
Online usage (site, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram) is typically covered as a package. Paid channels (TV, cinema, programmatic ads) are quoted separately.
Want a concrete quote for your project?
A short outline is enough — length, format, intended usage, timing. I reply with a firm price and delivery date.