How to set your freelance video editing rate

Updated October 21, 2026 · CapyJob

Many new freelance editors pick a rate by guessing or copying someone else's number. A better way is to work out what a project really costs you, then price from there. Here's a simple method you can redo any time.

Step 1: Decide what your time is worth

Start with what you need to earn in a month, then divide by the hours you can realistically bill. Remember that not every working hour is billable: messages, invoicing and finding clients take time too. Many freelancers can bill around half to two-thirds of their working hours.

Step 2: Time a typical project

Track how long a normal job takes from download to delivery, including revisions. A 60-second short-form edit might take you 1.5 hours; a 12-minute YouTube video might take 8.

Step 3: Turn it into a project price

Multiply your hours by your hourly base, then round to a clean number. Clients usually prefer a per-video or per-project price to an hourly rate, because they know the cost up front.

The numbers in this table are a worked example using the $38 base above, not market rates.

Step 4: Write down what's included

State the number of revision rounds (two is common), the delivery format and the turnaround. Charge separately for rush jobs, extra revision rounds, and for UGC, paid-ad usage rights.

Step 5: Raise your rate on purpose

Review your rate every few months. Raise it for new clients first when you're busy, when you add a skill like motion graphics or AI workflows, or when your edits show measurable results.