Video Production Budget Calculator
Estimate video production costs including crew, equipment, and post-production. Build accurate budgets for commercials, corporate videos, and content.
Industry-standard rates and equipment
Pre-Production
Crew (per day)
Equipment Rentals (per day)
Post-Production
Budget Breakdown
* Estimates based on industry averages. Actual costs vary by location, talent availability, and specific project requirements.
How to Use This Calculator
Set your number of shoot days and target video length.
Choose your production level to adjust rate expectations.
Select crew members, equipment, and post-production services needed.
Review your total budget with automatic contingency calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical cost per finished minute of video?
Costs range dramatically: $1,000-3,000/minute for basic corporate video, $5,000-15,000/minute for polished commercial content, and $25,000+/minute for broadcast-quality production. The biggest factors are crew size, equipment quality, and post-production complexity.
How many shoot days should I budget for?
A general rule is 1 shoot day per 1-2 minutes of finished content for scripted work. Documentary style may require 3-5 days of shooting per finished minute. Always add buffer time—productions almost always run longer than planned.
What post-production costs are often underestimated?
Music licensing, color grading, and revision rounds are frequently underbudgeted. Licensed music can cost $500-5,000+ per track. Professional color grading adds $500-2,000. Budget for at least 2-3 revision rounds in your timeline and costs.
Should I rent or buy equipment?
For occasional productions, renting is almost always more cost-effective. Camera technology changes quickly, and rental houses maintain and insure equipment. Only consider purchasing if you shoot 100+ days per year or need specialized gear always on hand.
How much contingency should I include?
Standard practice is 10-15% contingency for productions with detailed planning, 20-25% for projects with unknowns (new locations, unproven concepts). This covers weather delays, equipment issues, additional takes, and scope changes during production.
Why Use This Calculator
- Build comprehensive budgets covering all production phases
- Select specific crew roles and equipment needs
- Compare basic, standard, and premium production levels
- Calculate cost per finished minute of video
- Include contingency for unexpected expenses
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"The video production budget tool helped us scope a realistic project for our client's budget. No more awkward conversations."
Executive Producer, Production Company