How to Estimate Video Editing
When it comes to editing quality video, time factors definitely come into play. The following workflow is ONLY for the EDITING part of video. It does not include actual shooting, graphics, still pictures, animation, music selection, or other items that are required on many projects.
The typical workflow for video editing will include at least the following services:
- Importing Video from sources
- Logging, identifying, and keywording select clips
- Editing to a rough cut
- Input and revisions
- Color enhancement and sound mix
- Final Review
- Delivery of compressed video or creation of media
To estimate the amount of time it will take for an editing session, we use ratios. Videos with longer takes (like interviews) will edit faster than one with many inserts or cut-aways. Dramatic videos with many angles and takes will require more time. For example, music videos that are fast paced with lots of cuts and angles will take much longer than an interview style video.
Video editing ratios for a typical 3 to 5 minute video will range from 10:1 to 35:1. For example – on the fast end, that means that it will take 10 minutes of editing for every 1 minute of SOURCE video. If you have 60 minutes of SOURCE video, then that is used as the multiplier for estimating purposes.
Example FAST Edit
You bring me 60 minutes of video – from various sources and takes. You want a 3 minute video from the source video that you provide with some color correction, basic audio leveling, music track that you provide, and a few very basic lower third graphics. We are assuming the video is of sufficient quality and so is the audio.
Fast Video Editing
60 mins (source) X 10:1 (est ratio multiplier) =
600 mins / 60 mins per hour =
10 hours X $110 per hour =
$1100.00
Remember, this does not including shooting nor pre-production and does not necessarily include other things such as creating graphics, finding suitable music tracks, or animations. It also does not include drone (aerial) video. All of those factors will likely INCREASE the multiplier – since this example assumes that you (the client) provide them in suitable quality and format.