How much does a video editor cost in 2026?
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A video editor can be paid by the hour, by the day, per video or per month. The same work changes price with the model. Here are the 2026 numbers and how to pick the model that protects you.
How much does a video editor cost in 2026?
A freelance video editor in France charges between €200 and €500 per day in 2026, roughly €25 to €60 per hour. On micro-service marketplaces, listed rates drop to around €100 per day. A salaried editor costs €1,800 to €5,000 gross per month depending on experience. Per video, it all depends on format and finish.
What is the hourly rate of a video editor?
A freelance video editor’s hourly rate sits between €25 and €60 in 2026, once you divide the day rate by eight hours. On a marketplace like Codeur, the listed average drops to €14 per hour, pulled down by beginners and profiles based outside France.
Hourly is the riskiest model for you. You do not know how many hours a video takes until you receive it. A slow editor costs you more than a fast one at equal quality. At Irys we never bill by the hour for that reason.
What is the day rate of a video editor?
A freelance video editor’s day rate runs from €200 to €500 in 2026, averaging around €380 according to the Mission Freelances barometer. The breakdown by experience gives €250 to €315 for a junior, €315 to €425 for a mid-level editor and over €425 for a senior.
Day rates suit long projects: a documentary, a 20-module course, a podcast edited in one block. For weekly Shorts, they make no sense. You are not buying time, you are buying published videos.
How much does a video editor cost per video?
Per video, price depends on three things: format, finish level and volume of footage. A captioned Short with sound design and a 15-minute YouTube video have nothing in common in working time.
Ranges by format are in our 2026 video editing price guide. The principle to remember: per video, you pay for a result, not an effort. It is the model that protects you best when ordering one-off.
How much does a video editor cost per month?
A salaried video editor costs €1,800 to €2,200 gross per month early in their career, and €3,500 to over €5,000 gross for a senior, according to École des vidéastes. Add employer contributions, a workstation and licences, and the real cost goes well beyond gross pay.
The agency subscription is the other monthly model. At Irys, 8 Shorts a month cost €425 excl. tax, 16 Shorts plus 2 YouTube videos €1,325, and 8 Ads plus one VSL €1,625. Publishing included, no commitment, first video free.
| Model | 2026 range | Best for | What can slip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | €25 to €60 (marketplaces from €14) | Tweaks, emergencies | The number of hours |
| Daily | €200 to €500 | Long projects, documentaries | The number of days |
| Per video | Depends on format and finish | One-off orders | Billed revisions |
| Monthly (employee) | €1,800 to €5,000 gross + contributions | Very high volume | Hiring, absences |
| Monthly (agency) | €425 to €1,625 excl. tax at Irys | Regular publishing | Nothing: fixed price |
What moves the price of a video editor?
Five factors move the price: the editor’s experience, finish level, volume of footage, turnaround and number of versions. Format matters less than people think, finish is what takes time.
Across the 1,600 videos we have delivered, time does not go into the cuts. It goes into animated captions, sound design and B-roll. A “clean” Short and a Short built for retention come from the same footage and are nowhere near the same price. Our standard turnaround is 48 to 72 hours, included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
What budget should a beginner plan for a video editor?
To publish two Shorts a week with a professional finish, plan €360 to €450 excl. tax per month. That is the price of an 8-Short pack or subscription at a specialized agency.
Is a cheap video editor a bad deal?
Not always, but often. At €5 per Short, you pay in revisions, delays and videos you never publish. Test on one video before handing over volume.
Does the price include revisions?
It depends on the provider. Ask how many versions are included before signing. At Irys, feedback is done by annotation on the timeline and included in the subscription.
Why does Irys not bill by the hour?
Because you are not buying hours, you are buying published videos. A fixed monthly price gives you a known budget and pushes us to be efficient, not slow.
A fixed price, known upfront
Tell us your volume and formats and we tell you the price. Your first video is free so you can judge the quality before committing.
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