2026 pricing guide · real bookings
Voice over rates: real prices, not a rate card
Most rate guides are built on surveys or suggested minimums. This one is built on 1,914 real bookings — actual US-dollar quotes accepted on Voicefinder. The typical voice-over project runs a median of $390, with most jobs between $260 and $650. Here's the full picture, what moves the price, and how to get an exact quote.
Quick answer: A professional voice over in the US costs a median of $390, with the middle 50% of projects between $260 and $650. Short social, web and IVR work starts around $162; broadcast commercials, national campaigns and long-form audiobooks reach $1,300 and up. Figures are medians of 1,914 real USD bookings on Voicefinder.
Updated: July 2026
What a voice over costs by tier
Real USD bands from 1,914 accepted quotes. Each boundary is an actual percentile — nothing estimated.
| Tier | Typical price | Where it sits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $162–$260 | Bottom 10–25% of quotes | Short social & web videos, radio spots, phone-system prompts (IVR), internal content and pickups. |
| Standard | $260–$650 | The middle 50% of quotes | Explainers and corporate video, e-learning modules, non-broadcast commercials, documentary narration, most day-to-day projects. |
| Premium | $650–$1,300 | Top 25% of quotes | Long-form audiobooks, documentary series, character work for games & animation, and higher-end narration. (Broadcast advertising follows the market standard below — usually higher.) |
These tiers show what actually books on Voicefinder across all project types. For advertising (broadcast TV, radio and streaming commercials), we quote the US market standard — the GVAA Rate Guide 2026 — which is higher; see the calculator and FAQ below. Methodology: percentiles of 1,914 real client-total quotes denominated in USD on Voicefinder (excluding outliers below $10 and above $50k), categorised as budget (p10–p25), standard (p25–p75) and premium (p75–p90). No survey data, no invented figures. Last updated: July 2026.
What moves the price
Why two voice overs of the same length can quote very differently.
Voice over cost calculator
Estimate duration and the market-standard US price for your project (GVAA Rate Guide 2026).
300 words ≈ 2 min 0 s of voice over at a standard pace (150 words/minute).
Market rate for tv commercial (National): $3,200–$3,500. 12-month buyout. 3–6 month windows cost less; worldwide ≈ 3× national.
Based on the GVAA Rate Guide 2026 (US market standard). Usage and broadcast rights are the biggest lever — a fixed quote comes with each proposal.
Frequently asked
Voice over pricing, answered
How much does a voiceover cost in 2026?
On Voicefinder, the median US voice-over project is $390, and most projects (the middle 50%) land between $260 and $650. Short web videos, radio spots and IVR prompts sit lower (from about $162); broadcast commercials with usage rights, long audiobooks and character work run higher (up to $1,300 and beyond). These are medians of 1,914 real USD bookings, not survey estimates.
How much does a 30–60 second commercial voice over cost?
For advertising we use the US market standard (GVAA Rate Guide 2026) rather than our own marketplace medians. A broadcast/streaming TV commercial runs from about $1,200 (local, 12-month buyout) to $3,200–$3,500 for national network; radio runs from about $850 (local) to $1,500–$1,700 (national); web-only and shorter 3–6 month windows cost less. Usage rights — media, territory and term — are the biggest driver and are scoped in every proposal.
Why are these rates more reliable than a rate card?
Because they're what clients actually paid, not a published wish-list. Most rate guides are built on surveys or suggested minimums; ours are the real medians of thousands of accepted USD proposals on the marketplace, updated from live data.
What makes one voiceover cost more than another?
The biggest driver is usage and broadcast rights — a web-only explainer costs a fraction of the same read licensed for national TV. After that: script length and finished minutes, turnaround speed, live-directed sessions, and the talent's experience and category exclusivity.
Is there a minimum session fee for voice over?
In practice yes: even the shortest US jobs rarely quote below about $162, because studio setup, a directed take and delivery carry a floor regardless of length.
How do I get an exact quote for my project?
Post a free brief describing the piece, its length and where it will air. You'll receive fixed-price proposals from verified US voice actors — with demos — within 24 hours, at no cost and no obligation.
Get real quotes for your project
Post a free brief and compare fixed-price proposals from verified US voice actors within 24 hours.