No two productions are the same, so there is no fixed price list. The cost of a film is the sum of its parts: the type of film, its length, the scale of the shoot, the creative work it needs, where it is filmed and who appears in it. Below is a general guide to what each level of budget typically buys.
What each budget typically buys
£1,000 – £5,000
Simple projects: short radio ads, basic 2D graphic animations and post-production work such as stock footage films. A smaller budget can still lead to powerful results, but expectations need managing: the focus is on what can be made without extensive resources.
£5,001 – £10,000
Straightforward projects like talking head interviews, which need no complex logistics or extensive post-production. Typically a small team (producer/director, camera and sound), a single location, editing and delivery.
£10,001 – £20,000
More ambitious productions: shoots at more than one location for a more varied film, and basic graphics or animation to support the story, which suits educational content, explainers and promotional films.
£20,001 – £50,000
More complex brand films or regional TV commercials. Typically scripting, art direction, larger crews paid at APA rates (the Advertising Producers Association’s crew rates) and several shoot days on location or in a studio.
£50,001 – £90,000
Several high-end brand films, or a relatively straightforward TV commercial. Room for specialist crew such as an art department, set builders, and grip and lighting teams, and the equipment that comes with them.
£90,001 – £200,000
Brand-led TV commercials with multiple deliverables: more shoot days, thorough pre-production, advanced post-production such as complex VFX or an external colourist, broadcast delivery and social cut-downs.
£200,000 +
Highly complex shoots over several days and locations, with the potential for CGI and visual effects: ambitious projects that need intricate logistics and a top-tier team.
What moves the price
- The type of film. A TV commercial, recruitment film, DRTV ad, charity appeal, animation, training drama, testimonial or brand film each has its own shape and cost.
- Length and versions. How long the film runs, and how many versions and cut-downs the campaign needs.
- The scale of the shoot. The size of the crew and the number of shoot days.
- Creative work. Concept, script, storyboards and animatics. A testimonial film needs structured questions rather than a full script, so it costs less to develop than a brand film or a commercial.
- Location. A studio, your office, a hired location or outdoors.
- Talent. Actors, presenters, interviewers and voice-over artists. A voice-over also brings the cost of the audio engineer and the session.
Getting a real number
We cost every project on its own brief. That keeps the budget transparent: you get what the film needs, without excess, and if it can be made for less we will be the first to tell you.
Get in touch and a producer will talk it through with you. Planning an AI film? Our AI video cost calculator gives you an estimate in about two minutes.