Blog · Pricing & Budgeting
How Much Does a German Voice Over Cost? –
Rates & Factors Explained
One of the most frequently asked questions: "What does it actually cost?" The honest answer: it depends. But here are concrete reference values — and the factors that determine the price.
Reference values: what does each format cost?
Voice over prices vary considerably — depending on experience, medium and scope of usage. Here are realistic entry prices for the most common production formats:
Phone Prompt
from €59
Greeting message, on-hold message or answering machine. Short texts, fast delivery, ready for your telephone system.
Explainer Video
from €199
Voice over for explainer video or brand film, up to approx. 2 minutes. Including dry WAV master for your video editing.
Radio Spot
from €149
Fully produced spot for radio broadcast, up to 30 seconds. Including usage rights for regional broadcasting.
E-Learning
from €0.10 / word
Word-based billing for course voice overs. Calibrated to your SCORM package, deliverable per module.
What influences the price
Voice over prices are not arbitrary. Three factors determine the majority of the price:
Text length: More text means more recording time and more post-production. Short texts (up to 100 words) are significantly cheaper than long scripts for audiobooks or extensive e-learning courses.
Medium: Where will the recording be used? An internal training file is cheaper than a national TV spot. This is not about the recording itself, but about usage rights — more on that below.
Scope of usage: How long, how broadly and in which territory will the recording be used? Regional or national? Online or broadcast? Time-limited or permanent (buyout)? These factors feed into the calculation.
Usage rights explained
The topic that often surprises clients: voice over prices often consist of two parts — the recording fee and the usage rights. The recording fee covers the work in the studio. The usage rights cover how and where the recording may be used.
For simple online videos, phone prompts or internal training, usage rights are generally included in the base price or very affordable. For radio spots, TV advertising or international use, separate usage rights are agreed — because the value for the client is correspondingly higher.
A "buyout" means: all usage rights transfer permanently and without restriction to the client. This is the most expensive option, but offers maximum flexibility.
Frequently asked questions about voice over pricing
Are there package prices for multiple productions?
Yes. If you order multiple phone prompts, videos or formats at once, a package price can be agreed. Get in touch directly — a tailored quote will be provided.
What does express production cost?
For delivery within 4–8 hours, an express surcharge of typically 50 percent on the base fee is charged. Whether express is possible depends on the current schedule — just ask when enquiring.
Are corrections included in the price?
One round of corrections is included in the base price — meaning adjustments due to script changes or a revised tone brief. Errors on the recording side — stumbles, incorrect emphasis — are of course corrected at no extra charge.
Get a quote or view pricing
Have a specific project? Send your script and brief — a quote follows, typically within a few hours. Or view the pricing page directly for an immediate overview.