Guide · Pricing
German Voice Over Rates –
What a Professional German Voice Actor Really Costs
From phone prompt to audiobook: all pricing factors, an honest price table and tips to keep your project within budget.
"What does it cost roughly?" — that is the question we are asked most frequently. And the answer frustrates many: it depends. But that is the truth. Voice over fees are not a standard unit; they depend on numerous factors — and knowing these allows better planning and comparison.
This guide explains why voice over fees vary so much, shows a realistic price table by use case, and gives you the tools to budget your voice over project sensibly — without nasty surprises.
The two components of every voice over fee
A professional voice over fee always consists of two parts — even when presented as a single figure:
Recording fee: Covers the studio time, the artist's preparation, the recording itself, editing and the finished file delivery. This is the base for all formats.
Usage rights fee: Covers where, how long and in which territory the recording may be used. A phone prompt used internally costs less in usage rights than a national radio campaign or international TV spot. The wider the use, the higher the rights fee.
For simple formats like phone prompts, online videos or internal training materials, usage rights are often already included in the base price. Always ask explicitly whether a quote includes usage rights.
Reference prices by format
Phone Prompt
from €59
Greeting, on-hold, answering machine. Short texts, fast delivery. Usage rights for internal telephone systems included.
Explainer Video
from €199
Voice over for explainer video or brand film up to approx. 2 minutes. Dry WAV master included 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 module structure, deliverable per chapter.
What influences 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.
Territory: Regional, national or international? A recording used worldwide carries correspondingly higher usage rights than one used in a single country.
Duration: For how long will the recording be used? Time-limited licences cost less than permanent rights (buyout).
Production complexity: A simple dry recording costs less than a fully produced spot with direction, multiple takes and post-production mixing.
Turnaround time: Standard delivery within 24–48 hours is included in the base price. Express delivery on the same day carries a surcharge of typically 50%.
Why the cheapest is often the most expensive
A recording that has to be re-done costs more than a professional production at a fair price. Poor audio quality in a phone prompt or video is immediately noticeable to callers and viewers — and damages the brand. A correction round that is needed because the briefing was incomplete costs time and money. Factor in the true cost, not just the initial price.
Is there a volume discount for voice over services?
Yes. For larger projects — for example a complete e-learning course or multiple corporate videos — package prices are negotiated. Contact Andreas Brenner directly to discuss.
What does a buyout mean for a commercial?
Buyout means all usage rights transfer permanently and without restriction to the client — without time, territorial or media limitations. This is practical because no ongoing licence renewals are needed. Accordingly, the buyout fee is higher than a time-limited licence.
What happens if I need more corrections?
One correction round is always included. If additional corrections are needed — for example because the script fundamentally changes — these are billed by time, typically from €25 per correction.
View pricing or request a quote
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.