Transparent Rates 2026

German Voice Over Rates & Pricing 2026 – Direct from the Artist

No agency markup. No hidden fees. Book directly from a professional German voice actor and native speaker — better rates, direct contact, studio-quality audio from brief to delivery.

from €59 Phone Prompts
24h Standard Delivery
Fixed Transparent Rates
0 fees No Hidden Costs

Pricing Overview

Three categories cover the majority of voice over work. Complex or long-form projects always get a tailored quote.

Starter

from €59

Phone prompts, on-hold messages and short clips up to approx. 30 seconds.

  • 1 revision included
  • Delivery: MP3 + WAV
  • Standard turnaround 24 h
  • Additional prompts at reduced rate
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Production

from €199

Explainer videos, e-learning modules and corporate videos — priced per finished recorded minute.

  • 1 revision included
  • All common audio formats
  • Sync to video on request
  • Volume pricing for series
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Commercial

from €149

Radio spots, TV commercials and online advertising. Usage rights are quoted separately.

  • Online usage rights included
  • TV & radio: buyout on request
  • Territory and duration negotiable
  • Quote required for broadcast
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What Influences the Price?

Voice over pricing is not one-size-fits-all. Several factors combine to determine the final cost of a project, and understanding them helps you budget accurately from the start.

Usage rights and medium have the biggest impact. A recording used only internally within a company costs far less than one broadcast on national television. Online usage (web, social media, YouTube) is generally the most affordable category, while broadcast rights — especially nationwide TV or radio — command a significant premium.

Territory matters too. A radio spot running only in Bavaria is priced differently from one airing across all German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). International campaigns are quoted individually based on reach and platform.

Duration and text length affect recording time and editing effort. Very short clips (phone prompts, short ads) are priced per unit; longer content like e-learning modules or documentary narration is priced per finished recorded minute.

Exclusivity can be added to any project. If you need to ensure that the same voice is not used by a direct competitor for a defined period, an exclusivity fee is added to the base rate.

Deadline urgency plays a role for express bookings. Standard delivery is 24 hours from script approval. Same-day or weekend delivery is possible and priced with a small surcharge.

Number of revisions: Every project includes one round of free revisions. Additional rounds are invoiced at a modest hourly rate. A clear, final script before recording reduces revision rounds significantly.

The best way to get an accurate price is to send a brief — script, intended usage, medium and territory — and you will receive a fixed quote within a few hours.

Quick Reference

Project typeStarting from
Single phone prompt€59 net
IVR system (10 prompts)€390 net
Explainer video (1 min)€199 net
E-learning (per min)€199 net
Corporate video (per min)€199 net
Online commercial€149 net
Radio spot (buyout)on request
TV commercial (buyout)on request

All prices are net, excluding 19% German VAT. See VAT section below for EU/non-EU rules.

Usage Rights & Buyout Explained

When you commission a voice over recording, you are purchasing both the creative service (the recording itself) and a licence to use that recording. These are two separate components of the total price.

A usage licence defines where, how long and in what medium a recording may be used. Standard licences cover a specific medium (e.g. online), a defined territory and a defined period (e.g. 12 months). After the licence period expires, the licence can be renewed — often at a reduced rate since no new recording is needed.

A buyout replaces the time-limited licence with a one-time, unlimited, perpetual licence. You pay once and may use the recording without restriction, for as long as you wish, across all agreed media and territories. Buyouts are the standard model for TV and radio commercials, where tracking usage over time is impractical.

For online content, e-learning and corporate video, a perpetual online licence is usually included in the base rate — so in practice these projects work like a buyout for digital use. For broadcast, a separate buyout fee is calculated based on reach, territory and campaign duration.

All usage rights are clearly specified in writing before the project begins. There are no surprise invoices after delivery.

Formats & Delivery

Audio Formats

Standard delivery includes:

  • MP3 — 320 kbps, stereo
  • WAV — 48 kHz / 24-bit, stereo

Available on request:

  • AIFF — for Mac-based post-production workflows
  • OGG — for web and game audio pipelines
  • WAV 8 kHz / 16-bit mono — for telephony and IVR systems
  • Custom specs — any sample rate or bit depth your system requires

Files are delivered via a secure download link (WeTransfer or similar). Large batches are organised in clearly labelled folders.

Turnaround Times

  • Standard: 24 hours from script approval
  • Express (same day): available with advance notice — small surcharge applies
  • Weekend delivery: available on request

Revisions

Every project includes one free revision round. A revision covers re-recording lines with changed emphasis, pace or pronunciation. Script changes that require a full re-record are treated as new recordings.

Sending a final, proofread script before recording begins is the single best way to avoid extra costs.

VAT & Invoicing

BrennerMedien GmbH is a German limited company (GmbH) registered in Augsburg, Germany. VAT ID: DE335058913.

German clients and EU clients without a VAT ID: All prices are net. 19% German VAT is added to the invoice total.

EU business clients with a valid VAT ID: The EU reverse charge mechanism applies. The invoice is issued at 0% VAT; you self-account for VAT in your own country. Please provide your VAT ID when placing your order.

Non-EU clients (USA, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, etc.): Invoiced at 0% VAT. No VAT is charged on cross-border B2B services under German tax law.

Invoices are issued in Euros (EUR) and sent as PDF via email. Payment is accepted by bank transfer (IBAN/SWIFT), PayPal or credit card. Standard payment terms are 14 days net.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "buyout" mean?
A buyout is a one-time, perpetual licence that allows unlimited use of the recording with no recurring fees. It is standard for TV and radio commercials. Online content typically includes a perpetual online licence in the base price, which is functionally equivalent for digital use.
Is VAT included in your prices?
No. All listed prices are net, excluding 19% German VAT. EU clients with a valid VAT ID pay 0% VAT under the reverse charge rule. Non-EU clients are also invoiced at 0% VAT. German clients and EU clients without a VAT ID are charged 19% VAT on top of the net price.
Can I get a volume discount?
Yes. For large IVR rollouts, multi-module e-learning courses, recurring monthly content or any project involving significant volume, custom package pricing is available. Send your project scope and we will prepare a tailored offer.
What audio formats do you deliver?
Standard delivery is MP3 (320 kbps) and WAV (48 kHz / 24-bit). AIFF, OGG and telephony-specific formats (8 kHz / 16-bit mono for IVR) are available on request at no extra charge. Simply specify your requirements when placing your order.
How fast is delivery?
Standard turnaround is 24 hours from script approval. Same-day express recording is available for urgent projects — please mention your deadline when contacting us so we can confirm availability.

Request a Custom Quote

Send your script or project brief — you will receive a fixed price within a few hours, with no obligation.

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