It's the simplest way to compare videographers, editing services and video tools on equal terms.
How to calculate it
Cost per video = (fees + tools + your time) ÷ number of videos
Include everything:
- Videographer or editor fees.
- Subscriptions and add-ons.
- Drone or twilight add-ons.
- Music licenses.
- Your own time, valued at a realistic hourly rate.
An example with round numbers: if you pay $100 a month for a tool and make 10 listing videos, the tool costs you $10 per video. If each video takes 15 minutes of your time instead of two hours, the time saved may matter even more than the fee.
What affects cost per video
- Method: filmed and edited videos cost more per piece than videos generated from photos.
- Volume: subscriptions get cheaper per video the more you make.
- Versions: horizontal, vertical, branded and unbranded cuts add editing time with manual tools.
- Revisions and turnaround.
Cost per video isn't the whole story. A cheap video that doesn't help sell the home isn't a bargain, so weigh it against results like inquiries and listings won.