As a freelance motion designer, the number one question I get asked is “how much does a motion design video cost?” And the answer is…it depends.

There are many animation companies out there that provide templated videos for prices that are usually fixed. The potential problem with these videos however, is that it’s not easy to shape these videos into the image and likeness of your brand.

When it comes to custom made motion design videos that fit exactly what you’re looking for, the price can vary greatly depending on many factors.

Based on my conversations with studio owners and my fellow freelance animators, the cost of a motion design video can range from £1,000 to £30,000 plus. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

People are often shocked when they see prices like this but there are a lot of things to consider. Just like anything else you would buy, there are many variables that determine the cost of a motion design video.

The two main things to consider are the complexity and the length of the motion design video. These two go hand in hand.

For example a photo real, 3D animated, motion design video, containing numerous walking characters, with a length of 30 seconds, could take well over 8 weeks to complete.

Part of the reason for this is because, 3D motion design projects are very complex and rendering a single scene can sometimes take hours. So this will be factored into the cost of the motion design video and affect the price.

But on the other hand, a 2D kinetic typography motion design video, that’s 1 minute in length, could take as little as a week to complete. Even though the length of the video is double that of the 3D example above. As a result, this video could be cheaper.

One also has to consider the intricate process that goes into making a single custom-made motion design video. Motion design videos often require as many as 9 different steps and numerous hours of work to complete.

And this doesn’t include, the zoom calls, emails, render times and WhatsApp messages to make sure the motion design video is just right. So you are paying for more than just the finished video itself.

Something else to consider when trying to work out the cost of a motion design video, is that every studio, freelancer and agency prices differently.

Let’s focus on freelance animators or motion designers for the moment. Some freelance motion designers charge £300 per day, others charge considerably more, as much as £600 per day.

This is determined by the skill level of the freelance motion designer, the popularity and also the years of experience.

So, when it comes to determining the cost of a motion design video, it’s not possible to give one blanket answer, it really does depend.

The best thing you can do is make a list of motion design freelancers and studios you like and just ask.

I hope you found this article useful and if you have any more questions about the cost of a motion design video, please feel free to email me.