How much does video production actually cost in 2026?

How much does a video cost?

Most of our business videos cost from £2,000 to £5,000 + VAT. Smaller projects like event videos and social clips start from £650 + VAT.

At Open House Pictures, we believe in transparency through every step of our process, which is why we’re open about how we price our projects. Although each video has different requirements and factors that can influence cost, we’ve designed this page to give you an insight into what we charge. This covers everything from the price of a promotional video or case study through to animated explainers and training videos.

Project pricing can be influenced by factors such as filming time, video length, complexity and the resources required. But we’ve broken down the typical investment you can expect to make with a project like this. This helps empower you to make an informed decision that works for your vision and budget. 

What factors drive the price up?

Before making your decision on what type of video production you’re after, we recommend considering these key points when deciding on your project:

• Planning time: The more ambitious your project, the more time we’ll need to plan and structure how we’ll film and edit your video.

• Filming days: This is the biggest factor that affects price. The time our team spends at your site with our equipment and the additional planning that goes into each filming day.

• Crew size: Simpler shoots will often only require one videographer, but if we’re aiming for higher production value, adding drone or photography, we’ll need additional team members to meet our standards.

• Complex editing: When your video needs to include animation, complex motion graphics or extra rounds of feedback.

• Add-ons: Whether a voiceover, studio hire, actors or more. Adding extra requirements increases the investment needed.

It’s important to strike the right balance between what outcomes you’re looking for from the final content and what your budget can cover. We’d suggest starting with a ballpark budget for what you can spend, and then discussing with a production company how you can maximise what you want to achieve with the project.

What factors drive the price down?

Not all projects need a large production setup to achieve their goals. It’s important that you get the right level of investment to suit how you want your video to perform, and this doesn’t mean blowing your whole budget on one project.

Here are some key ways you can reduce the budget for your project:

• Plan the majority of your video in-house: If you take the lead on planning the project, this will require less of our time to organise your shoot and production.

• Filming everything in one location on one well-planned day: Our trained team can capture lots of content when the day is well structured.

• Simple edit: If you’re after a simple, cleaner video edit, with fewer rounds of feedback and lighter motion graphics.

• Fewer deliverables: Having one main video output instead of multiple sizes and cuts for social media.

For instance, a simple case study video filmed at one location with an interview and a simple edit is a far more cost-effective way to still have a content asset you can use for years. On the other hand, if you’re looking for lots of interviews, drone footage and a very visual edit, this will take more hours for our team to achieve.

What makes some companies so expensive?

Some video production companies or agencies can be a significant investment for a business. This is usually due to a larger production setup, with more crew members, equipment, hired locations or strategic planning. Here are a few clear reasons why some companies are more expensive:

• Larger teams: With full-blown marketing agencies or bigger companies, your fee can often include covering time for account managers, directors and strategists you may not need.

• Higher-end production: When you’re after TV or advert-level quality, this comes with additional specialist crew members and equipment (such as lighting and sound) that will drive the price up.

• More overheads: Bigger studios often demand more due to covering their overheads, including studio space, insurance, staff costs and management.

• Additional creative development: Time taken to really understand your brief and design it around specific goals.

These costs can absolutely be warranted depending on the service and offering you’re looking for. To hit a certain production standard, or if your campaign is aiming for a bigger outcome, then this requires more specialist support. 

What makes some companies so cheap?

Cheaper quotes can be completely valid for more basic, simple video projects. However, it’s still crucial that you know what’s included and what’s been left out. Quotes that sit below the industry standard tend to have a trade-off somewhere.

• Solo freelancer or very small crew: This is the biggest driver; the price of a single videographer versus a team can affect the price.

• Less planning before the shoot: If the project doesn’t require much planning or organisation.

• Simpler equipment setup: When you don’t need a full high-end production setup for your project.

• Basic production service: Offering only filming and editing with no strategy or aftercare.

When gathering quotes for a production, we always recommend asking for three different suppliers. This way you’ll get a better understanding of how much the project will likely cost, with different prices and approaches for how each company intends to deliver it. The key is to closely review the service and ask questions so you can understand why the price is set at those rates.

Where do our prices typically fall?

Open House Pictures is a company that specialises in video production. Our in-house team includes videographers, editors and strategists who can deliver across a range of different projects, clients and styles.

• We sit between a freelancer and a larger agency: Our prices tend to be in the middle of what you’d expect from an experienced team without the bigger agency price tag.

• We’re not the cheapest option: Most of our projects are priced for our expertise; we quote based on our whole team delivering your final assets.

• On average, most of our one-off projects tend to cost from £2,000 to £5,000 + VAT, depending on the production time required, deliverables and outcomes. 

• We often work with businesses repeatedly on an annual retainer basis; these tend to sit between £10,000 and £20,000 + VAT for a much larger set of 5 to 10 videos and broader video strategy.

• From time to time, we do work on simpler edit projects that usually start from £500 + VAT.

We always pride ourselves on transparent pricing, making sure we meet industry standard rates and margins. Fundamentally, we always price on the project, ensuring that we quote for exactly what our clients want to achieve and make sure it hits the mark every time.

What are your price ranges for specific videos?

Promotional Video – £2,000 – £4,000 + VAT

Our promotional videos include a captivating brand video that shows off your company story. Using engaging visuals and strong storytelling messages, we’ll drive engagement and connect people with your product or service. With a promotional video, you can expect to invest from £2,000 + VAT, though the final price may vary.

Case Study Video – £2,000 – £4,000 + VAT

Our case study videos use real customer success stories to promote the power of your product or service. Using engaging interviews cut together with visuals and impactful statistics to increase trust within your brand and show how well you deliver.

Event Video – £1,000 – £2,000 + VAT

Event videos are a great way to capture the energy and excitement of your day, drawing interest from potential attendees. We’ll record creative visuals that reflect your event in a strong, captivating way. Then in the edit, we’ll piece together punchy visuals to catch your audience’s attention. Event videos tend to start from £1,000 + VAT.

Product Video – £2,000 – £4,000 + VAT

Product videos do all the talking for you. These films feature your product’s unique details, benefits and ability to solve your customer’s problems. Everything from product demonstrations to quick, snappy edits, our videos will educate your customers to make a purchase.

Photography – £650 – £1,500 + VAT

Photography can elevate the professional edge of your business, the flavour of your event or the key features of your product. Our service includes time with our brilliant photographer Chris to tell your story through his visual stills. This also includes expert photo editing afterwards to ensure your images shine. Photography tends to start from £600 + VAT, depending on location, duration and number of photos required.

Social Media Video – From £650 + VAT

Social video for your platforms is a great way to spark curiosity and grab attention from your target audience. These videos are designed to be snappy, short, visually engaging content that’s easy to watch and shareable. We develop and create social media videos for your brand from £650 + VAT depending on the amount and complexity.

Training Video – £1,500 – £3,000 + VAT

Elevate your training game with a structured, clear and concise training video. Forget long drawn-out PowerPoints; now you can deliver key information to your employees in bite-sized chunks. With a clear demonstration or breakdown of complex procedures, a training video tends to start from £1,500 + VAT.

Video Editing From £85 + VAT per hour

Looking to have your footage edited together? Or want to convey a story or message that you can’t achieve with text? Our editing service can turn your footage into a punchy, high-quality video with music, text graphics and colour correction.

TV Commercials – From £3,000 + VAT

TV commercials usually require a more detailed production process, from concept development through to filming, editing and delivery. Your advert can tell your brand story or showcase your product and service with a quick-paced, catchy delivery. 

Example of a package:

Here’s what a promotional video package could look like depending on the production level you’re looking for: 

Package Type	What’s Included	Typical Price Range
Simple	Simple filming, small crew, one location and a straightforward edit.	£1,500 – £2,500 + VAT
Premium	Stronger planning, interviews, B-roll, polished edit, graphics and subtitles.	£2,000 – £4,000 + VAT
Campaign	Multiple deliverables, social cutdowns, several formats and more strategic support.	£3,500 – £4,500 + VAT

Typically, most video production companies will offer slightly different services and packages. This is why it’s important to ask questions about the quote and make sure it includes everything you’re looking for.

Make sure you check for filming days, how many people will be on-site, the number of feedback rounds you have and any extras they provide. This will help you make the most informed choice when picking a video agency or marketing company.

And don’t forget about the extras, such as voiceover costs, actors or presenters and drone filming on top.

Lifetime cost vs initial price

When choosing which supplier you want to go with, it’s best to look at the long-term benefit of your final assets. Often the cheapest upfront option can look appealing at first, but on further inspection, the lack of planning can lead you to reshoot the film sooner than you think.

• Cheaper isn’t always better: Make sure your final film will stand the test of time by choosing an agency that can support you in the long-term value of your project, whether through strategy or aftercare support.

• A well-planned shoot: Investing in the time it takes to get the shoot just right is crucial. You don’t want to rush or cut any corners to save money.

• Multi-use assets: By planning ahead, you can get far more assets out of your filming day than one film. Work with your production team to talk through how you can maximise the day.

• The best question to ask yourself: Budget’s obviously important, but make sure you’re not just asking “what does it cost” and instead “how often will we use it?”

Video can deliver strong long-term value when it is planned around a clear audience, message and usage plan, as long as you choose the option that gives you the best value for your budget. Otherwise, you’ll be left with an outdated, low-quality film you can’t use in the future.

Industry pricing trends

The cost of video production tends to increase yearly as the requirements and expectations for content change regularly. Companies are now actively using their website, social media and other platforms to generate new business and interest, meaning that final assets need to work across multiple outputs.

• More than one video: Most projects now require a main film resized and edited for lots of different platforms, from Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and more.

• Repurposed assets: Projects now often need captions, vertical edits and cutdowns so clients get the most out of their filming day.

• Video editing: Whether there is a higher demand in motion graphics, text assets, sound or grading, the expectations have increased for what a finished film should look and sound like.

• AI and tools: With the introduction of AI, there’s more demand for faster, simpler workflows to get to the final result.

For many businesses, video is no longer optional in a marketing strategy; it makes up part of most campaigns for organisations. Companies are now expected to show up regularly on socials and to post relevant, updated content across their website.

Show financing as part of the conversation

Each production company provides payment options at different levels. Make sure you ask for payment terms when getting a quote so you can fully understand the expectations across the production.

• Our standard payment terms: We typically invoice for 50% before starting the work, and then once the final assets have been confirmed, we invoice for the final 50% before sending the final deliverables.

• Larger projects: If you commit to a year-long video strategy that includes multiple projects, you can split payments between projects or between instalments depending on the best way forward.

• Retainers: Social media packages are often invoiced monthly depending on the agreed package, how many social clips are delivered and how often.

• As a business, we offer an additional payment structure to spread the full cost of the production. This includes a 3 or 6-month payment plan with agreement on how often payment is made.

Once the project outcomes, deliverables, and production time have been agreed, the payment terms can then be confirmed. When moving forward with a supplier, you should have an agreed, outlined payment structure before beginning work.

How much did a video actually cost?

Instead of giving you vague examples of what a video costs to produce, we thought we’d take a real example of a film that was produced in 2025. This gives you an idea of how much you can expect to pay and how the pricing was broken down for this type of video service:

We created this video for Link Integrated, a CCTV and security company based in Mansfield. Here’s how we worked out the cost for this project:

Production Process	Description	Price
Pre-production	This included several meetings with the Link Integrated team discussing ideas, what they wanted, questions for interviews and a shot list.	£600 + VAT for planning
Filming	Two shoot days with a producer and a videographer. with a drone operator capturing footage of the offices and premises.	£2,000 + VAT for filming £650 + VAT for a drone filming day
Editing	We spent multiple days editing this video together, including fast-paced graphics, quick cuts and text on screen to capture attention.	£1,600 + VAT for editing
Total		£4,850 + VAT

Whilst this is the confirmed rate we were paid for this project, this is based on 2025 pricing and included very specific requirements for this client. 

Additional costs and hidden costs to know

Travel & Accommodation

Does your project involve multiple locations across the UK or internationally for filming? One price factor often missed is the additional cost for travel and accommodation for our crew to be in the right place at the right time. This varies from project to project.

Actors/Models – £450 + VAT

If you’re looking for an actor to enhance your brand story or a model to demonstrate how to use your product, then this can add to the investment of your video project.

Studio Space – £500 + VAT

Studio spaces are a great way to create a controlled atmosphere for your video project. Whether you’re looking for colourful backdrops or kitted-out studios with controlled lighting and sound.

Voiceover – £300 + VAT

Elevate your film further with professional voiceover narration. High-quality voice-over recording can strengthen your storytelling. 

Script Writing – £500 + VAT

Know your story but don’t know how to articulate it? Our expert pre-production team can craft your story into a creative, compelling script that supports your goals.

Drone – £650 + VAT

Looking for high-end drone footage in your project? Our experienced drone operator can capture stunning shots across scenery, warehouses and inside buildings. 

Is it really worth using a production company in 2026?

Video production, whilst an excellent marketing tool, is not always right for every business and project. When deciding on video, a great question to ask is whether video, as a medium, is the best tool to reach your target audience in the most engaging way.

If these points make sense for your project, then video is likely your best option:

• Your message is hard to explain: If you have a lot to say, then video can often do this quickly and easily.

• You have a clear purpose: Video performs best when you have a strong idea of what you want to achieve with your marketing.

• Your brand needs to look trustworthy and professional: If building credibility is crucial, then video is a strong starting place.

• Your target audience is on social media: Video is one of the strongest tools for connecting with your audience on LinkedIn, YouTube and other social platforms.

These points cover when video will work best for your goals and intended outcomes. When there’s no clear audience, message or plan for how to use video, it can become an unnecessary marketing spend.

What’s included in our process

At Open House Pictures, we believe in a collaborative and comprehensive video production service. Depending on your individual needs, we can take you through every stage of production. This includes nurturing your creative ideas all the way through to delivering your final content with professional high-end quality.

Our service caters to the entire process, starting with the pre-production planning that includes creative meetings, scriptwriting, storyboarding and more. This continues through the professional filming of your project with our friendly crew and high-quality equipment. We then take our footage into post-production, or what is essentially video editing, to cut your content together in a captivating way. Before we support you with delivery and our unique aftercare system, find out more about each process below.

Pre-Production

Before we begin any project, we start with pre-production; this is the most crucial stage that sets the foundation for your video content. We work with your team to understand how you want your content to perform – essentially, what’s the result? 

So, with everything from concept creation to scheduling, storyboarding, location scouting and more, we work with you to understand the details and make sure we’ve got everything ready to go for the filming day. This process also includes developing clear risk assessments for your shoot to ensure all considerations have been taken into account.

• Full meetings with your team to discuss your video content, what you want to achieve, target audience, etc.
• Storyboards or shot lists of your video so we know exactly what we want the final video to look like.
• Schedules and logistics organised in advance for the filming day.

Filming

Now for the most self-explanatory stage of what we do – the filming! Our experienced and friendly crew are adept at working on a multitude of different project types. With everything from one location and a single videographer all the way through to multi-day production with a much larger team. 

We utilise the latest high-quality camera equipment to capture your footage across your shoot day. We record engaging and eye-catching visuals with crisp, clear audio to help deliver the professional edge of high-impact content. With our attention to detail and focus on the result, we make sure we film everything necessary to piece your content together.

• Use of our high-end camera, lighting and audio equipment.
• Fully experienced and trained crew members to capture your content on the day.

Post-Production

Next, we’re in the editing suite. This part of our service involves taking the raw footage and cutting it into a polished final film. Our skilled video editors, with a strong sense of the final output, feel and style of the video, will work their way through your project cutting together only the best bits. 

Whether it’s a simple talking head video or a multi-camera promotional video, we have the expertise in our creative team to piece any type of film or photo project together. We use the latest software and modern editing techniques to deliver colour grading, sound design, motion graphics integration and more. 

This process also includes our two-pass review system, allowing you two opportunities to give feedback on the video edit throughout the process. This way you get a say in the final output at every step of the way.

• Two rounds of feedback on your film: one major round and one minor round.
• Fully optimised for your platform with music, subtitles and colour correction.
• Motion graphics and editing techniques to elevate your final film.

Delivery

Once your content is done and dusted, our next optional stage is strategic video marketing delivery. Our pre-production service gets to the root of where your video should go and how we’re targeting your audience. We’ll develop a tailored distribution strategy that aligns with your campaign goals, ensuring your video reaches the right audience at the right time. 

We utilise the latest sales techniques to get your final content in front of the right target audience for your brand. We can deliver effective video campaigns across social media channels, paid advertising, email marketing and more. Leverage your video as a powerful tool to gain direct and meaningful results.

• Strategic marketing plan for how to best deliver your content to your audience.
• Optimised videos that work effectively on social media and website formats.
• Tailored distribution strategy for where to use your content.

Aftercare

We don’t just stop there, our service extends beyond production and delivery. We also offer our aftercare service with every project we work on; this includes meetings to discuss the video’s performance, distribution channels and further optimisations. Through these meetings, we’ll discuss your content’s insights to see if it’s resonating with your audience and getting the results you’re looking for. 

We’ll help in providing further support and advice on how you can continue to elevate engagement and further strategies you can put in place. With everything from cutting the videos up into smaller snippets for socials or broader marketing campaigns.

• Full aftercare meeting to chat through how our video has been utilised.
• Performance insights and strategy review for your content with optimisation suggestions.
• Ongoing advice and support for how to effectively boost your content further.

Pricing FAQs

How much does a business video typically cost?

Our standard quotes tend to be from £2,000 to £5,000 + VAT for a promotional video of your business. The final figure depends on several factors, including how long the planning takes, the number of filming days and how complicated the edit is. 

Why does a short video still cost a lot?

Whilst video length can drive the cost up or down, it isn’t the only variable that affects the price. For a final film, it all depends on what actually goes into the final cut. For instance, a TV commercial can have multiple shoot days, a large crew, locations and equipment, yet only be 30 seconds in length.

Can you work within a fixed budget?

We always do our best to find solutions for our clients that work within their budgets. However, our number one priority is agreeing to projects where we can meet our clients’ expectations, standards and objectives; we’ll never agree to a project if we can’t do this within the budget on offer.

Are revisions included?

Yes, typically most of our projects include a two-pass feedback process, which means you have two opportunities to provide requested changes and tweaks to the edit. The first round tends to be around locking in the style, look and feel, with the second being for smaller notes and final tweaks.

Do prices include VAT?

Our prices are always exclusive of VAT. We always make a point of clearly showing whether a price includes or excludes VAT in our quoting, so you’ll know exactly what the end price will be before you commit.

Can we get social media edits from the filming day?

Absolutely, most shoots have a surplus of unused footage that can be repurposed for social clips. Make sure you mention this up front if you want additional deliverables; if you need them around the same time, we can factor them in from the start. Otherwise, we can add them after the fact. Social media re-edits cost extra due to the additional editing time required.

Get in touch today for a personalised quote

By understanding the costs and services involved in video production, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and budget. Whether you need a single promotional video or a comprehensive media campaign, your chosen video production company will help guide you through every step of the way. For more information about what Open House Pictures can offer you, get in touch with our team today!