What voiceovers actually cost in 2026.
Rate data from five industry sources, organized by project type. Most voiceover pricing guides are written for talent. This one is for buyers.
$250–$3,500
Depending on market size and license term
$15–$55
Per finished minute of narration
$150–$500
Per finished hour, mid-range talent
Voiceover rates at a glance
Non-broadcast work is usually quoted one of three ways. Pick the model that matches how your project is measured, then jump to your category below.
Commercials are different. Broadcast and advertising are priced by usage rights (where, how long, and how widely the audio runs), not by length. See commercial rates below.
Commercial voiceover rates
Usage rights are the primary cost driver. A local 3-month spot and a national 12-month campaign require the same booth time, but the national spot costs 5 to 10 times more.
TV commercial ranges (non-union, 12-month license)
TV commercials (non-union)
| Market | 3 mo | 6 mo | 12 mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local | $400–$500 | $800–$1,000 | $1,200–$1,500 |
| Regional | $500–$650 | $1,000–$1,300 | $1,500–$1,800 |
| Cable / Natl | $750–$1,250 | $1,500–$2,200 | $2,500–$2,800 |
| Network Natl | $1,250–$1,400 | $2,500–$2,800 | $3,200–$3,500 |
Source: GVAA Rate Guide (15-90 sec spots). SAG-AFTRA TV session: $618.30.
Radio commercials (non-union)
| Market | 3 mo | 12 mo |
|---|---|---|
| Local | $250–$320 | $850–$950 |
| Regional | $300–$375 | $950–$1,100 |
| National | $600–$750 | $1,500–$1,700 |
Source: GVAA Rate Guide. SAG-AFTRA audio session: $404.30.
Digital and streaming ads
Pre-roll, social media, YouTube, Hulu, and streaming audio. Rates scale by impression count.
Source: Gravy For The Brain US rate guide.
Corporate narration and explainer videos
Training videos, product demos, investor presentations, onboarding content. Typically priced by duration since most projects have limited-audience use.
Source: GVAA Rate Guide (non-union).
$505-$563 for the first hour, $148 per additional half-hour
$35-$100 per finished minute, $300 minimum
E-learning voiceover rates
One of the fastest-growing categories. Commonly quoted per finished minute or per word, making it easy to estimate from a script.
Example: A typical 60-minute e-learning module at mid-range rates costs $1,200 to $3,600 per finished hour. The range reflects complexity: straightforward slide narration sits at the low end, while conversational character-driven courses cost more.
Sources: GVAA Rate Guide, Gravy For The Brain US rates.
Audiobook narration rates
Priced per finished hour (PFH): the final edited length, not raw recording time. One finished hour typically takes two to three hours of booth time plus editing.
Example: An 80,000-word novel produces roughly 9 to 10 finished hours of audio. At mid-range rates, that is $2,500 to $5,000 for a complete narration.
Sources: GVAA ($200-$500 PFH), SAG-AFTRA ($200-$275 PFH plus health/retirement contributions), Gravy For The Brain ($100-$400 PFH).
IVR and phone system voiceover
Phone trees, on-hold messaging, and automated prompts. Priced per prompt, per minute, or per word.
Typical total cost: A basic phone system with a handful of short prompts runs $200 to $500. Larger enterprises with hundreds of prompts often negotiate retainer arrangements.
Sources: GVAA Rate Guide, Gravy For The Brain US rates.
Animation and video game voiceover
Character work demands a different skill set than narration. Sessions are shorter but more intense. Rates are per hour or per session.
| Category | Non-Union | SAG-AFTRA |
|---|---|---|
| Video games | $200–$350/hr (2–4 hr min) | $1,135/day (up to 3 voices) |
| Mobile games | $200–$500 per game | — |
| Animation (per episode) | ~$1,000 / 22 min | $1,082–$1,092/session |
| Dubbing | ~$125/hr (2 hr min) | — |
Sources: GVAA Rate Guide, Gravy For The Brain, SAG-AFTRA 2025 rate sheets.
Quick reference: budget by duration
Simplified ranges for non-broadcast, non-union work based on project length.
Source: Voice123 Rate Calculator. These exclude usage fees, which can significantly increase the total for broadcast or high-impression digital projects.
What drives the price up or down
A $300 project and a $3,000 project can involve the same recording time.
Usage rights are the single biggest variable
A local 3-month radio spot costs a fraction of a national 12-month TV campaign. Worldwide usage can run 3x the national rate. Buyout pricing (perpetual, unlimited use) commands the highest premiums.
Talent experience
A voice actor with major brand credits charges more than someone building their career. You pay for reliability, fewer takes, and a proven sound.
Turnaround time
Standard delivery is 2 to 5 business days. Rush delivery (24 hours or less) typically adds 50% or more.
Revisions
Most talent include one round of minor revisions. Additional rounds, direction changes, or script rewrites after recording cost extra.
Exclusivity
Need the voice actor to avoid competitors? Expect $5,000 to $25,000 per year for TV exclusivity, depending on category and market.
Union vs. non-union rates
SAG-AFTRA sets minimum rates (scale) for union work. These are floors, not ceilings. Established union talent charges well above scale.
Union (SAG-AFTRA)
- Standardized contracts with defined usage terms
- Health and pension: 23.5% of earnings (employer-paid)
- Dispute resolution process
- Per-use pricing (fees compound with reach and duration)
Non-union
- Flexible pricing and direct negotiation
- No employer contributions required
- Simpler buyout structures available
- Wider range of price points
Common for e-learning, corporate, IVR, and digital projects. Rates set by individual talent or marketplace standards. Best for straightforward usage and moderate budgets.
How AI voice pricing compares
AI-generated voice platforms have introduced a new pricing tier at the low end of the market.
| Platform | Plan | Monthly | ~Per Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| ElevenLabs | Pro | $99 | ~$12 |
| Murf AI | Creator | $19–$29 | ~$10 |
| WellSaid Labs | Creative | $50–$55 | Varies |
| Human talent | — | — | $150–$500 |
Where AI voices are being used
- Internal documentation and prototyping
- Placeholder audio during pre-production
- Low-budget projects where quality is not the priority
Where human talent fits
- Brand-facing content where performance and trust matter
- Projects requiring direction, retakes, and emotional range
- Broadcast, advertising, and any content where audience perception is critical
According to Voices.com's 2025 Trends Report, 26% of clients have experimented with AI voice for a project, and of those, 70% used it for less than a quarter of their work. For a deeper look at consumer attitudes, see our AI Voice Sentiment Index.
AI pricing: ElevenLabs, Murf AI, WellSaid Labs (April 2026). Client adoption: Voices.com 2025 Trends Report.
How the major rate guides compare
The ranges on this page draw from several published guides. They measure different things, so it helps to know what each one represents.
GVAA Rate Guide
The most-cited non-union reference in North America, maintained by the Global Voice Academy. Broad category coverage and updated regularly, which is why the GVAA rate guide is the benchmark most buyers and talent quote.
SAG-AFTRA scale
Union minimums that are contractually binding for union productions. Rates carry health and retirement contributions (about 23.5%), so the true cost runs above the headline scale figure.
Gravy For The Brain
A voiceover training organization that publishes market-rate estimates. Its ranges often sit a little below GVAA, reflecting a wider span of experience levels.
Voice123 & Voices.com
Marketplace calculators built from transaction data on each platform. Useful as a sanity check, though platform fees and bidding can pull quoted prices below studio rates.
Full source links are listed under Sources and methodology below.
Frequently asked questions
A 30-second commercial voiceover costs $250 to $3,500 depending on market size (local vs. national) and license duration (3 to 12 months). Local radio spots start around $250 for 3 months, while national TV campaigns run $1,250 to $3,500 for 12 months. SAG-AFTRA union scale starts at $404.30 per session for audio commercials.
E-learning voiceover rates range from $15 to $55 per finished minute, or $0.10 to $0.35 per word. A typical 60-minute e-learning module costs $1,200 to $3,600. Most voice actors have a minimum fee of $350 to $450.
Audiobook narration is priced per finished hour (PFH). Newer narrators charge $150 to $250 PFH, experienced professionals $250 to $500 PFH, and top-tier narrators $500 to $1,000+ PFH. An 80,000-word novel (roughly 9 finished hours) costs $2,500 to $5,000 at mid-range rates.
SAG-AFTRA sets minimum rates (scale) for union voiceover. Union minimums include $404.30 per session for audio commercials and $618.30 for TV. Employers also pay 23.5% in health and pension contributions. Non-union rates are more flexible, often using buyout structures instead of per-use fees. Union talent typically charges above scale.
AI voice platforms like ElevenLabs cost roughly $12 per hour at the Pro tier ($99/month), compared to $150 to $500 per hour for human narration. That is 10 to 40 times cheaper on raw output. However, AI pricing does not include custom performance direction, emotional nuance, or usage rights negotiation. Only 26% of clients have tried AI voice, according to the Voices.com 2025 Trends Report.
Usage rights are the single biggest variable. A local 3-month radio spot costs a fraction of a national 12-month TV campaign. Other factors include talent experience, turnaround time (rush delivery adds 50%+), number of revisions, and exclusivity requirements ($5,000 to $25,000 per year for TV exclusivity).
Sources and methodology
All figures are published industry ranges, not RealVOTalent pricing. Actual rates vary by talent, project specifics, and negotiation.
Rate data sources
Industry context
Updated annually as new industry data is published. Last updated: April 2026.