How Much Does It Cost to Produce a Video (or a Film)?

This question comes up all the time, and the honest answer is: it depends. It depends for a reason, and if you’re thinking about having a video (or often called a film) made for your business, it’s helpful to understand what shapes the cost so you can make informed decisions and get the most value from it.

Video production isn’t one-size-fits-all. A video could be as simple as filming someone talking to camera in their office, or as involved as a multi-day shoot with actors, drones, motion graphics and music licensing. Both serve different purposes, and both can be done well within different budgets.

Let’s say you’re looking to film something straightforward, maybe a short introduction to your business (~ 1 minute), a client testimonial, or a product walkthrough. If it’s a single location, one camera, natural light, and a clear script, you’re probably in the ballpark of £1,000 to £1,500. That would usually include filming, editing and visual refinement (aka aesthetic finessing), like a branded intro, subtitles and music. It’s clean, professional and does the job without overcomplicating anything.

Now, if you’re after something a little more involved, say, a 2–3 minute promo video with cutaway footage of your team at work, some environmental shots, or even a bit of drone footage to show off your location, that adds another layer. It’s not just about pressing record anymore. There’s planning, site visits, extra time on the shoot, and more to edit. You’re likely looking at a budget somewhere between £2,000 and £3,000, depending on how polished you want the final result to be. If you’re thinking about something more story-driven — with a planned script, characters, scenes and a clear narrative arc — those types of productions tend to start from around £5,000. They take more time to develop, shoot and edit, but can deliver a much more engaging end result.

And with that comes a team: camera operators, multiple cameras, studio lighting, broadcast-quality sound equipment — the kind of kit that elevates the whole production. You might also be working with a director, and possibly even a producer, depending on the scope. For those types of videos, especially if they’re meant to headline a marketing campaign or sit on your homepage as the main brand piece, it’s not unusual to spend £5,000 or more. And that’s not just production for production’s sake. That level of investment often reflects the strategic role the video is meant to play. If it’s going to be seen by thousands of people, help convert leads, or represent your business for years, then it’s worth getting right.

On the animation side, it really depends on what you need. A simple logo animation — something clean to open or close a video — is a straightforward job. Basic motion graphics and transitions are relatively quick too. But once you move into things like branded characters, multi-scene animations, or anything that needs to tell a story, the scope grows fast — and so does the time involved. Pricing in this space varies hugely depending on complexity, style, and duration, so we’d usually want to look at the brief before giving any numbers.

It’s also worth thinking about where the video will live and how it will be used. Is it a one-off? Or will it be repurposed into different versions: shorter edits for social media, square or vertical crops, snippets with subtitles for Instagram or LinkedIn? If you plan for that early on, you can keep costs efficient and get more mileage out of the same content. But if those things are asked for after the fact, it usually means extra work and extra time.

Clients sometimes ask whether it’s worth filming things on a phone instead. And honestly, for certain kinds of content, such as updates, behind-the-scenes clips, even some social posts, it can be perfectly fine. But for anything that’s representing your brand in a bigger way, especially on your website or in advertising, there’s a difference. It’s not just about resolution. It’s how the video feels: the pacing, the lighting, the sound, the way it’s structured. Those things shape how your audience perceives you.

One thing people don’t always realise is how much time goes into the planning and editing side of things. Filming might only take a day, but prepping for the shoot, such as writing scripts, planning the structure, sourcing locations, scheduling interviews; and then editing it afterwards; cutting, grading, adding music, titles, subtitles, animation; can easily take several days or even weeks depending on complexity. That’s where a lot of the value is.

So how much should you budget for a video? If you’re after a simple, effective piece of content to tell your story, showcase your work, or build trust, you can do a lot in the £1,000 to £2,000 range. If it’s a centrepiece for your brand, or something designed for wider distribution and longevity, then £3,000 to £5,000 isn’t unusual. Within these brackets, it’s often possible to create multiple edits or cutdowns — giving you more content from a single shoot, and more value from your investment. But it all comes back to what you need the film to do. That’s the right place to start the conversation.

And honestly, if you’re not sure what you need yet, that’s fine too. A good production partner should help you figure that out, not sell you something expensive just because it looks good. The goal is to make something that’s right for your business, works for your audience, and delivers a return. That might be something lean and fast, or it might be something more considered and crafted.

Either way, the cost makes more sense when you understand what goes into it. And once you do, it’s easier to set the right expectations and feel confident you’re spending money where it counts.

Averma produce clear, commercially focused video content for businesses of all sizes; from short explainers to full campaign pieces. With our main operation in Horley, Surrey, and additional locations in Peckham and Hampstead, we work across sectors to deliver content that’s well planned, well executed and built around real business needs. If you’re looking for a video partner who keeps things strategic and straightforward, we’re ready when you are. Contact us.