How much does professional video production cost?
Short Answer:
There is no single price for professional video. A straightforward filmed interview might start in the low thousands, while a multi-day, multi-location commercial with a full crew and cinema-grade post can run well into five figures or beyond. What you pay reflects scope — the number of filming days, the size of the crew, the kit and locations involved, and how much editing the finished films need.
Overview
The honest answer to "how much" is always "it depends on the brief", so the useful thing is to understand the variables that move the number. Compare quotes on identical scope — same deliverables, revision rounds, licensing, and travel — rather than on headline figures, because a published "day rate" with no context usually hides as much as it reveals.
Detailed Explanation
What moves the price
Filming days: more days mean more crew, kit hire, and location costs.
Crew size: a single operator is very different from a director, DP, sound recordist, and producer.
Kit tier: phone-grade capture, prosumer mirrorless, and cinema cameras with lighting and grip sit at very different price points.
Locations and travel: studios, permits, travel days, and accommodation all add up, especially away from base or abroad.
Post-production: editing, colour grade, sound mix, motion graphics, and the number of finished versions.
Usage and licensing: paid media, talent buyouts, and music rights scale with how widely the video is used.
As a rough guide, simple corporate pieces often sit in the low-to-mid four figures, while broadcast or launch-grade commercials reach five figures and up. A brief is the only way to get a real number.
Example
Two companies might both quote for "a promotional video", but one assumes a half-day with one camera and a light edit, while the other includes a scripted two-day shoot, a second camera, original music, and three cut-downs for social. Matching the scope is the only way to compare the prices fairly.