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Different Service, Different Price Tag: A Look at Average Subtitle Translation Rates

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No matter if you’re enjoying your favorite Hollywood movie or consuming educational clips on YouTube, you’ll find subtitles there. With the help of high-quality subtitles, brands allow a diverse and wider audience to consume their content. 

Here’s the thing: if you want first-rate quality content, you’ll need to pay a handsome sum. Luckily, there’s an easy way to evaluate the prices of subtitle services. Your quote may vary depending on a variety of key factors like minutes per video, time taken, and so on. Here we discuss the meaning of subtitle translations and the price each phase requires:   

What is Subtitle Translation? 

Subtitle translation refers to the process of translating clips from one language to the other through written content. Therefore, if you want to effectively express your message, you’ll need the help of a skilled and adept linguist.

Professional translators boast the perfect balance of technical know-how alongside a deep understanding of various languages. Moreover, expert translators are skilled in working on a plethora of different genres. 

In addition, a well-versed translator should easily be able to comprehend the message the original text is communicating in order to ensure clear and appropriate subtitles. On top of that, they require a certain skill-set to ensure the audio is in sync with their draft subtitles. 

What is Subtitle Translation Required for? 

Brands and businesses may use subtitle translation services for a plethora of different visual content. It includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Ads and commercials 
  • YouTube videos
  • Video games
  • Blogs
  • How-to videos
  • TV programs 
  • Personalized videos
  • Movies

Critical Factors to Remember During Subtitle Translation 

In order to evaluate the final price of a project, clients need to factor in several key factors. Below we’ve rounded up the main factors you should keep in mind when considering subtitle translation rates:

The Delivery Time

Typically, clients discuss the delivery time with workers upon giving the task. Here, it’s vital to offer an adequate amount of time to the translator depending on the size and complexity of the project. 

However, in case a client wants the work done in less time, the subtitle translator may increase the fee.  

The Volume of the Content 

The rates of subtitle translation may add up if the content is high. Vlogs and movies are typically longer than commercials. Therefore, they cost more.  

Subject Matter

Depending on how complex the subject matter is, the price of a project may vary. It means easier subjects cost less than clips containing copious amounts of technical ad jargon terms.  

The Quality of the Audio and Visual 

If the video offered to the translator boasts inaudible or low audio, the fee goes up. In the same fashion, the visual quality of the video may either increase or decrease the cost of a project.   

The Language 

Last but not least, the language you’re translating your content to plays a substantial role in defining the quote received. Japanese and Hindi may cost more than English or Spanish. Moreover, Urdu and Arabic cost higher because translation occurs right to left, contrary to other languages.      

What are the Rates of Each Stage of the Processes?

The overall subtitle translation rate divides into four stages, as follows:

  • Transcription and Time-coding of the Project- varies from $3 to $10 per minute depending on the language.  
  • Translation for Subtitles- varies from $11 to $19 per minute on average.
  • Sync Subtitles Translations to Video and Encode Approval Video- varies from $5 to $15 depending per minute depending on the type of project offered.   
  • Burn-in to Video and Creating the Document- $15 to $30 depending on whether the file is a document and per video.  

Sources:

Subtitling Process & Rates

A Look into our Subtitling Processes and Subtitling Rates

Subtitling

Translation Subtitling: What is it and Why is it Important?

About the author

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Circle Translations

Circle Translations, a leading translation agency based in the US.