Professional video editing covers the cut, captions, color grading, sound mix, platform-specific exports, hooks, and thumbnails. In 2026 it costs $25 to $100 per short-form video, $150 to $500 per YouTube edit, $250 to $500 per podcast episode, or $500 to $5,000 a month on a retainer. Volume, complexity, motion graphics, revisions, and turnaround speed set the price.
What is included in a professional video edit?
A professional edit covers the full post-production pipeline, not just cuts and transitions. For short-form that means animated branded captions (85% of social video is watched without sound), trending audio, hook optimization in the first 1 to 3 seconds, exports in 9:16, 1:1, and 16:9 with safe zones for each platform, color grading, b-roll layering, CTA overlays, and cover frame selection. Podcast editing adds syncing 2 to 4 camera angles, audio cleanup and leveling, lower thirds, intros and outros, and 3 to 5 clips per episode. YouTube editing adds retention work: cutting dead space, pattern interrupts every 30 to 60 seconds, a front-loaded hook, chapters, and thumbnail alignment. The guides for short-form editing, podcast video editing, and YouTube editing services each list the exact deliverables to expect.
How much does video editing cost per video and per month?
Short-form edits cost $25 to $100 per video: $25 to $40 for basic cuts and captions, $50 to $75 for professional editing with color and audio sync, and $75 to $100 or more with motion graphics and multi-platform exports. Monthly short-form packages run $500 to $800 for 10 to 15 videos, $800 to $1,500 for 15 to 25, and $1,500 to $2,000 or more for 25 to 40. YouTube pricing runs $50 to $150 per Short, $150 to $350 for a standard 8 to 15 minute edit, and $300 to $500 with heavy graphics, with retainers from $500 to $3,000 or more. Podcast episodes cost $100 to $250 basic or $250 to $500 with multi-cam, graphics, captions, and clips, with retainers of $500 to $2,000 a month for four episodes. Across formats, freelancers bill $40 to $150 an hour and agency retainers run $2,000 to $5,000 or more. See the video editing cost guide.
Should I outsource editing or hire a full-time editor?
Outsource when you need 5 to 25 videos a month; hire a full-time editor only when you need 30 or more with daily creative collaboration. A salaried editor in the US costs $48,000 to $85,000 a year before software ($500 to $1,000 a year), equipment, benefits, and management time, and realistically produces 15 to 20 polished shorts a month. A $1,200 monthly editing package delivers more output with no benefits, no licenses, and no single point of failure when someone quits. For podcasters the math is simpler: six hours of editing at $100 an hour is $600 in opportunity cost, while a professional editor charges $250 to $400 and does it better. Signs it is time to outsource: footage piling up unedited, inconsistent posting, editing taking three times longer than filming, and turning down work for lack of bandwidth. Freelancer vs agency editing cost has the full comparison.
How many pieces of content can one video produce?
Eleven from a single long-form video: three 30 to 90 second vertical clips, five quote graphics, one blog post, one email, and one carousel. A 10-minute video usually yields 15 to 20 quotable moments, a 60-minute podcast episode 10 to 25 clips, and a 90-minute episode 20 to 40. One 30 to 60 minute filming session, organized well, produces 15 to 20 finished shorts. The time math favors repurposing: creating 10 pieces from scratch takes 15 to 25 hours a week, while repurposing one video into 10 takes 3 to 5 hours, a 70 to 80% reduction. At $50 an hour that is $150 to $250 in editing instead of $500 to $750, saving $1,000 to $2,000 a month. Maken Media uses this pipeline to produce 30 to 50 pieces per client each month from 2 to 3 shoots. The full method is in how to repurpose one video into 10 pieces of content.
What specs and export settings should edited videos use?
Export 9:16 at 1080 x 1920 for Reels, TikTok, Shorts, and Stories; 16:9 at 1920 x 1080 for YouTube; 1:1 at 1080 x 1080 for feeds; and 4:5 at 1080 x 1350 for Instagram feed and LinkedIn, where square and portrait take more screen space. If you can only export one format, choose 9:16 vertical. Use H.264 in an MP4 container, AAC audio at 48 kHz and 320 kbps, 10 to 20 Mbps for 1080p or 35 to 68 Mbps for 4K, Rec. 709 color, and match the source frame rate. Length limits in 2026: Reels up to 3 minutes with 90 seconds recommended, TikTok up to 10 minutes with 15 to 60 seconds recommended, Shorts up to 3 minutes, LinkedIn up to 15 minutes. YouTube thumbnails are 1280 x 720 under 2 MB. Avoid horizontal video in vertical feeds, text inside platform UI zones, and 720p exports. The social media video specs guide has every platform's numbers.
Can I film on an iPhone and still get a professional edit?
Yes. Gear is about 20% of the result. Shoot 4K at 30 or 60 fps, lock exposure and focus with AE/AF Lock, set white balance to about 5600K in daylight or 3200K under tungsten, and keep shutter speed at double the frame rate. A complete kit costs $90 to $200: a gimbal or tripod ($30 to $150), a wireless lavalier mic ($25 to $80), an LED panel ($15 to $40), and a phone cage ($20 to $50). Most businesses should film 70 to 80% of their content on a phone and bring in a crew for the 20 to 30% that has to look premium, such as brand films, commercials, and website hero video. Hand your editor full-resolution files, a short brief, reference videos, brand assets, a transcript, and the destination platform. Start with how to film professional video with your iPhone and the handoff checklist in the short-form editing guide.
| Format | Per-video price | Monthly plan | Standard turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-form (Reels, TikTok, Shorts) | $25 to $100 | $500 to $2,000 for 10 to 40 videos | 24 to 72 hours |
| YouTube Shorts (60 seconds) | $50 to $150 | Included in Growth retainers at $1,000 to $2,000 | 24 to 48 hours |
| YouTube standard edit (8 to 15 minutes) | $150 to $350 | $500 to $1,000 for 4 edits | 3 to 5 days |
| YouTube advanced edit with graphics | $300 to $500 | $2,000 to $3,000+ full service (12+ edits, thumbnails, SEO, Shorts) | 5 to 7 days |
| Podcast episode | $100 to $250 basic; $250 to $500 professional | $500 to $1,000 basic; $1,000 to $2,000 with 15 to 30 clips | 3 to 5 business days |
| Long-form documentary | $500+ | Custom | 1 to 2 weeks |
| White label short-form (agency cost) | $35 to $75 | $2,000 to $3,500 for 20 shorts plus 4 long-form | 48 to 72 hours per batch |
| Agency retainer, all formats | About $100 per video at 30 videos a month | $2,000 to $5,000+ | 1 to 2 revision rounds included |
Guides in this series
- Short-form video editing services for Reels, TikTok, and ShortsWhat a short-form edit includes, platform-by-platform editing differences, per-video and monthly pricing, and a handoff checklist.
- Podcast video editing costs and processMulti-cam sync, audio cleanup, graphics, and clip extraction, with per-episode and retainer prices and a studio setup guide.
- YouTube video editing services and pricingPer-video and retainer prices by format, the five skills that separate great YouTube editors, and how to brief one.
- White label video editing for agenciesHow agencies resell editing under their own brand, with cost, markup, and margin tables and a pitch plan for existing clients.
- How to repurpose one video into 10 pieces of contentThe 1-to-11 framework, platform specs, tools, and the five-phase pipeline Maken Media uses to produce 30 to 50 pieces per client each month.
- Social media video specs and dimensions guideAspect ratios, resolutions, length limits, caption limits, thumbnail sizes, and export settings for every major platform.
- How to film professional video with your iPhoneCamera settings, an under-$200 gear kit, composition, lighting, audio, and when an iPhone is enough versus when to hire a crew.
Questions
How much does it cost to edit a short-form video?
$25 to $100 per video in 2026. Basic cuts with simple captions run $25 to $40, professional edits with custom captions, color, and audio sync run $50 to $75, and premium edits with motion graphics and multi-platform exports run $75 to $100 or more. Monthly packages of 10 to 40 videos run $500 to $2,000.
What is a fair turnaround time for edited video?
Short-form edits should come back in 24 to 72 hours. YouTube standard edits take 3 to 5 days, advanced edits 5 to 7 days, and podcast episodes 3 to 5 business days. If a service quotes 5 to 7 days for a Reel, it is batching too many clients.
How many revision rounds should be included?
One to two rounds is standard. Each additional round adds 20 to 30% to editing time, and unlimited revision policies almost always have soft limits. Zero revisions and unlimited revisions are both red flags.
What should I send my editor?
Full-resolution raw files through Google Drive, Dropbox, or Frame.io, a short brief with purpose and CTA, one or two reference videos, brand assets with hex codes and fonts, a transcript or talking points, the destination platform, and music direction. Organized footage cuts editing time and cost; disorganized footage can double it.
Can a podcast editor also make my social clips?
Yes, and you should insist on it, because hiring a separate clip editor doubles your cost. A professional per-episode edit at $250 to $500 typically includes 3 to 5 clips, and a full monthly retainer at $1,000 to $2,000 includes 15 to 30 clips from four episodes.
Next step
Send Maken Media a sample of your footage and your monthly volume, then book a free strategy call for a fixed editing quote.
Book My Free Call