How much does it cost to produce a commercial
How much does it cost to produce a TV commercial? This is a very common question that we get at least a dozen times a week. (drop us a line for a quick phone consult, 1-888-462-7808 we’d love to hear from you) There is really no short answer to this question because at the end of the day, the TV commercial production cost is determined by you.
The average cost of a TV commercial could easily range anywhere from $1,500 to $150,000 it really depends on a few different variables. Read on for more details, or visit our TV commercial production page to see samples and chat with us about your project.
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Need Results with Small Budget.
Let’s say you have a small business and you don’t have a lot of money. Your competitors have launched a YouTube campaign, and now you are seeing their spots on local cable.
This can be quite frustrating, but you can take action. You see, if you are a smaller operation and just need to get a 30 second TV spot production under your belt to quiet the competition, don’t worry its possible. You see the cost to produce a 30 second commercial could run you as little as $1,500 – $3,500.
If you are looking to do something basic like, a text and graphics spot with royalty free music and a professional voice over. This could be the short answer to a looming challenge. See commercial samples below.
Kick it up a notch.
If you are looking to wow your clients, and crush your competition, you might want to kick it up a notch. So How much do commercials cost to produce, let’s say you have a product that can make you millions only if you could put together a 30 second direct response campaign that can air on television.
You are going to need actors, makeup artist, professional camera crew, a studio, a director and a few other things. This type of commercial with all the bells and whistles can cost you anywhere from 20k to 30k.
The cost of producing a television commercial of this quality is much more than the previous because there are so many moving parts, and you need seasoned experts to keep all of the pieces of the puzzle together. A professional video production company will manage your TV commercial production cost so that everything makes sense at the end of the day.
Deep Pockets.
Let’s say budget is not a concern for you, and you just want what you want, willing to pay whatever the cost. In this case, TV commercial production cost is not your concern, you’ll simply tell us what you want, and it’s our job to make it a reality.
These types of projects can easily fetch anywhere from 150k up to well over 1 million dollars. This will depend on if there is a star director attached, a celebrity or well-known athlete, or luminary from another industry, the price can balloon north depending on what is attached.
Know what you want.
So, all and all, the cost of producing a television commercial really does depend on what you want. If you your question is How much does it cost to produce a commercial, but you aren’t sure what you want, it’s good to surf through YouTube and look for a similar concept that has already been produced.
This will give us a clear idea of your concept, we can then pretty quickly put together an estimate based on the reference video. Or feel free to give us a call and we can walk you through the process. we film commercials all over the nation from New York and Miami, to Chicago. So contact us and we will be happy to give you a free quote today.
How much does TV Advertising cost?
So you have your finished commercial, now how much does TV Advertising cost? This is the golden question to which there are a plethora of answers. The airing of a 30 second commercial can cost you anywhere from $50 or $80 per spot, to $1,500, or $20,000 per spot. it all depends on a few different variables.
Where your TV Advertising is going to be targeted will ultimately determine how much your airtime will cost. If your TV Advertising is geared toward a regional, or local market then you could be looking to spend as little as $50 per 30 second spot.
How much does it Cost to air a local commercial?
For example if you want to Advertise in a local cable station within a 65,000 household radius close to your business or service then you can get cheaper rates. The only catch is that your TV Advertising will only be focused in that particular area, or zone.
However if you want to reach more areas with your message during a prime time broadcast network TV program, then you could look to spend upwards of $10,000 plus per 30 second TV spot. The catch here is that you will be available on every TV within the selected area, and can potentially reach millions of viewers with your TV Advertisement.
How much does a national TV ad cost?
Let’s say local TV Advertising is too shallow for you, and you want to reach the masses, you will want to go the direction of National TV Advertising. A single 30 second TV spot can cost you anywhere from $25,000, to $150,000 depending on what network, and what time your commercial airs.
To advertise a commercial on the Super Bowl nationally, you can look to spend a cool 4-5 million for one 30 second spot. So whether you are focusing on local TV Advertising for your business or service, or you want to reach the nation with your message. It’s all possible, but first you have to create the TV commercial.
Get a video qoute for your project today
See Samples below of commercials we’ve produced including price ranges from least expensive to most expensive:
Potential budget range from $800 – $1,000
This commercial is made up of still photographs, a professional voice over, and provided artwork.
Potential budget range from $1,500 – $2,500
We produced this commercial for Disney Cruise Lines, this commercial included animation and graphics with royalty free music and a voice over.
Potential budget range from $2,500 – $3,500
This commercial was shot on a Canon C300, we filmed on location with one talent, HMU, professional voice over, and other voice actors.
Potential budget range from $2,500 – $3,500
We produced this testimonial style commercial to promote a POS system, this was filmed in HD and included an animated logo at the end.
Potential budget range from $3,500 – $5,500
We filmed this commercial in full HD, with a 4 man crew, also using a drone to capture the clients work in progress. This commercial is also being aired in local movie theaters for our client.
Potential budget range from $6,500 – $9,000
This commercial was part of a series filmed over 2 days, we shot this on Canon cameras, with a 7 person film crew, including HMU, craft and catering. we used actual faculty and staff as talent.
Potential budget range from $10,000 – $15,000
We filmed this commercial in several locations around the city on sea and land, filming with a full crew talent and extras.
Potential budget range from $10,000 – $20,000
We filmed this commercial in the style of a popular TV show, we worked closely with our client to secure location and talent. we filmed this on HD cameras with a 7 person crew.
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Potential budget range from $20,000 – $30,000
We filmed this commercial in a studio in CT, shot on Sony cameras, and cine lenses.
Potential budget range from $20,000 – $30,000
We filmed several commercials for this campaign, and provided a full crew filming on cine lenses.
Potential budget range from $30,000 – $40,000
We shot this commercial in LA, it was a very fun shoot, the spot also went viral. filmed with multiple cameras to catch all of the action.
Potential budget range from $30,000 – $40,000
We filmed scenes of this commercial in different cities across the US, we used several HD cameras to capture raw emotions from the unsuspecting participants.
Potential budget range from $40,000 – $50,000
We filmed this commercial in several cities, some cities that we filmed in didn’t make the final cut, we shot this on Canon cameras, each of our crews had to follow specific instructions to get the right shot. We needed to secure permits for many of the locations, and coordinate seamlessly with our teams across the globe to secure the right look and feel for the client.
Potential budget range from $50,000 – $60,000
This commercial was filmed at several locations in FL, including a full casting, with several actors, craft service, catering, HMU, wardrobe, location scouting, art department, and several pre production meetings. Filmed by a full 15 person production crew shooting on an Arri Alexa camera, and a fisher dolly.
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Potential budget range from $70,000 – $90,000
This commercial was actually filmed in Chicago, as it was a series of spots produced. a shot of the Brooklyn bridge was inserted for a NY feel, we were tasked with providing a full crew, and coordinating all logistics to assure this project went off without a hitch. This commercial was filmed in full HD.
So what’s the Average Cost of TV Commercial Production?
The total cost of producing a TV commercial can range greatly based on many different variables. We’re outlining the cost expectations for various commercials based on length, effects, and other factors to help you understand what to expect with the average cost of TV commercial production and what kind of situations you might come across. Keep in mind, commercial advertising is highly effective and tends of have a substantial ROI. So as you visualizes these average costs, try too, to visualize the ROI that you may achieve with a professionally produced television ad.
Average Cost of TV Commercial Production Crew
First and foremost, one of the greatest influences in the total cost of TV commercial production is the crew. The size and experience of your crew will play a huge role in the expenses involved in production. A large crew will have larger costs than a small crew. Likewise, an experienced crew will likely charge more per hour, or per shoot day, than a crew with less experience. Here’s what industry average hourly crew rates and day-rates look like:
- Film Director – >$100 – $250 per hour
- Script Writer – >$50 – $150 per hour
- Cameraman – >$50 – $400 per hour
- Editor – >$45 – $175 per hour
- Actors – >$100 -$500 per hour
- Equipment – up to 100s per hour
- Studio Shooting – up to $400 per hour
- Narrator – >$100 – $400 per hour
- Audio Files – up to $1000’s
- Video Rendering – up to $75 per hour
- B-Roll – expect to pay a percentage between 10 and 50% of your total cost
- Miscellaneous Fees – can cost very little up to 1000’s extra
Commercial Length
Another major variable that comes into play is the total length of the commercial. A television commercial that is 30 seconds long will almost certainly cost less than a commercial of similar production quality that is 1 minute or more in total length. A 30 second commercial can be produced for somewhere between about $1,500 and up to $150K. These numbers are so far apart, that determining the average cost of TV commercial production for your video may seem tough. That’s why length is not a good overall price determinant.
Production Complexity
One of the greatest actual determinants of total production cost is not length, or size of crew, but production complexity. How complex is the concept for the commercial? A complex production is certain to have higher costs than something that is very simple and basic.
A short, low expertise production will almost certainly require less resources and fewer variables for success and therefore will have an average lower cost than a production that includes intense animations or visual effects. If you’re really trying to cut costs, consider fewer visual effects — they may appear to be stunning, but you’ll also be stunned when you see how much they cost to create!
Average cost of TV commercial production
The average cost of TV commercial production ranges from about $1,000 per minute to upwards of $100,000. Most commercials cost between $1,500 and $20,000. Keep this in mind as you plan your next 30 second television spot and then call Beverly Boy Productions to learn more about advertising on tv.
Producing video for television advertising requires professional equipment, experience and expertise. A lot goes into the process, from the early planning stages where the original idea is conceived through the later stages when the video editing and post-production processes come into play, there are many professional hands that work on your project before it is finalized for distribution, and each of these individuals must be paid. How much does it cost to make a 30 second commercial?
The truth is, various factors influence the cost of TV commercial production. Time is one influence on the price, but so is location, quality, and individual resources required to produce the commercial. A TV commercial may range from about $500 to well over $50,000 for 30 seconds.
30 Second Commercial Pricing
The pricing of a 30 second commercial is largely dependent on who produces the commercial and what style of production the finished project is. For example, a commercial that includes extensive special effects and graphics will push the limits and likely cost more than the average $1,000 to $10,000 per finished minute. Graphics and special effects, as well as animations, can lead to substantially higher costs overall.
Think about how different commercials can be when you watch them. A simple commercial that showcases a particular restaurant location, lacks a story or any real graphic elements or effects, can easily be produced for about $500 to $1,000. However, think about some of the commercials that are seen during the Super Bowl. These often reflect advanced storylines, intricate graphics and special effects that literally blow your mind – and they come at a cost. Many of these commercials will cost $25,000 or more to produce.
Commercial Cost Influencers
When you ask any production company, “How much does it cost to make a 30 second commercial?” they’re going to say, “that depends.” And it does. The cost of commercial production depends on many different influencers such as:
- Filming location.
- Equipment needs.
- Production quality.
- Post-production editing.
You may save a little by writing your own script, but in doing so you must consider the potential repercussions that can come from a DIY process — do you really know what it takes to write a commercial script? Would it maybe be better to leave this up to the professionals?
All of these considerations are likely to come up as you prepare a budget and outline the expected costs of producing a 30 second commercial. For assistance or to learn more about the expected costs of commercial production, give Beverly Boy Productions a call.
Write a commercial script
You may save a little by writing your own script, but in doing so you must consider the potential repercussions that can come from a DIY process — do you really know what it takes to write a commercial script? Would it maybe be better to leave this up to the professionals?
All of these considerations are likely to come up as you prepare a budget and outline the expected costs of producing a 30 second commercial. For assistance or to learn more about the expected costs of commercial production, give Beverly Boy Productions a call.
Producing video for television advertising
Producing video for television advertising requires professional equipment, experience and expertise. A lot goes into the process, from the early planning stages where the original idea is conceived through the later stages when the video editing and post-production processes come into play, there are many professional hands that work on your project before it is finalized for distribution, and each of these individuals must be paid. How much does it cost to make a 30 second commercial?
The truth is, various factors influence the cost of TV commercial production. Time is one influence on the price, but so is location, quality, and individual resources required to produce the commercial. A TV commercial may range from about $500 to well over $50,000 for 30 seconds.
