In case you are planning to have an animated explainer video in 2025, it is important to know the price so that you can know how to spend your budget. The cost of an average 60-second animated explanatory video usually costs between 2000 and 20000 dollars depending on the animation, length of the video, complexity and the skills of the production team. Being aware of these variables will assist you in making a compromise between quality and cost.
The final price will rely the most on the type of animation and the quality of the production. Basic 2D animation can be cheaper whereas higher-end features such as custom 3D animations drive the price up. Your schedule and duration of the video are also influential factors in the amount of investment you make. The above forces can be managed through collaboration with an established animated explainer video production company that can guide you in the dynamics and will guarantee professional output without exceeding your budgets.
Future pricing projections of animated explainer videos in 2025
The price range will be wide as the video length, style of animation, and quality of production can affect it. The expenses have also been adapted to the demand of the market and technology and still the regional influence has a great contribution.
Average cost range
The price range of videos aimed at explaining is between 1,000 and 25 thousand dollars in 2025.
Simple template based videos typically begin under 1000 dollars, and are best suited to simple projects with little or no customization. Custom 2D animation is priced between 3,000 and 10,000 dollars depending on the length and details. Depending on the nature of the completely bespoke production, premium 3D animated videos can cost over $15,000, and go up to $25,000 or more.
Videos last between 30 seconds and 2 minutes, and the cost is going to rise considerably with length and complexity.
Recent changes in pricing
Prices are expected to be more transparent and there will be elaborate pricing guides in 2025 which will make you not spend beyond your means. An increase in the demand of high quality, interactive content and advancement in technology of animation has driven the average rates high.
Fast turnaround and other services such as scriptwriting or voice over inclusion are now priced higher indicating the wider scope of things offered by creative teams.
Regional price differences
The pricing also significantly depends on the region and is affected by labour expenses in the region and maturity of the markets.
In North America and Western Europe, the rates are expected to be higher: 20-40% over the international average, because of the creative teams experienced and the increase in the cost of operation. In Eastern Europe and some of Asia, there are cheaper prices with professional animators, which can be 30-50 percent, without significant quality issues.
Pricing is also influenced by local demand and competition and thus when you are budgeting, you should seek local providers.
The important factors to explainer video cost
There are a few aspects that will determine the kind of budget you have in your explainer video. The method of animation, the length of the video, the intensity of the production and the speed with which you want your final output, all have a direct impact on cost.
Animation style
Pricing is heavily influenced by the kind of animation that you adopt. Motion graphics or simple 2D animations are a cheaper alternative, typically placed in the mid-range price range. These styles do not need a lot of technical effort but provide efficient story telling.
In the upper bracket, the 3D animation and live-action with animation have additional resources, skills, and software, pushing the price upwards. Custom drawing or character animation that requires a lot of design and motion accuracy may also cost a lot.
Use a collaboration with professionals who provide 2D animation services to come up with strong visuals that meet your objectives and financial capacity. Here, you have to make a trade off, as you are constrained by a budget but you are also bound by the effect you wish your video to produce.
Video length
One of the most obvious cost drivers is the length of your explainer video. The average length of an explainer video is 60 to 120 seconds, yet any variation in the length can alter the costs.
The length of videos will take longer to animate, voiceover and edit. As an example, a 90-second video can be priced 20-30 per cent higher than a 60-second one. Remember that it is very important to keep viewers interested, therefore, the lengthening over 2 minutes can not necessarily be a value addition.
Video length is something to plan well as to avoid spending too much but at the same time make sure that whatever you are making is not lengthy and is to the point.
Production complexity
Complexity Production Production complexity encompasses the level of detail in illustrations and number of scenes up to the sound design and custom scripting. The greater complexity involves the increased contribution of the animators, sound engineers, and scriptwriters.
As an example, the inclusion of custom sound effects, licensed music, and professional voiceovers results in cost increase. There are also several rewriting or complicated plot line-ups that prolong the duration of production which impacts the end cost.
When you require advanced visualization or complicated narration, it will increase the price corresponding to the tire and effort.
Turnaround time
The amount of time you allocate to production affects your payment. Conventional timelines give the creative teams time to work on quality work at a moderate price. In case you need a quick turnaround, e.g. less than a week, you will most likely pay a premium. Rush jobs can involve extra resources or the use of overtime.
Giving early notice of your deadline helps you to receive proper pricing and eliminates surprises. There is a possibility to manage your project and costs without interfering with quality by planning your project schedule.
Disaggregation of typical cost components
An animated explainer video has different stages and costs that are different. The area has to possess certain expertise and time, which influences the budget in general.
Concept development and scriptwriting
The script prepares the video in its entirety. Professional scriptwriters are concerned with getting to the point, short language use, and interesting storytelling based on your audience and objectives.
The development of the concept is strongly connected with the script. It consists in the tone, the style, and the main points of the video. This stage can be done several times depending on your comments so as to suit your brand and purpose.
The prices depend on experience and difficulty of the project of the writer. Simple scripts of shorter videos are cheaper, whereas elaborate scripts that entail high research cost in specialized markets require a higher cost.
Storyboarding and design
Storyboarding is the visualizing of your script, per scene. This will help to first organize your ideas prior to the start of animation. A good storyboard saves the money spent on making changes later as it makes it clear when to change and what to change.
Design consists of character development, backgrounds and other graphic designs. Style 2D, 3D, motion graphics will have a direct effect on cost. Less complicated designs cost less, whereas custom artwork with a high level of resolution costs more.
This step involves experienced artists and designers and may be costly depending on the amount of detail to be followed and the number of revisions wanted. Firms that sell 2D animation services frequently incorporate the process into a comprehensive production service, and visual consistency and creativity is maintained.
Voiceover and sound design
The voiceover talent also influences the tone and professionalism of the video. Prices would be based on the experience of the artist, his or her accent and right to use it. You have the choice of union or non-union talent which can influence cost.
Sound design contains background music, sound effects and audio mixing. Royalty-free music licensing is a relatively cheap way to go, and tailor-made music will increase the expenses.
You have better-quality and clear audio production and this increases the effectiveness of your video and it may take sound engineers to mix and refine the music.
Differences in costs by type of production company
The type of the production company will depend heavily on your budget and complexity involved in the production of the explainer video. Both options have a different price range, level of services and scope of projects. This knowledge of these differences will enable you to match your objectives with the right provider.
Freelancers
The cheapest option is normally offered by freelancers. You will find that a 60 to 90 seconds animated video can cost as little as $500 and as much as 3,000. This is why freelancers are the right choice when you require simple animation, simple scripting and minimal customization.
Nevertheless, the freelancers can be short of resources thus turnaround times can be different. There may be one individual involved that does the scriptwriting, animation, and voiceover coordination. This will impact speed and availability but will permit direct communication and flexibility.
The level of quality would depend on the experience and portfolio of the freelancer. You are advised to see what is possible and spell out expectations at the very outset to avoid disappointments.
Studios
A completely personalized, 60-90 seconds explainer video usually costs a Studio between 5,000 and 20,000. They provide a more full service, such as professional scriptwriting, storyboarding, high-end animation, and voice talent, and revisions.
Collaboration with a studio leads to the improvement of the quality of production due to a group of experts. It is possible to predict turnaround times because of pre-existing workflows. The best studios are where your video requires a more professional and brand-specific look or complicated technical aspects.
Demand more explicit contracts, milestones and project management support. The collaboration with a professional firm of animated explainer video creators guarantees the high quality of creative direction, the seamless flow, and a product that does not contradict your marketing objectives.
Online explainer video software
Online services are a cheaper and faster method and can cost between 1,000 and 4,000 USD per video. These platforms have an expedited production process by utilizing templates and stock assets to lower prices.
You are able to personalize characters, backgrounds and voiceovers but the style is not so personalized. The platforms are effective with startups or businesses that require the video in a short period and do not require a lot of creative effort.
Turnaround time is usually quick, but you will not have the control over the details of storytelling and animation that freelancers or studios will provide to you. The pricing models are different, as some platforms are based on subscriptions, and others are project-based.
The budget that the explainer video is going to have in 2025
An animated explainer video will need a budget that includes making clear decisions about what you want to accomplish, making allowances in case of changes in the middle of the project, and anticipating the extra expenses above the core project. Knowing these will simply mean that you will spend your money in a much more accurate manner and prevent any nasty surprises.
Determining project goals
Begin by stating what you would like your video to accomplish. Determine your intended target audience, the message you want to convey and the major activities that you would want the viewers to perform. Such objectives determine the duration of the video, the level of animation and style.
As an illustration, a 60-second video (with the purpose of social media interaction) could be cheaper than a 2-minute informative explanatory video to make presentations to investors.
Having clear goals will enable you to spend money on prioritizing, be it professional voiceovers, unique artwork or sophisticated motion graphics.
Revision and extra management
The revisions may make it expensive in case they are not contained. Make it clear on how many change cycles are contained in your contract prior to production.
Every single edit may demand an extra amount of time on the part of animators, voice actors, or editors. You can use strict revision limits to ensure that you are keeping your budget.
In addition, you can think about whether you need such extras as subtitles, alternative endings, or versions in other languages. These consume production time, and must be included in your budget ahead of time.
