How much does translation cost, and what affects the price?
Looking to translate something and unsure what it might cost? This article explains what you are paying for, what affects the price, and how to avoid paying for fluff or cutting corners on quality.
You want your text in another language, clear, accurate, and true to your voice. But how much does professional translation actually cost? And what does that price really include?
If you have searched online, you may have seen wildly different rates. So let us break it down, without the fluff or small print.
What do other translators charge, and what do you get?
Translation rates vary widely. Some charge per word — sometimes as little as €0.06 — while others work per hour or per project. Lower rates often rely on translation software or bulk processing. At the higher end, legal or specialised translators may charge €0.20 per word or more.
But price alone does not guarantee clarity, tone, or accuracy. Machine translations may look fluent at first glance but often miss nuance. Some services deliver a technically correct translation that sounds flat, lifeless, or even awkward in the target language.
When I translate something, I do not just replace words. I consider meaning, tone, and flow — so that the end result reads like it was written that way from the start.
What translation actually involves
A good translation is more than swapping words. It means:
- Reading the source text carefully and understanding nuance, tone, and context
- Choosing the right expressions, grammar, and phrasing in the target language
- Researching terminology, style, or industry-specific content
- Making sure the end result flows like an original, not a translation
- Reviewing everything for clarity, accuracy, and consistency
A poor translation is easy to spot and hard to fix. A good one feels seamless.
My rate for translation
I charge €40 per hour, and most translation projects fall into these ranges:
- Short texts (emails, bios, CVs): 1 to 2 hours
- Web pages or blog posts: 2 to 5 hours
- Longer documents: Based on word count and complexity
I always provide an estimate before I begin, based on a sample or the full text. You will know in advance how many hours I expect the work to take and what is included.
What affects the translation cost?
- Length: Naturally, longer texts take more time
- Complexity: Legal, medical, or technical content often needs extra research
- Formatting: Translations that must match design layouts or file types (such as subtitled video or web content) require additional work
- Urgency: Tight deadlines may increase the time pressure and the cost
- Source quality: A clean, well-written source text is quicker to translate than one that is messy or unclear
What do you get for your money?
- A clear, professional translation, done by a native speaker (me)
- A text that reads naturally and fits your tone of voice
- Attention to context and detail, not just direct meaning
- Revisions if needed, with no extra charge and no drama
You do not pay per word. You pay for care, clarity, and real expertise.
Need a quote? Let us keep it simple.
Send me the text (or a sample) and tell me what it is for. I will ask a few quick questions and give you a clear, honest estimate. No vague ranges. No surprise fees.
This article was written by Janneke Susanne Mol, copywriter, translator, and transcriber at Janneke Mol Language Solutions. With a background in journalism and English language and literature, I help businesses communicate clearly, confidently, and in their own voice — in both Dutch and English.
Got questions about language, copy, or translation? Feel free to get in touch. No pressure, just thoughtful answers.