About ReelRate
ReelRate is a free tool that helps freelance video editors answer one deceptively hard question: what should I charge?
Why we built it
Most video editors set their rate by guessing, or by copying whatever number a competitor happens to post. Both approaches ignore the only figures that actually matter: your income goal, your expenses, and how many hours you can realistically bill. ReelRate was built to replace the guesswork with a rate that is grounded in your real numbers, so you can quote clients without second-guessing yourself.
How the calculator works
The calculator works backwards from the income you want to keep, rather than forwards from an hourly number pulled out of thin air. In plain terms, it:
- Adds your target take-home income and your annual business expenses (software, stock media, plugins, hardware, and storage).
- Divides that total by your real billable hours for the year — the weeks you actually work multiplied by the hours you can truly bill, which for most freelancers is 20–25 per week, not 40.
- Adjusts for the share of income you set aside for tax, then adds a 20% buffer to cover revisions, late payers, and the gaps between projects.
- Translates that recommended hourly rate into a day rate and a price per finished minute, using realistic edit-time ratios for YouTube, short-form, wedding, and corporate work.
Where the 2026 benchmarks come from
The Junior, Mid, and Senior ranges shown alongside your result reflect hourly rates commonly reported across freelance video editing communities and marketplaces in 2026. They are meant as a reality check — a way to see whether your calculated rate sits above or below what editors at your experience level typically charge — not as fixed prices. Your market, niche, and reel can move you up or down within (or beyond) these ranges.
Who it's for
ReelRate is for freelance and aspiring video editors of every stripe: YouTube editors, short-form specialists cutting Reels and TikToks, wedding and event editors, and corporate video pros. Whether you are setting your first rate or reviewing an old one, the goal is the same — a number that is sustainable, not just survivable.
A note on independence
ReelRate is free to use and supported by advertising. The results are estimates for guidance only and are not financial, tax, or legal advice. For decisions about tax and business structure, please consult a qualified professional in your country.