A great voice-over adds polish that's hard to fake — it makes an explainer feel trustworthy, an advert feel premium, and an app feel finished. Hiring one is straightforward once you know what to specify and what drives the cost.

Know your usage first

Usage is the single biggest factor in voice-over pricing. A recording for an internal training video costs very differently from one that will run as a national advert, because the artist is licensing their voice for a much wider audience. Be upfront about where and how long the audio will be used.

What affects the price

  • Script length and how many words
  • Where it will be used and for how long
  • Turnaround time
  • How many revisions or re-records are included

Typical costs

  • A short explainer or social clip: roughly £30–£150
  • Corporate or e-learning narration: about £150–£500
  • Broadcast adverts: usually negotiated and higher, because of usage rights

How to brief the artist

  • The full script, finalised if possible
  • A reference clip for the tone and pace you want
  • Pronunciation notes for names or technical terms
  • The audio format and delivery you need
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