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How Much Does Media Localization Cost in London?
Media localization in London costs £8–£18 per subtitle minute, £45–£180 per dubbed minute, and £0.10–£0.18 per word for scripts, ISO 17100 certified.
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How much does media localization cost in London?
Media localization in London costs £8–£18 per minute for subtitling, £45–£180 per minute for dubbing, £30–£90 per minute for voice-over, and £0.10–£0.18 per source word for script translation, delivered under ISO 17100 across 200+ languages.
What factors influence the cost of media localization services?
Five factors influence media localization cost: runtime and word volume, format (subtitle vs dub vs voice-over), target language pair scarcity, turnaround (standard vs same-day), and UK regulatory compliance load from Ofcom, ASA and BBFC rules.
How much does video translation or localization cost per minute?
Video translation costs £8–£18 per minute for subtitles, £30–£90 per minute for voice-over, and £45–£180 per minute for full dubbing with lip movements matched, with rates rising for rare languages, broadcast delivery formats, and same-day turnaround.
What is the cost difference between subtitling, dubbing, and voice-over services?
Subtitling costs £8–£18 per minute, voice-over £30–£90 per minute, and dubbing £45–£180 per minute — a 6–10× spread driven by studio time, voice-actor fees, and the engineering effort to match spoken dialogue to on-screen lip movements.
How much does it cost to translate 1000 words in the UK?
Translating 1,000 words in the UK costs £100–£180 for general content, £140–£220 for technical or legal material, and £160–£280 for rare language pairs, all delivered by ISO 17100 certified linguists with translation memory reuse discounts of 15–40%.
What are the typical rates for translators in the UK?
Typical UK translator rates are £0.08–£0.15 per source word for freelance linguists, £0.10–£0.20 per word through an ISO 17100 agency (which includes editing and QA), and £35–£65 per hour for review, DTP and localization engineering work.
Complete guide
Everything you need to know
Media Localization Cost in London is the GBP-denominated pricing structure that adapts video, audio and multimedia content for UK and international audiences, covering subtitling at £8–£18 per minute, dubbing at £45–£180 per minute, voice-over at £30–£90 per minute and script translation at £0.10–£0.18 per source word under ISO 17100. Every quote from our Professional Translation Services in London, UK hub itemises the five levers that move the invoice: minute-rate, format multiplier, language-pair scarcity, turnaround surcharge and UK compliance load.
Pricing
How much does media localization cost in London?
Media localization in London costs £8–£18 per minute for subtitling, £45–£180 per minute for dubbing, £30–£90 per minute for voice-over, and £0.10–£0.18 per source word for script translation, delivered under ISO 17100 across 200+ languages. Prices sit inside a five-lever stack that reconciles per-minute and per-word quoting on the same media localization project.
The five levers are:
- Minute-rate — the base cost for one finished video minute in the chosen format.
- Format multiplier — subtitle vs voice-over vs full dubbing, a 6–10× spread.
- Language-pair scarcity — English↔French sits low, English↔Icelandic sits high.
- Turnaround surcharge — 20–50% for rush, 0% for 5-day standard.
- UK compliance load — Ofcom, ASA and BBFC review adds 8–22%.
For readers who need the discipline explainer rather than the price breakdown, see What Is Media Localization and How Does It Work?.
What is the 2025 London rate card for media localization services?
The 2025 London rate card prices subtitling at £8–£18 per video minute, voice-over at £30–£90 per minute, dubbing at £45–£180 per minute, transcription at £1.50–£3.50 per audio minute, and script translation at £0.10–£0.18 per source word.
| Service | Unit | 2025 London rate (GBP) | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtitling (SRT) | per finished video minute | £8–£18 | Social clips, e-learning, corporate video |
| Subtitling (broadcast SCC/STL, burned-in) | per finished minute | £12–£24 | TV, streaming delivery |
| Voice-over | per finished minute | £30–£90 | Training video, documentary |
| Full dubbing (lip-sync) | per finished minute | £45–£180 | Film, streaming series, children’s content |
| Transcription | per audio minute | £1.50–£3.50 | Source prep for subtitle or dub |
| Script translation | per source word | £0.10–£0.18 | Dub/VO scripts, on-screen text |
| Minimum project fee | flat | £75 | Short-form under 3 minutes or 500 words |
How does a media localization quote break down line-by-line?
A London media localization quote breaks down into 6 line items: source transcription, script translation, subtitle timing or voice-over recording, linguistic QA, engineering (burn-in, mix, sync), and project management. Each item is priced separately so buyers see where every pound goes.
- Transcription — £1.50–£3.50 per audio minute.
- Translation — £0.10–£0.18 per source word.
- Timing or recording — subtitle spotting £4–£7/minute; VO recording £20–£45/minute.
- Linguistic QA — second qualified linguist under ISO 17100, £45–£65 per hour.
- Engineering — burn-in, sound mix, sync, £45–£90 per hour.
- Project management — 8–12% of project subtotal.
Pricing
What factors influence the cost of media localization services?
Five factors influence media localization cost: runtime and word volume, format (subtitle vs dub vs voice-over), target language pair scarcity, turnaround (standard vs same-day), and UK regulatory compliance load from Ofcom, ASA and BBFC rules. Each factor multiplies the base minute-rate rather than adding to it, which is why two 10-minute videos can quote at very different totals.
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | £0.10–£0.12/word English↔French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese. |
| Tier 2 | £0.13–£0.15/word English↔Polish, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, Simplified Chinese. |
| Tier 3 | £0.16–£0.18/word Japanese, Korean, Hebrew, Nordic pairs (Norwegian, Danish, Finnish). |
| Tier 4 | £0.18–£0.24/word Icelandic, Amharic, Māori, Pashto and other rare pairs. |
Pricing
How much does video translation or localization cost per minute?
Video translation costs £8–£18 per finished minute for subtitles, £30–£90 per finished minute for voice-over, and £45–£180 per finished minute for full dubbing with lip movements matched. Rates rise for rare languages, broadcast delivery formats, and same-day turnaround. A minimum project fee of £75 applies to all bookings, meaning very short clips are priced at that floor rather than at the per-minute rate. UK VAT at 20% is added to every invoice for domestic clients; overseas business customers are zero-rated under HMRC rules, so the net cost for international buyers is the headline rate only.
| Format | Per finished video minute | Turnaround (standard) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subtitles (SRT) | £8–£18 | 3–5 working days | Social, e-learning, corporate |
| Voice-over | £30–£90 | 5–7 working days | Training video, documentary |
| Full dubbing | £45–£180 | 2–4 weeks | Streaming series, film, children’s |
Regulatory compliance is a meaningful cost variable in London. Ofcom, ASA and BBFC obligations add 8–22% to the baseline invoice on broadcast, advertising and classified-content projects, because localised scripts must be reviewed and often rewritten to meet UK standards before final delivery. Buyers who plan for this uplift early avoid budget overruns at the approval stage.
Why is video priced per minute and not per word?
Video is priced per finished minute because subtitle reading-speed limits force significant condensation of spoken dialogue, making a raw word count an unreliable measure of effort. Ofcom caps broadcast subtitles at 17 characters per second, while the Netflix standard sits at 21 CPS. In practice, a 10-minute video carrying 1,600 spoken words may yield only around 1,100 written subtitle words once the condensation required by those caps is applied. The per-minute rate therefore captures the true engineering effort — transcription, spotting, condensing, timing and QA — that a word count alone cannot reflect. Voice-over and dubbing are similarly affected: timing the translated script to the original audio track is itself a billable engineering task that scales with programme duration, not word volume.
What does a 10-minute corporate video actually cost to localize?
A 10-minute English corporate video localised into French subtitles costs £110–£180; into French voice-over £340–£720; into full French dubbing with matched lip movements £520–£1,600, all delivered under ISO 17100 by our London studio. These figures assume standard turnaround; a same-day request on the subtitle version attracts a 25–50% rush surcharge. Localization into languages with lower resource availability — Welsh, Amharic, Tigrinya, for example — sits at the upper end of each band, while major European languages such as Spanish, German and Italian typically price at the lower end.
| Deliverable | Line items | Total (GBP, ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| French subtitles (SRT) | Transcription + translation + spotting + QA | £110–£180 |
| French voice-over | Script translation + single voice talent + timing + mix | £340–£720 |
| French full dubbing | Adapted script + casting + studio recording + lip-sync + mix | £520–£1,600 |
Pricing
What is the cost difference between subtitling, dubbing, and voice-over services?
Subtitling costs £8–£18 per finished minute, voice-over £30–£90 per finished minute, and dubbing £45–£180 per finished minute — a spread of roughly 6–10× from the cheapest to the most expensive format. That gap is driven by studio time, voice-actor fees, the number of specialists involved, and the engineering effort required to match spoken dialogue to on-screen lip movements. Subtitling remains the most cost-effective format because it requires fewer production steps: a translator, a reviser, a spotter and a QA reviewer can complete the workflow without ever entering a recording studio. Dubbing, by contrast, draws in script adapters, voice directors, multiple voice actors, recording engineers, dialogue editors and mixing engineers — all of whom contribute to the finished-minute rate. Regulatory compliance adds a further 8–22% across all three formats when content is destined for UK broadcast, advertising or BBFC-classified release.
How much does subtitle translation cost in London?
Subtitle translation in London costs £8–£18 per finished video minute for standard SRT delivery, rising to £12–£24 per minute for burned-in captions with graphic-locale adaptation and broadcast-grade SCC/STL formatting. Ofcom’s reading-speed cap of 17 characters per second for broadcast subtitles and the 21 CPS limit used by major streaming platforms both require translators to condense dialogue rather than translate it verbatim — a specialised skill that distinguishes professional subtitling from simple document translation. Subtitle spotting follows the 37–42 characters per line and two-line on-screen convention used across UK broadcast, and QA review against those parameters is included in the per-minute rate. Same-day subtitle delivery is available for projects placed before 11:00 GMT, with a 25–50% rush surcharge applied.
How much does dubbing cost per minute in the UK?
Dubbing costs £45–£180 per finished minute in the UK. The rate covers script adaptation, casting of voice actors, studio recording, sound mix and lip-sync engineering to align each line of dialogue to the lip movements of the original performer on screen. Full dubbing is the most labour-intensive localization format available: even a 30-minute episode requires multiple casting sessions, separate recording sessions per character, and a dedicated mix-and-sync pass before the deliverable is ready. The rate band is wide because children’s animation, where lip-sync accuracy is critical and character voices must be precisely cast, sits near the top of the range, while single-narrator corporate narration can sit nearer the bottom. Language pair also moves the dial — dubbing into a tonal language with significantly different phoneme length from English carries additional adaptation costs.
How much does voice-over cost per minute in the UK?
Voice-over costs £30–£90 per finished minute for a single voice talent reading a translated script over the original audio. The format sits well below full dubbing in cost because lip-sync engineering is replaced by a lighter timing pass: the translated script must fit the programme’s natural pause points and scene cuts, but individual word-to-lip matching is not required. Voice-over is therefore the preferred format for corporate training videos, factual documentaries, e-learning modules and instructional content, where the audience expects a narrator’s voice rather than character voices. Multi-voice documentary formats with two or three speakers add a modest casting and studio premium over the single-voice rate.
Which format fits your content: dubbing, subtitling, or voice-over?
Choose subtitling for social clips and cost-sensitive e-learning modules, voice-over for corporate training videos and documentaries, and full dubbing for premium film, streaming series and children’s content where lip movements and immersive audio are commercially important. The table below maps content type to the format that typically delivers the best cost-to-impact ratio.
- Subtitling — lowest cost, fastest turnaround, preserves original performance and tone.
- Voice-over — mid-tier cost, suits factual and instructional content with a narrator-led structure.
- Full dubbing — highest cost and longest lead time; essential where audience immersion is a commercial priority.
Pricing
How much does it cost to translate 1000 words in the UK?
Translating 1,000 words in the UK costs £100–£180 for general content, £140–£220 for technical or legal material, and £160–£280 for rare language pairs, all delivered by ISO 17100 certified linguists with translation memory reuse discounts of 15–40% available on repeat projects. A minimum project fee of £75 applies, so very short jobs — a 200-word clip description, for example — are priced at that floor rather than at the per-word rate. For media scripts specifically, the rate sits at £0.10–£0.18 per source word, which is 10–20% above a plain document rate; the premium reflects the timecode annotation, reading-speed condensation and cultural adaptation of references that subtitle and dubbing scripts require. UK VAT at 20% is added to domestic invoices, while overseas business clients are zero-rated under HMRC rules.
How does translation memory reduce the per-1000-word cost?
Translation memory reuses previously translated segments and cuts per-1,000-word cost by 15–40% on repeat or high-volume projects. Segments that match 100% are priced at 25% of the full rate, because the linguist’s task is reduced to a verification check rather than original translation. Segments with a 75–99% fuzzy match — where the new text is close but not identical to the stored version — are priced at 60% of the full rate. Entirely new segments attract the full rate. For media localization programmes spanning multiple series or recurring training-video content, translation memory reuse compounds across projects and delivers progressively lower per-word costs over time. Volume tiers offer additional savings beyond the memory discounts for large batches delivered in a single order.
What is the per-word rate for media scripts specifically?
Media script translation in the UK sits at £0.10–£0.18 per source word, a rate that applies to subtitle scripts, voice-over scripts and dubbing adaptation scripts alike. The higher positioning relative to plain document translation is justified by three additional workstreams built into every media script job: timecode annotation so each segment aligns to its cue point in the video, reading-speed condensation so the translated text respects Ofcom’s 17 CPS broadcast cap or the 21 CPS streaming-platform standard, and cultural reference adaptation so idioms, humour and locale-specific allusions land correctly with a UK or target-market audience. These tasks require linguists with specialist media experience, and the rate reflects that competence requirement under ISO 17100.
Pricing
What are the typical rates for translators in the UK?
Typical UK translator rates are £0.08–£0.15 per source word for freelance linguists, £0.10–£0.20 per word through an ISO 17100 agency, and £35–£65 per hour for review, DTP and localization engineering work. Agency rates bundle a mandatory second-linguist revision, project management, translation memory maintenance, ISO 17100 QA and liability insurance — services that a solo freelancer does not include in their per-word fee. For media localization, script translation rates sit at £0.10–£0.18 per source word, sitting within the agency band and reflecting the specialist skills required to handle timecode annotation, reading-speed condensation and cultural adaptation simultaneously. A minimum project fee of £75 applies across all rate types, protecting the economics of short-form media jobs such as a single 90-second trailer or a brief social clip.
| Role | Unit | UK rate (GBP, ex VAT) | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance translator | per source word | £0.08–£0.15 | Translation only |
| ISO 17100 agency | per source word | £0.10–£0.20 | Translation + revision + QA + PM |
| Editing / DTP / spotting | per hour | £35–£65 | Post-translation engineering |
| Sworn / rare-language specialist | per hour | £75–£95 | Compliance-critical work |
How much do UK translators charge per hour?
UK translators charge £35–£65 per hour for editing, review, subtitle timing and DTP tasks. Certified sworn linguists and rare-language specialists reach £75–£95 per hour for compliance-critical work, including content that must satisfy Ofcom, ASA or BBFC requirements before broadcast or release. Hourly billing is standard for post-translation engineering tasks — subtitle spotting, audio sync review, graphic adaptation — where the volume of words processed is a poor proxy for the time actually spent. Projects combining word-rate translation with hourly engineering therefore carry two distinct line items on the invoice.
Why do agency rates differ from freelance rates?
Agency rates run 25–40% above freelance rates because they bundle a second-linguist revision, project management, translation memory maintenance, ISO 17100 QA, and professional liability insurance that a solo freelancer cannot underwrite. The ISO 17100 standard specifically requires that translation and revision are performed by two separate qualified linguists — a control that is structurally impossible for a single-person operation to fulfil without subcontracting. For media localization in a regulated environment, that second-linguist revision is not optional: it is the checkpoint that catches reading-speed violations, cultural missteps and compliance-critical rewordings before the content reaches air or publication.
What types of media localization services are available in London?
London media localization services cover eight distinct formats: subtitling, closed captioning, voice-over, full dubbing, transcription, script translation, on-screen text and graphics adaptation, and audio description for accessibility. Each format is priced independently and can be combined in a single managed workflow, making it straightforward to order, for example, subtitles for digital release alongside a dubbed version for broadcast from a single project brief. Language coverage extends to 200+ languages for audio services and 150+ languages for full media localization, with London-based project management applied across every combination. A minimum project fee of £75 applies regardless of format, and UK VAT at 20% is added to domestic invoices; overseas business clients are zero-rated per HMRC rules.
Which media content formats do we localize?
We localize six primary media content formats — broadcast TV and streaming series, corporate and training videos, e-learning modules, podcasts and audio drama, advertising and social clips, and video-game cinematics — each carrying its own workflow and rate band. Broadcast and streaming work requires Ofcom-compliant subtitle timing and SCC/STL delivery formats; advertising must pass ASA claims review; BBFC-classified releases require compliance sign-off before localized audio or subtitles are mastered. Each of those regulatory requirements adds 8–22% to the baseline invoice, a cost that is built into the project plan from the outset rather than applied as a late-stage amendment.
- Broadcast TV and streaming series — Ofcom compliance, SCC/STL delivery, multi-language simultaneous release.
- Corporate and training videos — voice-over-first, brand-voice consistency, ISO 17100 QA throughout.
- E-learning modules — SCORM packaging, specialist subject premium of 15–35% over standard rates.
- Podcasts and audio drama — script translation plus voice-talent casting and recording.
- Advertising and social clips — ASA claims review, transcreation-heavy, culturally adaptive copy.
- Video-game cinematics — dubbing plus on-screen text adaptation plus UI strings combined in one delivery.
What multimedia localization goes beyond video?
Multimedia localization beyond video covers e-learning modules with SCORM packaging, interactive PDFs, HTML5 banners, mobile-app UI strings, and podcast transcripts, all priced per asset unit rather than per finished minute. Transcription services for audio and podcast content cost £1.50–£3.50 per audio minute and are frequently the first step in a broader localization programme, providing the source text from which translations, subtitles and adapted scripts are then produced. These assets often combine with website translation and broader website localization in a single multilingual programme, allowing a unified translation memory to be shared across video, document and digital channel deliverables, reducing per-word cost on repeat content.
Pricing
How does AI impact the cost and quality of media localization?
AI cuts media localization cost by 30–45% through machine translation plus human post-editing (MTPE) and automatic subtitle timing, but adds 12–20% QA overhead for regulated media because AI systems mis-handle cultural references, brand voice, and the reading-speed condensation that Ofcom’s 17 CPS broadcast cap and the 21 CPS streaming-platform standard require. The net saving is therefore smaller than the headline AI discount implies for any content destined for UK broadcast, advertising or BBFC-classified release — categories where Ofcom, ASA and BBFC compliance already adds 8–22% to the baseline invoice and where an AI-generated error carries legal or reputational consequences rather than just a correction cost.
| Approach | Cost impact | Best fit | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full human (ISO 17100) | Baseline | Broadcast, advertising, children’s, film | Lowest |
| MTPE (AI + human editor) | −30% to −45% | Internal training, high-volume subtitles | Medium; +12–20% QA overhead on regulated media |
| AI-only | −60% to −80% | Draft subtitles, internal review copy | Highest; unfit for compliance or brand-critical work |
When does AI-only localization make commercial sense?
AI-only localization makes commercial sense for low-stakes internal training video, high-volume user-generated content, and first-pass draft subtitles where speed and cost reduction matter more than nuanced cultural sensitivity or brand-voice consistency. Internal review copies, rough-cut screening subtitles for editorial teams, and high-volume social clips that will be reviewed by in-house regional teams before publishing are all suitable candidates. The £1.50–£3.50 per audio minute transcription stage that precedes subtitle translation can itself be AI-assisted without meaningful quality risk, making it one of the clearest efficiency gains in the localization workflow.
When does human localization still win?
Human localization under ISO 17100 — with a qualified translator and a separate qualified reviser — remains the only reliable approach for broadcast content under Ofcom rules, ASA-regulated advertising, BBFC-classified releases, and any premium content where original tone, style and cultural resonance must be preserved for a new audience. The ISO 17100 second-linguist revision step is particularly important in regulated media because it functions as the checkpoint that catches reading-speed violations, compliance-critical rewordings and culturally inappropriate phrasing before they reach air. Machine translation errors in these settings carry legal or reputational costs that far exceed the saving on the localization invoice itself.
How can I get a quote for media localization services in London?
Get a media localization quote in London by sending your source file, target languages, delivery format and deadline through our quote form. We return a fixed-price GBP quote within 2 working hours for standard projects, or within 30 minutes for same-day audio jobs placed before 11:00 GMT. Same-day delivery is available for audio content under 1,000 source words submitted before that cut-off, with a 25–50% rush surcharge applied to orders exceeding 10,000 words. All quotes are itemised by service line — subtitling, voice-over, dubbing, script translation — so you can see exactly what each format contributes to the total before approving. UK VAT at 20% is shown separately on every quote; overseas business customers are zero-rated under HMRC rules and receive a VAT-exclusive total.
- Send the source file (video, audio or script) or a confirmed word count.
- Specify target languages and delivery format (SRT, WAV, MP4, broadcast-grade SCC/STL).
- State the deadline and any Ofcom, ASA or BBFC compliance requirements.
- Receive a fixed GBP quote within 2 working hours (30 minutes for same-day audio).
- Approve and the ISO 17100 workflow begins the same day.
What information does the quote form need?
The quote form requires five inputs: the source file or word count, the source language, the target languages, the delivery format, and the deadline. Delivery format options include subtitle SRT, voice-over WAV, dubbed MP4, and broadcast-grade SCC/STL. Optional fields cover style guide, in-house glossary, compliance requirements and preferred voice-talent gender or accent region. Providing a glossary and style guide upfront reduces revision cycles and can lower the effective per-word cost on longer projects through better translation memory alignment. Our coverage spans 200+ languages for audio and 150+ for full media localization, so even rare language pairs can be quoted from the same form without a separate enquiry process.
How fast do we return a quote?
We return media localization quotes within 2 working hours for standard projects and within 30 minutes for same-day audio jobs placed before 11:00 GMT. The minimum project fee is £75, which means short-form jobs — a 60-second product video, a 90-second trailer, a single podcast segment — receive the same prompt quoting process as large multi-language programmes. For projects with hard broadcast deadlines or same-day streaming delivery requirements, noting the compliance standard (Ofcom, ASA or BBFC) in the quote form allows us to confirm both the technical delivery format and the regulatory review timeline in the same response.
What are the benefits of localizing video and audio content?
Localizing video and audio delivers 4 measurable benefits: 3–7× higher engagement in the target language, entry to a new market without rebuilding the asset, compliance with UK broadcast and advertising rules, and brand voice consistency across multiple languages. Localized media improves visibility on platforms that rank content by native-language watch time.
How does localization break language barriers for UK exporters?
Localization breaks language barriers by adapting spoken dialogue, on-screen text, cultural references and brand voice into the native language of the target audience. UK exporters reach people in different countries without producing new source content, and the same asset works globally once translation and adaptation are complete. This is where language and culture meet cultural and technical delivery — the discipline that separates localization and translation from raw language translation. For the definitional distinction, see Media Localization vs Media Translation: What Is the Difference?.
How does our London agency deliver media localization under ISO 17100?
Our London agency delivers media localization under ISO 17100 through a five-stage workflow — transcription, translation by a qualified native-language linguist, revision by a second qualified linguist, engineering, and final QA — with same-day turnaround available for audio jobs under 1,000 source words placed before 11:00 GMT. ISO 17100 certification is not a marketing claim but an independently audited standard that mandates specific competence criteria for every linguist working on a project, documented project management at each stage, and traceable QA records that can be produced on request. Every media localization job we handle — regardless of format, language pair or content type — passes through all five stages; no stage is skipped to hit a lower price point. The standard rush surcharge of 25–50% applies to same-day orders exceeding 1,000 words, reflecting the additional resource required to compress the five-stage workflow into a single working day.
- Transcription — source audio is transcribed with timecodes at £1.50–£3.50 per audio minute, producing the reference text for translation.
- Translation — a qualified native speaker of the target language translates the script, applying reading-speed condensation where Ofcom or streaming-platform caps require it.
- Revision — a second qualified linguist reviews the translation independently, the core ISO 17100 control that separates certified agency work from single-translator output.
- Engineering — subtitle spotting, voice-over recording, dub mix, or lip-sync alignment to match the original on-screen lip movements, depending on format.
- QA — final linguistic and technical review against delivery specification before the file is released.
What ISO 17100 controls apply to media localization?
ISO 17100 requires a qualified translator, a separate qualified reviser, documented project management, and traceable QA records — controls we apply across every media localization project regardless of format or language pair. The two-linguist requirement is the most operationally significant control: it means no single person both translates and approves their own work, which is the most common source of undetected errors in media content. For broadcast and regulated content, this revision step is also where Ofcom reading-speed compliance, ASA claims accuracy and BBFC classification requirements are verified — adding to the 8–22% regulatory cost load that UK-destined content carries over and above the baseline localization rate.
How many languages do we cover?
We cover 200+ languages for audio translation and 150+ languages for full media localization, with London-based project management and native-speaker linguists selected against ISO 17100 competence criteria for every language pair. Coverage at this breadth is maintained through a shared translation memory and centralised terminology asset library, which keeps quality consistent across multiple languages on a single project and reduces per-word costs on repeat content. Media localization programmes spanning multiple series, product generations or regional market rollouts benefit from that accumulated memory: the more content we localise for a brand, the more efficiently each subsequent project is delivered.
Six questions come up repeatedly: minimum project fee, currency and VAT, rush surcharge policy, revision inclusions, cancellation terms, and how London rates compare with other UK cities — answered below in fixed GBP terms.
Frequently asked questions
How much does localisation cost?
Media localisation in the UK typically costs between £0.10 and £0.30 per word, depending on the complexity of the content, language pair, and service scope. For multimedia projects, additional costs apply for subtitling, voiceover, dubbing, and desktop publishing — these can push project totals into the hundreds or thousands of pounds. Highly specialised content (legal, technical, or medical) commands rates at the higher end of the range. Turnaround time, file format complexity, and whether certified translators are required also influence the final price.
How much does translation cost in the UK?
Professional translation in the UK generally costs between £0.10 and £0.25 per word for standard language pairs. Rare or complex language combinations, certified translations, or highly technical subjects such as legal and medical content can reach £0.30 per word or more. Many London agencies also charge minimum project fees — typically £50–£100 — to cover administrative and quality-assurance overhead. Additional services like notarisation, proofreading, or DTP formatting are usually quoted separately.
How much should I charge for translating?
Freelance translators in the UK typically charge between £0.08 and £0.20 per source word, with experienced specialists in legal, medical, or technical fields charging £0.20–£0.35 per word. Hourly rates range from around £25 to £80 depending on expertise and language pair. Certified or sworn translations command a premium due to the additional accountability involved. When setting rates, translators should factor in subject-matter expertise, CAT tool usage, revision rounds, and the minimum viable project fee.
How much does it cost to translate 1000 words?
Translating 1,000 words through a professional UK translation agency typically costs between £100 and £250. Standard business or general content sits at the lower end (around £100–£150), while certified, legal, or highly technical translations can reach £200–£300 for the same volume. Turnaround urgency, language rarity, and any additional formatting or desktop publishing requirements will affect the final quote. Many agencies apply a minimum project fee, so very short documents may cost proportionally more per word.