**TL;DR:** ai video cost per second: pricing, process & examples
The ai video cost per second ranges from roughly $0.50 for simple motion graphics to $10+ for photorealistic live-action shots, with most studio projects landing between $2 and $5 per finished second. CarlosVideo18+ publishes fixed package...

# AI Video Cost Per Second: Pricing, Process & Examples

**The ai video cost per second ranges from roughly $0.50 for simple motion graphics to $10+ for photorealistic live-action shots, with most studio projects landing between $2 and $5 per finished second.** CarlosVideo18+ publishes fixed package pricing instead — $94, $150, and $250 — with 7-day delivery and crypto accepted, so you budget by project rather than by frame.

**What it costs**

| Package | Price | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Short clip | from $94 | 10–15 s social cut, one style |
| Standard | $150 | 30–60 s, custom style, voiceover, 2 revision rounds |
| Premium | $250 | 60+ s, complex scenes, 2 revision rounds |

## Why "cost per second" is a misleading starting point

Quoting AI video purely on a per-second basis sounds precise, but it hides the variables that actually move a number: resolution, shot count, character consistency, revision rounds, and how much manual cleanup happens after generation. Two ten-second clips can differ threefold in effort even when the runtime matches exactly.

That is why the figure below works best as a planning benchmark — a way to sanity-check a quote before you commit, not a substitute for one. When you compare the ai video cost per second against a fixed package, the package usually wins for anything longer than a handful of shots, because generation retries and edits stop being your billable risk.

At [CarlosVideo18+](https://carlosvideo18.shop), we price by deliverable. You can see the full breakdown on the [pricing page](https://carlosvideo18.shop/pricing), inspect real finished work in the [portfolio](https://carlosvideo18.shop/portfolio), and start a brief in minutes through [order](https://carlosvideo18.shop/order).

## Current ai video cost per second benchmarks (2024–2025)

The following rates reflect what studios and freelance operators actually charge for finished, edited output — not raw model tokens. Raw generation is cheap; the money goes into prompting, consistency passes, upscaling, sound, and color.

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Video type | Typical ai video cost per second | 10-second example | What drives the price |
| 2D motion graphics / explainers | $0.40 – $1.20 | $4 – $12 | Flat assets, easy iteration |
| Stylized animation (anime, 3D cartoon) | $1.00 – $3.00 | $10 – $30 | Character consistency, style locking |
| Photoreal product shots | $2.00 – $5.00 | $20 – $50 | Lighting accuracy, brand colors |
| Live-action style with human figures | $3.00 – $7.00 | $30 – $70 | Hands, faces, motion artifacts |
| Cinematic scene with VFX and sound design | $5.00 – $12.00 | $50 – $120 | Compositing, custom audio, grading |
| Full commercial package (60 sec) | Fixed: $94 / $150 / $250 | ≈ $2.48 / $3.32 / $4.98 | Brief, script, edits, delivery |

**Read the last row first.** A sixty-second deliverable at $94 lands near $2.48 per second, and the $250 tier lands at $4.98 — inside the mid-range of the table, with revisions and delivery timelines already handled.

## How the three fixed tiers compare to per-second billing

CarlosVideo18+ runs on three flat packages, so the ai video cost per second becomes an output of your project length rather than the input to it.  
- **$94 — Base.** One concept, up to 30 seconds, single style, one revision round.
  
- **$150 — Standard.** Up to 60 seconds, two style directions, two revision rounds, licensed sound bed.
  
- **$250 — Premium.** Up to 90 seconds, multi-scene consistency, custom audio, three revision rounds, source files.

All three include a 7-day delivery window, and crypto is accepted only; cards are not accepted. If your project runs longer than 90 seconds, the same tiers stack cleanly — the cost per second keeps dropping as runtime grows, because briefing and setup are fixed overhead paid once.

## What actually changes the number

**Shot count beats runtime.** Four distinct setups in ten seconds cost more than one continuous camera move in thirty seconds. Each new setup means a new prompt chain, a fresh consistency pass, and more chances for an unusable generation.

**Character and brand consistency.** Holding the same face, outfit, or product across cuts requires reference sheets and seed control. This is the single largest line item in human-in-the-loop AI video work, and it is exactly what separates a demo from a deliverable.

**Resolution and aspect ratio.** 4K upscaling, vertical 9:16 for paid social, and square 1:1 crops each need their own framing decisions. Order three aspect ratios and you are effectively ordering three compositions.

**Revisions.** Raw generation retries are cheap; directorial feedback rounds are not. Fixed packages absorb this risk on your behalf, which is the core reason a flat rate beats metered billing for most clients.

**Sound.** Music licensing, voice-over, foley, and final mix routinely add 20–35% to a per-second quote. Our [pricing tiers](https://carlosvideo18.shop/pricing) fold audio into the package rather than billing it as an extra.

## A worked example: 30-second product launch clip

A consumer brand wants a thirty-second launch video with four product angles, one human hand interaction, a stylized text sequence, licensed music, and two aspect ratios.

**Metered approach:** photoreal product shots at $3.50/sec for 18 seconds = $63. Hand interaction at $6/sec for 6 seconds = $36. Motion graphics at $0.80/sec for 6 seconds = $4.80. Two revision rounds, upscaling, and sound design add roughly $80–$120. **Total: $184–$226.**

**Package approach:** this brief sits comfortably in the $150 Standard tier, with the second aspect ratio and both revision rounds included, delivered in 7 days.

The metered number is not wrong — it is simply open-ended. If the hand shot takes four generations to look right, the meter keeps running. That variance is the real cost of per-second pricing.

## What "cost per second" does not include

Watch for these add-ons when you compare quotes from any studio, including ours:

1. **Strategy and scripting.** Some studios bill discovery separately.  
2. **Stock licensing.** Music and footage libraries charge per use.  
3. **Source project files.** Frequently locked behind an upsell.  
4. **Rush delivery.** Under 7 days usually carries a premium.  
5. **Paid media versions.** Alternate hooks and captions for testing.

Ask for a written scope before paying anything. Our [order form](https://carlosvideo18.shop/order) captures all five of these upfront, so nothing surfaces as a surprise invoice later.

## How to evaluate a quote against the ai video cost per second

Take any number a vendor gives you and divide total project cost by finished seconds. Then run three checks:  
- **Is sound included?** A quote without audio is 30% incomplete.
  
- **How many revision rounds?** Zero rounds means you eat every retry.
  
- **Is the aspect ratio fixed?** One format only can strand your paid social campaigns.

Compare that adjusted figure against the $94 / $250 / $250 structure. If the adjusted number is higher, you are paying for the studio's uncertainty rather than your video. Browse completed projects with actual runtime and format details in our [portfolio](https://carlosvideo18.shop/portfolio) to see where each tier lands.

## Process: from brief to 7-day delivery

1. **Day 1 — Brief.** You submit references, runtime, aspect ratios, and tone through [order](https://carlosvideo18.shop/order).  
2. **Day 2 — Direction.** We return a style frame and shot list for sign-off.  
3. **Days 3–5 — Generation and edit.** Production runs with consistency passes between scenes.  
4. **Day 6 — Review.** Your revision round happens here, against your tier.  
5. **Day 7 — Delivery.** Final masters in every requested format, with source files on Premium.

Because the schedule is fixed, the ai video cost per second never becomes a negotiation mid-project. Crypto only at checkout.

## Should you budget per second or per project?

Budget per second when you are benchmarking an unfamiliar vendor or scoping a one-off test. Budget per project when you have a real deadline, a defined deliverable, and no appetite for a meter that runs while someone experiments. For most marketing teams, the second approach wins within a single campaign cycle.

CarlosVideo18+ keeps pricing public at [carlosvideo18.shop/pricing](https://carlosvideo18.shop/pricing), work visible at [carlosvideo18.shop/portfolio](https://carlosvideo18.shop/portfolio), and intake open at [carlosvideo18.shop/order](https://carlosvideo18.shop/order). Three tiers — $94, $150, $250 — seven-day delivery, crypto accepted, no per-second math required.

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## FAQ

### What is a realistic ai video cost per second in 2025?

Most finished AI video falls between $2 and $5 per second for commercial work. Simple motion graphics can drop to $0.40 per second, while cinematic scenes with VFX, custom sound design, and heavy compositing reach $10 or more. Per-second rates cover generation, editing, revisions, and delivery — not just model tokens.

### Why do studios quote per second at all?

Per-second pricing is a quick way to compare unfamiliar vendors and size a small test. It also transfers generation risk to the client, since every unusable attempt adds cost. Fixed packages shift that risk to the studio, which is why CarlosVideo18+ quotes $94, $150, and $250 by deliverable instead of metered runtime.

### Does the ai video cost per second include sound and music?

Often not. Voice-over, licensed music, foley, and final mix typically add 20–35% to a metered quote, and some studios bill them separately after delivery. Our [Standard and Premium tiers](https://carlosvideo18.shop/pricing) include licensed audio and mixing, so the number you see is the number you pay.

### How much does a 60-second AI video cost?

At metered rates, a sixty-second commercial with photoreal scenes lands between $120 and $300 before revisions. Our Standard package delivers up to 60 seconds for a flat $150 — about $3.32 per second — with two style directions, two revision rounds, licensed sound, and 7-day delivery included.

### How many revisions are included in a fixed package?

One round on the $94 Base tier, two on the $150 Standard tier, and three on the $250 Premium tier. Revisions cover direction changes, pacing, and copy adjustments within the agreed brief. Additional rounds beyond the tier can be added, but most projects never need them.

### Is AI video cheaper than live-action production?

For short-form marketing content, yes — typically by a wide margin, because you avoid crew, location, equipment, and talent day rates. Live-action still wins when you need real product physics or a specific actor on camera. Run both quotes against the same brief before deciding which route fits.

### Do you accept cryptocurrency?

Yes. CarlosVideo18+ accepts crypto only; cards are not accepted on every tier. Payment is collected when the brief is confirmed, and the 7-day delivery clock starts that same day. Details for either method are on the [order page](https://carlosvideo18.shop/order).

### Where can I see examples before ordering?

The [portfolio](https://carlosvideo18.shop/portfolio) shows finished pieces with runtime, format, and tier noted for each, so you can match a real deliverable to a price. If you want a reference for a specific style or industry, mention it in your brief and we will point you to comparable work.