Are you curious about what animation will cost in 2025? Whether you are a startup founder or a marketer for a Fortune 500 company, this guide explains everything from rates per minute to pricing based on style and shows the best ways to maximize return on investment from animation.
Need a tailored quote for your project? Contact Animated Videos for a free consultation.
Animation Cost Per Minute: 2025 Pricing Guide for Every Budget
An animated video, be it a product promotional video, training, or brand campaign video, requires a lot of planning. One of the first questions you will ask in planning is how much does animation cost per minute? Unfortunately, there are no straightforward answers. The pricing for animation works differently for every person and business because it is dependent on many things: style, complexity, experience of the team, deadlines, and many more.
This guide gives you a transparent look at average industry rates, what drives pricing, and why investing in a professionally animated video pays off in business results.
Animation Cost Per Minute: Quick Breakdown
Here’s a general breakdown of what animation might cost you in 2025, based on production level:
| Production Level | Estimated Cost (Per Minute) |
| DIY or Free Tools | $0 – $100 |
| Freelancers | $500 – $3,000 |
| Mid-Tier Animation Studios | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Premium Animation Studios (Us) | $7,000 – $20,000 |
| Broadcast-Quality Productions | $25,000 – $100,000+ |
Most of our clients, corporate or personal, have videos between $7,000 and $15,000. We have worked on videos of varying scope, style, and customization, which puts us on par with other video producers, which is good for competition.
What Affects the Cost of an Animated Video?
Like every other service, animated video production pricing must start somewhere. By better understanding the factors that affect pricing, you will be able to adequately assess the quotes you are given and find a studio that will suit your needs while also working within your budget.
1. Animation Style
The animation style you choose is one of the biggest drivers of cost.
- 2D Animation: Majorly popular among primary school students and adults, the simplest is also the most difficult to pull off 2D animation, and the latter serves as the go-to for educational content, which is a great example. It does the job as well while being easy and cheap to produce.
- 3D Animation: This style delivers realism, depth, and a wow factor for product demos or medical animations. However, the cost, resources, and time needed for 3D styling exponentially increase.
- Whiteboard & Motion Graphics: Great for conceptual or corporate training videos, this minimalist style offers a lower-cost alternative while still adding value through visual storytelling.
- Mixed Media & Cinematic Styles: This level of animation will be appropriately priced when broadcast-level quality is required, including character animation, cinematic soundtracks, and high-end visuals.
2. Customization Level
The more custom your video is, the higher the cost—but also the greater the impact.
- Custom illustrations aligned with your brand identity
- Tailored scripts and voiceovers in your desired tone
- Unique transitions, motion design, and branded color schemes
These details don’t just make your video look better—they help it perform better by enhancing engagement and conversion.
3. Production Timeline
Need a video fast? A compressed production timeline can increase the cost by 15% to 30%. Why? Because the studio will likely need to prioritize your project, work overtime, or allocate additional resources to meet the deadline.
Our recommendation? Plan your animated video 6–8 weeks in advance for the best pricing and optimal creative output.
4. Team Expertise
Animation is a team sport. A professionally produced animated video typically involves:
- Scriptwriters
- Storyboard artists
- Animators
- Voiceover talent
- Illustrators
- Sound designers
- Project managers
Each of these roles brings essential value to the production process. The more experienced the team, the smoother your project runs and the better the outcome.
5. Video Length
It’s tempting to think a longer video gives you more value—but when it comes to animation, shorter is usually better.
- 30–60 seconds: Great for social media or teaser content
- 60–90 seconds: Ideal for explainer videos and landing pages
- 2–3 minutes: Suitable for training, onboarding, or detailed walkthroughs
Longer videos require more animation and more scripting—raising both the timeline and the budget.
Read also: The Top 6 Trends in Whiteboard Animation Service for 2025
Realistic Pricing Examples from Animated Videos
To help you visualize real-world budgets, here are a few sample projects from AnimatedVideos.co:
- Product Explainer (2D Motion Graphics, 60 sec): $6,500
- Healthcare 3D Animation (90 sec): $14,000
- Corporate Training Video (Whiteboard, 2 min): $5,800
- Mobile App Demo (Mixed Style, 60 sec): $7,200
Want a quote tailored to your project goals and budget? Request a Quote Now.
Why Animation Costs Vary So Widely
Unlike static graphics or stock footage, animation is a multi-phase creative process. Here’s what goes into a standard animated video:
- Scriptwriting & Strategy – Creating your message and crafting the perfect narrative.
- Storyboarding – Visualizing each scene before production.
- Voice Casting & Recording – Finding the right voice and tone for your brand.
- Illustration Design – Designing all the characters, icons, and visual elements.
- Animation & Motion Design – Bringing the illustrations to life frame by frame.
- Sound Design & Editing – Adding music, SFX, and final polish.
Each of these steps demands skill, time, and coordination. That’s why the quote you receive is a direct reflection of the care and expertise invested in your video.
DIY vs. Professional Animation – What’s the Real Difference?
Some businesses consider DIY platforms or low-cost freelancers to save money. But here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Factor | DIY Platforms (e.g., Canva, Powtoon) | Professional Studio (e.g., AnimatedVideos.co) |
| Quality | Basic, templated | Custom, high-end design |
| Script Support | ❌ None | ✅ Yes |
| Voiceover | ❌ Stock audio only | ✅ Custom voice talent |
| Project Mgmt | ❌ Self-managed | ✅ Full creative team support |
| Turnaround | Varies | Milestone-based, guaranteed timelines |
Verdict: DIY works for internal presentations or MVPs. But for brand-facing content, a polished professional video is worth every dollar.
You may also like: Top-Rated 3D Animated Games in 2025
Is It Worth Investing in Professional Animation?
Absolutely. Animation delivers a powerful return on investment by:
- Boosting conversions: Viewers are 80% more likely to convert after watching a compelling video.
- Saving time: Animated videos simplify complex messaging in under 90 seconds.
- Enhancing your brand: High-quality visuals leave a lasting impression.
While cutting corners may initially result in a dropped price tag, it can also result in wasted time and poor performance. In the same sense, an animated video is pleasing to the eye as much as it is results-driven.
FAQs
What factors increase the cost of an animated video?
Multiple factors impact animation pricing. In this example, the animation style is the starting point. Customization, time spent, video length, and the division of work are equally important. 3D animations, for instance, are more complex and require additional detailing, which greatly increases the cost.
Fully custom graphics and voiceovers also raise costs but significantly improve viewer engagement. If you're short on time, rush charges can increase your quote by 15–30%. Ensuring reliable results requires hiring an experienced studio, which, unfortunately, necessitates a higher budget.
Can I make an animated video myself for free?
Indeed, tools like Powtoon, Canva, and Animaker offer DIY options for those who want to create simple animations at little or no cost. However, such do-it-yourself platforms are templated and oversimplified, resulting in content that is lacking in professionalism. Still, the work is sufficient for preliminary concepts and internal use. You would need to do scriptwriting, voiceovers, and editing yourself. For tangible outcomes, such as lead generation and conversions, going through a professional studio is more effective.
Why is professional animation more expensive than using freelancers?
Animation studios offer a full set of services that encompass everything needed for an animated video, including, but not limited to: concept development, scripting, animation, voiceover, sound design, editing, and feedback revisions. Every step is taken care of and managed under the same roof.
In contrast, freelancers may focus on one or two aspects only, and some will be required to engage several professionals individually. Because of this, they become burdensome to manage. Studios have a work pipeline; therefore, adhering to deadlines and maintaining consistent quality to cross-check and validate any work produced with set criteria. While freelancers are cheaper at first glance, studios yield better results.
How long does it take to produce an animated video?
The production timeline for a standard animated video is between 4 and 8 weeks. Videos with basic graphics and lower durations may be done in approximately 2-3 weeks. In contrast, complex videos that are equipped with 3D imaging, multiple figures, or cinematic elements tend to take longer to finish, sometimes extending to 10 weeks or longer.
End-to-end timelines include scripting, storyboarding, design, animation, voiceover, and sound design. At AnimatedVideos.co, milestone-based delivery is our standard practice, which allows the clients to stay in the loop while the projects are tracked seamlessly.
Is 3D animation always more expensive than 2D animation?
As a rule, animation cost differences are as basic as the distinction between 3D and 2D, where the former is almost universally pricier. 3D animation requires modeling, lighting, rigging, rendering, and post-production, increasing the price tag.
Product demonstrations, architectural, and medical visualization tend to make use of this style. Meanwhile, 2D animation being less complex, quicker, and affordable makes it more sought-after for explainer videos, training materials, and social media content. Depending on the project objectives, both styles can be customized to suit specific budgets.
Can I reduce animation costs without sacrificing quality?
Absolutely. To cut down animation costs, you can limit the duration of the video or go for simpler styles like whiteboard or 2D motion graphics. Furthermore, not having to pay for advance work also cuts costs, so planning too far in advance is definitely a good idea. Also, working with a studio that offers set-priced bundles or packages where animation, scripting, and voiceovers are included solves cost problems.
Something else that may be helpful is allocating most of the budget towards the first 60-90 seconds of a video, since that is when most viewers are engaged. Rather than increasing the video's duration, budgeting for the content that viewers will find most appealing tends to be more effective.
What’s included in a professional animation package?
At AnimatedVideos.co, we provide multiple packages that include scriptwriting, storyboarding, custom illustrations, voiceover recording, animation, and sound effects, all with revisions incorporated. For the best result, we handle everything for you through a dedicated project manager who will keep track of everything throughout the project.
You’ll also receive preview stages (script, storyboard, styleframes) to approve before moving to final animation. This ensures you have full control over the final outcome and peace of mind throughout production.
Is it better to hire a freelancer or a professional animation studio?
Freelancers may be suitable for simple low budget projects where a script and storyboard are readily available. In contrast, high-impact brand-facing projects are better suited for professional studios as they provide increased ROI. Alongside competitive pricing, these studios offer a team, a proper workflow structure, quality assurance, and creative direction all in one place.
These studios also fast-track the meeting deadlines, revisions, brand consistency, and other tasks. A studio is the most favorable option if performance, brand trust, and business results are prioritized.
How can I get a custom animation quote that fits my budget?
The best way is to contact us at AnimatedVideos.co with a brief description of your project. Include details like the target audience, video goal (e.g., awareness, conversion), preferred animation style, and desired length. Our team will assess your requirements and send back a tailored quote with a timeline and deliverables. We’re flexible with budgets and often recommend options that balance cost, creativity, and conversion potential.
