How much should a product video cost?

Most business owners face the same challenge when deciding to create a product video: the price tags often vary widely. One agency may quote $1,000, another may say $8,000, and both will insist that their numbers are justified. No wonder many people get confused about what a product video should cost.

The truth is, there is no "right" price. Cost depends on the choices you make—how polished you want the video to be, who you hire, and how much post-production is involved. That's why it's important to break things down clearly instead of just throwing out a rough estimate.

In this article, I will guide you through five key points:

What determines the cost of a product video?
How much does a product video cost on average?
Compare costs across different video formats
How to reduce product video costs with TopView
Why AI is reshaping the economics of video production

What determines the cost of a product video?

The cost of a product video varies because every decision in the production process has a direct impact on your budget. From concept to post-production, understanding the key factors helps you plan smarter and avoid unnecessary spending.

Video Concept and Script
The concept is the backbone of your video. A simple product demo could involve one location and minimal props, taking only a few hours to plan.
For a story-driven video with actors, multiple scenes, or props, pre-production can take days or even weeks. Scriptwriting becomes crucial to ensure your message is clear, engaging, and aligned with your marketing goals. Tip: Invest in a strong concept early to prevent costly revisions during shooting.
Length and Complexity
Video length is a major cost driver. A short, straightforward clip can be filmed and edited quickly, while a longer, more elaborate video with multiple scenes, camera angles, or animations requires more time and resources.
Complexity also matters. Adding effects, animated overlays, or multiple locations requires skilled professionals and more post-production effort. Small adjustments during planning, such as simplifying scenes or reducing locations, can save significant time and effort later on.
Production Team and Equipment
Who you hire and the equipment they use directly affect costs. Freelancers may be cheaper but may lack advanced gear or experience. Agencies bring professional cameras, lighting, and sound equipment, which improves quality but adds cost.
Equipment quality influences the final look. Even a simple shot can appear polished with the right cameras and lighting, while poor gear can make a video feel amateurish. Tip: Focus on skilled crews for key roles and essential equipment rather than cutting corners everywhere.
Post-Production
Editing is where your video comes together. Tasks include cutting footage, syncing audio, color grading, and adding text or graphics. More complex edits require extra time and skill.
Voiceovers, animations, and platform-specific formats can increase post-production workloads. Tip: Define revisions and deliverables in advance to keep this stage predictable and avoid surprises.
Location and Logistics
Shooting locations affect cost and planning. Studios offer controlled lighting and minimal travel, making production smoother. On-site shots add realism but require travel, permits, or set adjustments.
Even small factors, such as accessibility, weather, or lighting challenges, can prolong production time and budget. Tip: Plan locations carefully to reduce risks and unexpected delays.
Revisions and Deliverables
Multiple revisions or creating versions for different platforms increases time and effort. Social media platforms often require tailored formats, which add to production complexity.
Tip: Agree on the number of revisions and deliverables at the beginning. This keeps the process predictable and ensures that expectations are clear for everyone involved.
Production Method
How you create the video also impacts the cost. Traditional production involves hiring a professional agency or freelance team, which usually ensures higher quality but comes with higher costs and longer timelines.
Alternatively, online AI-based video tools have emerged, allowing you to produce in-house videos quickly and at a fraction of the cost. These platforms often provide templates, automated editing, and stock assets, making it easier for smaller teams to create polished videos without a full production crew.

Understanding these six factors gives you a clear picture of what affects the cost of your video. Thoughtful planning at every stage can prevent unnecessary spending and help produce a polished, professional product.

How much does a product video cost on average?

Video production costs can vary widely, depending on how you choose to create your content. A simple DIY clip might only cost a few dollars for software subscriptions, while a professional agency can charge tens of thousands of dollars for a high-end project.

Even within professional services, costs fluctuate based on team size, experience, production complexity, and whether you use in-house staff, freelancers, or full-service agencies.

To give you a clearer picture, here's a breakdown of typical costs for different production approaches:

Video Production Option	What It Costs
DIY or AI-assisted video	Software subscription: $20–$50/month Stock footage & music: $50–$300 each
Freelancer or small agency	Short videos: $500–$3,000 Medium complexity: $3,000–$7,000
Full-service agency	Short/mid-level video: $3,000–$10,000 Long/premium video: $10,000–$50,000+
In-house team (small)	Videographer salary: ~$70,000/year Equipment: ~$20,000 initial investment
In-house team (larger)	Rent camera equipment: $100–$300/day Hire crew members: $50–$300/hr or $750–$5,000/day Actors: $150–$2,500/day Stock footage & music: $80–$300 each

Key factors affecting these costs:

Team and expertise — how many people are involved, and how specialized their skills are.
Production approach — animation, live-action, motion graphics, or hybrid techniques require different resources and time.

This structured approach helps you quickly estimate a budget that matches your goals and production needs. Even a simple AI-assisted video can deliver strong results on a tight budget, while professional agencies handle high-stakes campaigns requiring polished visuals and advanced production.

Compare costs across different video formats

The type of product video you choose strongly influences both your budget and production approach. Here's a practical guide with typical per-minute costs and what you get for each format:

Live-action product demos
These videos show real products in real-life settings, often with actors demonstrating usage. They are excellent at creating emotional connections and showcasing functionality. Typical cost: $1,500–$5,000 per minute finished. Factors such as location, crew size, and number of takeovers can influence the final price, so planning ahead helps keep costs manageable.
Explainer animations
Animated videos use visuals, characters, and text overlays to clearly explain product features. Ideal for technology products or complex services. Typical cost: $2,000–$6,000 per minute. Animation allows flexibility for creative storytelling, but script development and timing are critical to keeping viewers engaged.
Motion graphics videos
Focused on dynamic visuals, text, and data presentation, motion graphics are perfect for highlighting stats, benefits, or technical specs. Typical cost: $1,000–$4,000 per minute. These videos are generally faster to produce than full animation, offering a polished look without long timelines.
3D product visualizations
Detailed 3D renders allow you to present products from any angle, ideal for luxury items or technical devices. Typical cost: $3,000–$10,000 per minute. 3D visuals eliminate the need for physical sets and props, which can reduce location and equipment costs.
Hybrid videos
Combining live action with animation or visual effects, hybrid videos provide a creative storytelling experience. Typical cost: $4,000–$12,000 per minute. Coordination between shooting and post-production is key, but the results can make your product stand out.

Key considerations:

Purpose and audience — Awareness, education, or conversion goals can influence the format choice.
Production complexity — More sophisticated visuals generally cost more but can boost engagement and perceived value.
Flexibility — Animation and hybrid formats allow easier updates compared to live action.
Time and Resources — Specialized skills and longer schedules increase costs, so align the format with your timeline and resources.

Considering both the per-minute cost and production requirements, you can choose a video format that balances your budget with your creative goals.

How to reduce product video costs with TopView

One of the biggest reasons product videos become expensive is the number of people and steps involved: hiring a videographer, paying actors, renting locations, recording voiceovers, and editing footage. Each stage adds layers of cost and complexity.

TopView flips this model over its head. Instead of hiring a team, start with something as simple as a product photo or a Shopify link. From there, the platform uses AI to generate polished videos that feel like they were made by an influencer or professional presenter.

Here's where the savings really come in:

No actors, no studio rentals
TopView's library of over 1,000 AI avatars eliminates the need for human presenters. That means no daily actor rates, no talent agencies, and no location fees.
Voiceovers without voice actors
Normally, you'd need to pay for professional narration or multiple voice talents if you want different languages. With TopView, avatars can speak in 30+ languages with natural lip-syncing and tone variations.
Editing without editors
Traditional post-production often requires skilled editors working on timelines, which drives up both time and cost. TopView replaces this with a slide editor. You just select scenes, add text or logos, and the AI handles transitions, subtitles, and effects.
Scalable content at minimal cost
If you're running campaigns across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Amazon, costs can quickly multiply when outsourcing each video. TopView simplifies this by generating multiple export-ready versions at once. Even the entry-level plan at $9.90/month can cover dozens of videos.

In practice, this means that what used to cost thousands of dollars per video can now be produced for a fraction of the price, often within minutes. For small businesses and eCommerce sellers, TopView bridges the gap between professional-looking video content and an affordable budget.

Why AI is reshaping the economics of video production

For years, the cost of video production has followed a predictable path: the more equipment, people, and time you need, the higher the bill. This left smaller businesses struggling to compete, while only big brands could afford large-scale campaigns.

AI has broken that cycle and introduced a new model where quality video is no longer reserved for companies with six-figure budgets.

Automation cuts labor costs
Editing, captioning, and even visual effects can now be generated in minutes, dramatically reducing the need for costly manual work.
Global reach without extra budgets
AI-powered avatars and voiceovers create localized videos in multiple languages instantly, eliminating the need to hire translators or separate production teams.
Scalability made simple
A single product image can be transformed into multiple variations, allowing brands to test different formats or target different audiences without multiplying costs.
Access to every business
With AI subscriptions starting at the price of a streaming service, professional-quality videos are now within reach for startups, solo entrepreneurs, and small eCommerce stores.

The economic impact is clear: AI is transforming video from a resource-intensive project into a scalable marketing tool. What once required entire crews, studios, and long production cycles can now be achieved with software and creativity.

Conclusion

Now that you have a clearer view of product video costs, the next step is to put this knowledge into action. Whether you're planning a short social video or a full campaign, the right approach can save you time, money, and stress.

AI tools like TopView are opening doors that once required large budgets and production crews. If video has been sitting on your to-do list, this is the time to start. Explore smarter, cost-effective ways to create content now.