How much does a translation cost?

How much does a translation cost? A guide to pricing and key factors.

Translating a text is about more than just swapping words from one language to another – it is a craft that requires linguistic precision, cultural understanding and subject-specific expertise. Therefore, the question ”How much does a translation cost?” is not entirely simple to answer. The price varies depending on several factors, but by understanding what affects the cost, you can optimise your translation project and get the maximum possible value.

Here we go through which factors affect the price of a translation, how you can keep costs down and what you should consider when ordering translation services.

How does the length of the text affect the price of a translation?

The price of a translation depends largely on how long the text to be translated is, so a long text is generally more expensive to translate than a short one. However, every translation – regardless of length – also involves a certain amount of administration. Before the translation begins, the text and file need to be prepared and the translator must familiarise themselves with the subject matter. Then the finished text must be reviewed and delivered in the correct format. If you collect several short texts, there will be less administration, and thus the cost can also be lower.

Tips for keeping costs down:

• Gather several short texts within the same subject area and send them for translation at the same time.
• Ensure the text is fully finalised before sending it – subsequent changes may incur additional costs.

Are some languages more expensive to translate than others?

Yes, some language combinations are more expensive than others, and this is mainly due to the supply of and demand for qualified translators. Languages with many professional translators, such as English, German or French, often have lower prices compared to language combinations where there are fewer translators, such as Japanese to Swahili or Korean to Arabic.

Even closely related languages that seem easy to translate between, such as Swedish and Norwegian, can be more challenging than one might think. This is because certain words and expressions look similar but have completely different meanings. All translations require the translator to have a deep mastery of both languages.

Mind

• Trying to keep the cost down by letting AI write your text, or writing in English yourself instead of your native language, is rarely a good idea. If English is not your native language, there is a risk that the text contains grammatical or linguistic errors. And AI-written texts may look good on the surface, but often contain oddities in content, making it difficult for the translator to understand what is meant. In both cases, this leads to many questions and it can take longer to get the texts as good as you want them.
• A flawed source text can require extra review and editing, which can make the translation both more time-consuming and costly.
• If you need translation into several languages, it can be more cost-effective to let a professional translation agency handle the project right from the start.

The subject area of the text affects the price

Not all texts are equally easy to translate. Advertising copy requires the translator to think creatively and freely, whereas a legal, technical or medical text must follow the original or industry-specific standards in a completely different way. The more specialised a subject is, the fewer translators there are with the right expertise, which can affect the price.

Examples of areas with a high degree of specialisation:

• Law
• Medicine
• Copywriting

File format and layout – why does it matter?

The file format in which you send a text can affect both the cost and the turnaround time for a translation. Editable formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and InDesign are the easiest to work with and allow the translation process to run more smoothly. By contrast, PDF files can be more time-consuming, as they need to be converted before they can be processed. If this is not done correctly, it can lead to awkward line breaks, incorrect hyphenation and other layout issues.

If you need to translate a website or software text, it is best to send the content in formats such as HTML, JSON or XML rather than simply linking to the website. Manually copying text from a website can be both time-consuming and risk important information being left out.

Tips for saving time and reducing cost:

• Send the text in an editable format right from the start to minimise extra work.
• If you send a PDF, please make sure you also have an original file in, for example, Word or InDesign if possible.
• For websites and software, you get a smoother process if you export the text to HTML, JSON or XML.

How does the delivery time affect the price?

The delivery time is an important factor that can affect the price of a translation. If a translation needs to be delivered faster, the translator may need to reprioritise their assignments. This often incurs an extra cost in the form of an express surcharge.

Tips on avoiding express surcharges:

• Plan the translation well in advance – the earlier you submit the text, the better price and quality you can get.
• Send a finalised text – subsequent changes and additions may cause delays and extra costs.
• Be clear in your order – by specifying any style requirements and terminology from the outset, the translation can be quicker and more precise.

Professional translation: an investment in clear and effective communication

Understanding how much a translation costs is not just about comparing prices. A professional translation is an investment that provides your business with clearer, more credible and effective communication – regardless of the language you need to reach. A cheap translation that requires post-editing or corrections can in the long run become more expensive than if it is done right from the start. Factors such as the language combination, subject area, text volume, format and delivery time affect the price, but with the right planning you can optimise both cost and quality.

This is how you get a cost-effective, high-quality translation:

• Plan well in advance and send completed texts.
• Use editable formats to avoid unnecessary extra work.
• Combine multiple texts instead of sending them separately.
• Always choose an experienced translation agency for important documents.

Would you like to know how much your translation would cost? Contact us today for a free quote – we will help you find the best solution for your project!