11 Mar 2025

So what will my translation cost?

How much does a translation cost? A guide to pricing and important factors. Image of a person from above looking at a computer screen.

How much does translation cost? Key factors – a guide to pricing

Translating a text is more than just swapping words in one language for new ones in another – it’s a handicraft that demands linguistic precision, cultural understanding and subject-specific expertise. So ”How much will my translation cost?” is not the simplest question to answer. The price will vary depending on a number of factors, but by understanding what affects the cost, you can optimise your translation project and maximise its value.

This article describes the factors that 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 a text affect price?

The price depends largely on how long the original text 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 translation can begin, the text and file will need preparation and the translator needs to become acquainted with the content. The finalised text must then be reviewed and submitted in the correct format. Thus if you consolidate multiple short texts, there will be less administration, and the cost can also be lower.

Tips for keeping costs down:

Consolidate multiple short texts in the same subject area and submit them for translation together
Make sure the text is fully finalised before submitting it – subsequent changes may incur additional costs

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The Language Company's guide to translation pricing. Image of a woman sitting in front of a computer screen. — Translation is about more than words – price is affected by language, subject area, format and the scope of the text.

Are some languages more expensive than others?

Yes, some language pairs are more expensive than others, mainly due to the supply 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 would appear easy to translate between, such as Swedish and Norwegian, can be more challenging than one might think. This is because certain words and expressions that may look similar have completely different meanings. All translations require the translator to have full command of both languages.

Bear in 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’s a risk that the text will contain grammatical or linguistic errors. And AI-written texts may look good superficially, but they often contain weird anomalies in the content, making it difficult for the translator to know what is meant. In both cases, it will lead to many questions, and reaching the desired high quality can take more time.
A flawed source text may require extra reviews and editing, making the translation both more time-consuming and costly
If you need translations into several languages, it can be more cost-effective to let a professional translation agency handle the project right from the start

Subject area affects the price

Some texts are more difficult to translate than others. 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.

Typical highly specialized areas:

Photograph of brochures in several languages, including Arabic. — Among other things, the price of a translation will depend on the subject area and the language pair concerned.

File format and layout – why do they matter?

The file format in which you submit a text can affect both cost and turnaround time. 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 must 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.

In the case of websites or software text, it’s best to submit the content in formats such as HTML, JSON or XML rather than simply linking to the website. Manually copying text from a website is time-consuming and risks the loss of important information.

Tips for saving time and reducing cost:

Submit the text in an editable format from the outset to minimise extra work
For websites and software, the process will be smoother if you export the text to HTML, JSON or XML
For websites and software, you get a smoother process if you export the text to HTML, JSON or XML.

How does delivery time affect price?

Delivery time is an important factor in the price of a translation. When translations need faster delivery, the translators may have 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 the price and quality
Submit a finalised text – subsequent changes and additions may cause delays and extra costs
Be clear in your order – specify any style and terminology requirements from the outset; the translation can be quicker and more precise

Employees at Språkbolaget. — Specialist translations require both linguistic and subject-specific expertise, which can affect the price.

Professional translation: an investment in clear, effective communication

Understanding translation costs is more than just comparing prices. A professional translation is an investment that provides your business with clearer, more credible and effective communication, regardless of the language you’re reaching out in. In the long run, a cheap translation that needs post-editing or correcting can be more expensive than if it had been done properly right from the start. Factors such as the language pair, subject area, text volume, format and delivery time all affect the price, but with the right planning you can optimise both cost and quality.