How much to charge for translation
Updated 26 September 2026
Most translators charge per word, usually counted in the source document, so the client knows the price before you start. Rarer language pairs and certified work cost more per word. Short jobs fall under a minimum fee, and tight deadlines cost extra.
Example translation prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certified translation of a Spanish birth certificate, about 250 words | $45 | £38 | A$68 | CA$56 |
| 2,000-word company brochure from French, translated and proofread | $300 | £250 | A$450 | CA$375 |
| 8,000-word user manual into Polish, express turnaround | $1,622 | £1,352 | A$2,434 | CA$2,028 |
Priced with the starting rates in our translation template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How translators and translation agencies set their prices
Per word
A rate for each word in the source text, adjusted for the language pair and the subject. Clients can check the count themselves, and agencies expect it. Count the actual file before you quote, including any text in tables and images.
Per page or document
A flat price for short, standard documents like birth certificates, driving licences and academic transcripts. It suits clients who don't know their word count. Base each price on the word count of a typical example.
By the hour
An hourly rate for work a word count doesn't capture, like reviewing someone else's translation or adapting a slogan for a new market. Tell the client how many hours you expect before you start.
Sample translation price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word count, per word | $0.12 | £0.10 | A$0.18 | CA$0.15 |
| Language pair: Less common (e.g. Polish, Thai) | +30% | +30% | +30% | +30% |
| Language pair: Rare languages | +60% | +60% | +60% | +60% |
| Service: Translation + proofreading | +25% | +25% | +25% | +25% |
| Service: Certified translation | +50% | +50% | +50% | +50% |
| Turnaround: Express | +30% | +30% | +30% | +30% |
| Turnaround: Same day | +60% | +60% | +60% | +60% |
| Minimum job price | $40 | £30 | A$60 | CA$55 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our translation quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
LinguaBridge Translations
Instant translation quote
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Charging the same for every language pair. When few people work in a pair, your skill is scarcer and a reviewer costs more. Our template adds 30% for less common pairs and 60% for rare ones.
- Quoting from a quick look at a PDF. Scanned files don't give a word count, and a guess tends to come in low. Convert the file and count it, or quote per page and say so.
- Throwing in proofreading for free. A second linguist checking the translation costs time and money, so offer it as a paid option.
- Giving big discounts for repeated text. Matches from your translation memory still need reading in context, and a wrong match is still your error. Agree how repeats are priced before you accept the job.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- How much should I charge per word?
- Work out what you need to earn in a day, then divide it by the words you can translate and check in a day. Charge more for specialist subjects and rarer pairs. Our template starts at $0.12 a word in the US for common pairs.
- Should I charge per word or per hour?
- Per word for translation, because clients can see how you reached the price. Per hour for editing and review, where the word count doesn't show the effort.
- How much more should a certified translation cost?
- Enough to cover the extra checking and paperwork. What counts as certified differs between countries, and between the offices that receive the documents, so check what's required where you work. Our template adds 50% for certified translation.
- How much more should I charge for rush translations?
- Charge for what the rush costs you, like evenings, weekends or turning other clients away. Our template adds 30% for express turnaround and 60% for same-day work.
- How do I put translation prices on my website?
- Turn your per-word rate and surcharges into a quote form. Clients enter the word count and choose the language pair, service and turnaround, then send you their request with the price. You confirm the count when the file arrives.