Voice-over pricing confuses beginners because it isn't one number — it's a base fee plus usage. Here's how the pieces fit so you can quote without guessing.
The two parts of a VO quote
Talent/session fee: your time and performance to produce the audio. Usage (a.k.a. buyout): what the client pays for where and how long the audio runs. A podcast intro that runs forever is priced very differently from a regional radio ad that airs for 13 weeks.
How different jobs are quoted
- Narration / e-learning / audiobooks: often per finished hour or per word.
- Commercials (radio/TV/online): session fee plus usage based on market size and run length.
- Explainer / corporate: per project or per word, with internal vs public usage affecting price.
- Phone systems (IVR): per prompt or per project.
Don't forget these
Charge for revisions beyond a reasonable round, rush turnaround, live-directed sessions, and syncing/pickups. Bigger reach and longer run = higher usage. Always confirm scope before you record.
Quoting confidently
Ask three questions on every job: Where will it run? For how long? How many words/how long is the final? Those answers set both the session fee and the usage. When you're set up to deliver clean audio (see the home studio guide), you can say yes to more of these.
FAQ
What is a VO buyout?
Buyout/usage is the fee for where and how long the audio runs — separate from your session/talent fee. Wider reach and longer run cost more.
Per word or per hour?
Narration and e-learning are often per word or per finished hour; commercials use a session fee plus usage. Match the model to the job.