AI Video Cost Calculator: Price per Second, Minute & Project

Work out what an AI video really costs. Estimate any length from 5 seconds to hours, compare Veo, Sora, Runway, Kling, Seedance, Wan and more side by side, plan a budget and a multi-scene project, with retakes, audio and resolution included. Free, in your browser.

Built and maintained by Shehzad Munir ·

AI Video Cost Calculator
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How much does AI video generation cost?

Pricing for AI video generators is usage-based, so the real question is what a 30-second ad, a 60-second Short or a 5-minute film will cost. This calculator turns per-second prices into real totals. Estimate one video, compare every major model on the same video, see how much finished footage a budget buys, or plan a scene-by-scene project. It accounts for the costs people forget: retakes, clip stitching, audio and resolution. Prices were reviewed in October 2026 and every rate can be overridden with your own.

Nearly every AI video model charges per second of generated video, so cost scales directly with length. At current list prices a 10-second clip ranges from about $0.50 on the cheapest models to $5.00 on premium ones. A one-minute video costs roughly $7.20 on Veo 3.1 Fast and $24.00 on standard Veo 3.1 at 1080p with audio, and $8.40 on Kling 3.0. These are single clean passes, so the table below shows what longer videos cost before retakes.

Features

  • Estimate mode: cost of any video length from 1 second to 10 hours, with retakes, audio and resolution
  • Compare mode: rank every model for the same video, filter by API, app or self-hosted, audio and 4K
  • Budget mode: how many minutes of finished video a given budget buys on each model
  • Project mode: multi-scene planner with per-scene models, templates for ads, Shorts, music videos and films
  • Retake multiplier: most clips need 2 to 4 generations, so the real cost is higher than the list price
  • Draft-then-final workflow: test on a cheap model, render the keeper on a premium one, see the saving
  • Clip stitching: shows how many clips a long video needs and rounds up to fixed clip lengths
  • Self-hosted open models: Wan, HunyuanVideo, Mochi and SkyReels priced from GPU rental cost
  • Custom rates: override any model's price per second for discounts or other providers
  • Cost ladder for 5 s to 30 min, nine display currencies, shareable links, CSV export and printable summary
  • Every price shows its source and confidence (published, provider price or estimate)

How to use AI Video Cost Calculator

  1. 1

    Pick a mode

    Use Estimate for one video, Compare to rank every model for the same video, Budget to see what your money buys, or Project to plan several scenes.

  2. 2

    Set the video

    Choose the model, resolution, length and whether you want audio. Use the quick chips (5 s to 30 min) or type your own length.

  3. 3

    Add retakes

    Set how many attempts you expect per clip. Two to four is typical. Turn on the draft workflow to test ideas on a cheaper model first.

  4. 4

    Read the total

    See the full cost, the cost per finished minute, how much goes on retakes and what longer videos would cost on the same model.

  5. 5

    Share or export

    Copy the summary, share a link to your exact settings, or download a CSV for your budget sheet.

Common use cases

  • Quoting an AI video ad or explainer for a client
  • Choosing between Veo 3.1, Sora 2, Kling, Runway and Seedance for a project
  • Budgeting a 60-second YouTube Short, a music video or a 5-minute short film
  • Finding the cheapest model that still has native audio at 1080p
  • Deciding whether a subscription, an API or self-hosting an open model is cheaper
  • Estimating the hidden cost of retakes before starting a project
  • Pitching an AI video budget to a team or investor

Detailed guide

AI video price per second by model

The headline number to compare is the price per second at the resolution you actually need. Video with native audio is often priced the same or slightly higher than silent video, and 4K costs roughly 1.5 to 2 times 1080p where it is offered. Prices below are USD per second of output video and come from each provider's public pricing page or from major hosting platforms. Some hosts charge a flat fee per clip plus a per-second rate.

ModelRoute720p / sec1080p / sec4K / sec
Veo 3.1Gemini API$0.40$0.40$0.60
Veo 3.1 FastGemini API$0.10$0.12$0.30
Veo 3.1 LiteGemini API$0.050$0.080–
Sora 2OpenAI Videos API$0.10––
Sora 2 ProOpenAI Videos API$0.30$0.50–
Runway Gen-4.5Runway API (12 credits/s)$0.12––
Runway Gen-4Runway API (12 credits/s)$0.12––
Runway Gen-4 TurboRunway API (5 credits/s)$0.050––
Runway Gen-3 AlphaRunway credits (10 credits/s)$0.10––
Seedance 2.5BytePlus ModelArk$0.23––
Seedance 2.5Runway API$0.30$0.68–
Grok Imagine Video 1.5xAI API$0.14$0.25–
Hailuo 2.3MiniMax API$0.047$0.082–
Hailuo 2.3 FastMiniMax API$0.032$0.055–
MiniMax Video-01Hosted API (typical)$0.083––
Kling 3.0 Profal.ai–$0.14–
Kling 2.5 Turbofal.ai–$0.070–
Wan 2.5fal.ai$0.10$0.15–
Wan 2.2Hosted API (typical)$0.080––
Luma Ray 3.xLuma API$0.060$0.24–
LTX-2.5 FastLTX API$0.090$0.13$0.30
LTX-2.5 ProLTX API$0.12$0.17–
PixVerse V6PixVerse API–$0.12–
Vidu Q2Hosted API$0.050 + $0.10/clip$0.10 + $0.30/clip–
Firefly Video ModelFirefly plan credits$0.25$0.50–

The hidden cost: retakes and clip length

List prices describe one generation, but a usable clip rarely comes out first time. Budget for two to four attempts per shot, more for complex motion, text in the frame or character consistency. Models also cap each clip at roughly 5 to 30 seconds, so a one-minute video is stitched from several clips and each seam may need extra attempts. The calculator multiplies cost by your attempts, counts the clips you need and rounds billing up to fixed clip lengths where a model only offers them.

Cut the cost: draft cheap, finish premium

The cheapest workflow is to explore on a low-cost model such as Veo 3.1 Lite, Runway Gen-4 Turbo or Wan 2.5 and render only the approved shots on a premium model. Switching from all-premium attempts to a few drafts plus a single final render commonly saves half the bill on a polished piece. Turn on the draft workflow in Estimate mode to see the saving for your own settings. Other levers: generate at 720p while iterating, avoid audio until the final pass, and use batch or volume pricing where a provider offers it.

Browse and compare AI video generatorsCompare AI voice generators for narrationBuild your AI tool stack

API, subscription app or self-hosting?

Pay-as-you-go APIs charge per second and suit developers and agencies with variable volume. Subscription apps such as Adobe Firefly bundle credits into a monthly plan, which works out cheaper if you use the whole allowance. Open models such as Wan, HunyuanVideo, Mochi and SkyReels have no licence fee, but you pay for GPU time, roughly $0.04 to $0.20 per second of video on a rented data-center GPU by our estimates, plus engineering effort. Self-hosting becomes attractive at high volume or when you need privacy; for occasional projects an API is simpler.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 60-second AI video cost?

It depends on the model and resolution. A single clean pass at 1080p costs about $7.20 on Veo 3.1 Fast, $24.00 on Veo 3.1, $8.40 on Kling 3.0 and $9.00 on Wan 2.5. Multiply by the attempts you need per clip (typically 2 to 4) for the real figure. Use Estimate mode to set your own length and retakes.

How much does Veo 3.1 cost per second?

Through the Gemini API, Veo 3.1 is listed at $0.40 per second at 720p and 1080p (and $0.60 at 4K), Veo 3.1 Fast at $0.12 per second at 1080p, and Veo 3.1 Lite at $0.08 per second. Native audio is included in those rates.

What does Sora 2 cost per second?

OpenAI listed Sora 2 at $0.10 per second at 720p, with Sora 2 Pro at $0.30 per second at 720p and $0.50 at the higher resolution. OpenAI has also announced the retirement of the standalone Sora video API, so check what your account can currently use before planning a project around it.

What does Runway Gen-4.5 cost per second?

Runway's developer pricing lists Gen-4.5 at 12 credits per second and Gen-4 Turbo at 5 credits per second. Credits cost $0.01 each, so Gen-4.5 is $0.12 per second and Gen-4 Turbo is $0.05 per second.

What is the cheapest AI video generator?

For hosted models with native audio, Veo 3.1 Lite is among the lowest-cost options. Wan 2.5, Hailuo 2.3 Fast and Runway Gen-4 Turbo are also low per second, and open models are free of licence fees if you self-host. Cheapest is not always best value, since quality affects how many retakes you need. Compare mode ranks every model for your exact video.

Why is my real AI video cost higher than the per-second price?

Because you pay for every generation, not just the one you keep. Most clips need two to four attempts, long videos are stitched from several short clips, and audio, higher resolution or reference inputs can add surcharges. The calculator includes retakes, clip counts and audio so the total matches reality.

Do AI video generators charge for failed generations?

It varies. Google states you are only billed for successfully generated Veo videos, while many credit-based apps spend credits on every attempt, including ones you discard. Check your provider's policy and use the attempts setting to model it.

Is it cheaper to self-host an open video model?

Only at volume. Open models like Wan, HunyuanVideo and Mochi have no licence fee, but a rented GPU costs money for every second of footage generated, plus setup and maintenance time. Add a GPU rate in the calculator to compare self-hosting against API prices for your own length and resolution.

How can I reduce AI video generation costs?

Draft on a cheaper model or at lower resolution, then render the final on a premium one. Generate without audio until the last pass, plan shots to fit the model's clip length, write tighter prompts to cut retakes, and use batch or volume pricing where available. The draft workflow in Estimate mode shows the saving.

How accurate are these prices?

They were reviewed in October 2026 from provider pricing pages and major hosting platforms, and each row shows its source and whether it is a published price, a provider price or an estimate. AI pricing changes quickly, so confirm on the provider's site before buying, and override any rate with your own.

Is this AI video cost calculator free and private?

Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs entirely in your browser. Your settings are stored only on your own device.

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