Explainer Video Cost – How much an explainer video costs. Professional custom video content

Wondering how much a good quality custom explainer video costs? Not the DIY, cookie cutter, or buffet type videos.

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How much does an explainer video cost?

The cost of an explainer video depends on a number of variables. The purpose of this article is to give you a short and honest answer on the average cost of an explainer video, in North American. We also provide our own examples of what you can expect in each price range.

Some of the factors that affect production costs include the animation style, video length, location of the studio, and production quality of the video.

Explainer video costs for a standard one minute video can range anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000. This covers the production of a good quality professional video, and not the DIY or low budget buffet type videos.

Explainer Video Costs in North America and Europe

Custom isn’t code for “mystery.” A 60-second, fully animated explainer from a North-American studio typically lands between $5,400 and $11k, according to a survey of more than 200 agencies.

The guide below breaks down every factor—style, complexity, timeline—and shows where Creamy Animation fits so you can set a budget with confidence.

Explainer video costs for standard projects

Standard quality explainer videos: $5,000

Our standard professional explainer videos are $5,000 for 60 seconds. Each extra minute requires an additional 60-80% to the budget. That includes delivering exceptional value with:

✔ End-to-end production – From concept development to final animation
✔ Engaging scripts & storyboards – Designed to keep viewers hooked
✔ Stunning animation styles – Motion graphics and character animation
✔ Pro voiceovers and sound design – For a polished, professional finish

We collaborate with you at every step, incorporating feedback to ensure your video meets your desired goals.

Need a high-quality explainer video that captivates your audience and drives results? Request A Free Strategy Call!

Watch Our Video Production Reel

Explainer video costs for premium content

Higher production value videos start at $8,000

Our premium videos combine breathtaking visuals with high-impact storytelling to engage your audience and elevate your brand.

Here’s what sets our work apart from other animation studios in the industry:

✔ High-Quality Animation – Fluid frame-by-frame character animation, rich 2D/3D graphics
✔ Unmatched Attention to Detail – Every scene crafted for maximum visual appeal
✔ Flexible Production Timelines – Typically 6-12 weeks, tailored to your project’s complexity

Discover the perfect video solution for your brand – request a free, no-obligation quote in minutes.

Why spend $8k+ on an explainer video?

  1. Crazy Egg lifted monthly revenue by 64 % with a single 2-minute demo.
  2. Dropbox attributed early-stage user surge to a 90-sec video (<$50k)
  3. Skyflow made a video with Creamy in 2022 and raised $30m in the Series B funding in 2024. Three years later, they’re still using the same video we made for them, with 360,000 views and counting.

10 factors that drive explainer video costs

1. Animation style

Whiteboard and motion graphics are the leanest option, at US $1,500–$4,000 per finished minute, thanks to simplified character rigs and mostly static backgrounds.
Custom 2-D character animation offers a broader design palette and averages US $7,000–$20,000 per minute as extra illustration hours stack up.
3-D, stop-motion, or mixed-media animation, with photorealistic lighting or physical sets, pushes budgets north of US $20,000 per minute and lengthens timelines.

2. Length of video

Most animation studios quote in 30- or 60-second blocks, and doubling the length may add 30–80 % of the one-minute rate because scripting, VO, and animation scale almost linearly.

TIP: Unless it compromises your message, aim to keep the core content under 90 seconds. Drop-off curves steepen sharply after 90 seconds.

3. Complexity of visuals and animation

Frame-by-frame character animation is time-consuming and requires highly skilled animators, while basic flat animation needs smaller teams and less studio time. Scene count, character complexity, and camera moves determine the number of illustration frames.

4. Revision rounds and project management

The industry standard is two consolidated rounds, while at Creamy Animation we provide three. Every extra round typically tacks on US $500–$1,000 and may push back delivery by several days. Avoid additional charges by signing off scripts before storyboards—late script tweaks will require voice-over changes and may affect the storyboard and animation.

5. Experience, production quality, and geography

North American studios bill US $100–$250 per production hour (crew + equipment); Eastern European or Asian teams run 30–50 % less but may require more oversight across time zones.

6. Voice-over and languages

Professional voice-overs in English range from US $150–$500+, depending on experience, union status, and usage rights. Multilingual campaigns: add US $150+ per minute for translated VO; full lip-sync dubbing can reach US $150+ per minute.

7. Music, SFX, and licensing

Royalty-free scores run US $20–$200, while commercial tracks need sync licenses that jump to US $5,000–$50,000 if aired on TV or used in paid ads. Custom background music adds to production costs but does avoid ongoing royalties.

8. Timeline and rush fees

Standard delivery is 4–8 weeks for most studios, depending on the factors above. Compressing the schedule to less than 3 weeks often incurs a 15–30 % rush premium to cover overtime and parallel pipelines.

9. Accessibility and localization add-ons

Closed captions add to the overall cost, which varies by studio. Audio description for visually impaired audiences costs US $75+ per minute. Subtitle and translation costs also depend on the production company.

10. Usage and distribution rights

A standard online-only license is embedded in most quotes, but broadcast or paid-ad usage can trigger separate talent or music residuals—budget an extra 5–10 % or negotiate buy-outs up front.

Our video production process

We’ve broken down our video production process into five easy steps. Rest assured, you’ll be kept in the loop at every stage of production, gathering your input and feedback as we go.

  • STEP #1: We develop a video strategy and write the script.

  • STEP #2: Draw up storyboard sketches with a clear overview of how we’ll tell the story.

  • STEP #3: We create the final designs and prepare them for animation.

  • STEP #4: All graphics, characters, and elements come alive in an animation.

  • STEP #5: Add music and sound effects is the icing on the cake. We then deliver your video as a high resolution 4k video file.

Explainer video cost for entry-level videos

Entry-level explainer videos start at $2,500

Need an attention-grabbing explainer video that fits your budget? Our entry-level package delivers low budget but professional looking videos that are perfect for:

Simple Social media ads that stop scrollers
Short-form content for animated shorts and sizzle videos
Whiteboard animation style videos
Short online animated ads that boost click-through rates

Why Choose Our Basic Videos?

  • Fast 2-4 week turnaround – Quick results for your campaigns
  • 100% in-house production – Consistent quality from script to final render
  • Proven styles optimized for engagement

What does a typical production team look like?

Here’s what our production team looks like for a standard 60 second videos. The explainer video costs take into consideration the size of the production team involved, and the skill level required to deliver the production quality expected.

  1. Producer: Manages the overall production of the project.
  2. Script Writer: Writes the script for the video.
  3. Storyboard Artist: Creates storyboard sketches.
  4. Voiceover Artist: Provides voiceover (if required).
  5. Illustrator:  Creates the final graphics for animation.
  6. Animator: Brings everything together into an animation.
  7. Sound Designer: Composes background music and effects.

A few quick FAQs

Q: How much does a 60-second explainer cost in USA and Canada?
A: Between $5k–$11k depending on the production quality of the video
Q: What’s the average turnaround time?
A: Industry median is 6 weeks; Creamy’s standard is 4–6 weeks.
Q: Do you charge per-second after the first minute?
A: Yes, each extra 30 seconds is 60-80% of base rate

Video Pricing

So, what’s next?

Explainer video pricing that is simple and transparent

The cost of each explainer video is fully transparent—set only by the creative talent and production timeline your project needs. Pick from flexible, three-tier packages that fit bootstrap budgets or broadcast-quality ambitions, with no hidden fees.

Whether you’re a startup stretching every dollar or a global brand investing for impact, you get the same award-winning team and a dedicated producer guiding every frame.

Tell us your budget today, and we’ll craft a proposal that maximizes results, not spending.