Voice Over Rates 2026: GVAA Guide, Usage and Examples
Voice over rates in 2026: how the GVAA rate guide works, broadcast vs non-broadcast pricing, usage fees, per finished hour rates and a worked quote example.
Quick answer: Voice over rates usually combine a session fee for the recording with a usage fee for how and where the audio is used. Non-broadcast work (corporate, e-learning, explainers) is often priced per script length or per finished hour, while commercials are priced by media, market and term. The free GVAA rate guide is the most widely used reference.
New voice actors often underprice because they quote for the time in the booth and forget usage. Clients, meanwhile, are confused when two similar scripts get very different quotes. This guide explains how voice over rates are built, what the GVAA rate guide covers, illustrative ranges, a worked quote and how to invoice so usage terms are on record.
What are voice over rates?
Voice over rates are the fees a voice actor charges to record narration, character or commercial reads for a client. Unlike most freelance work, the price is driven as much by usage as by effort, because the same recording delivers very different value on a local radio station than in a national TV campaign.
The main parts of a voice over price are:
- Session fee: the performance and recording time.
- Usage or license fee: the right to use the audio in specific media, markets and for a specific term.
- Production extras: editing, file delivery in multiple formats, directed sessions over a live link.
- Revisions and pickups: re-recording lines after script or direction changes.
What is the GVAA rate guide and how should you use it?
The GVAA rate guide from Global Voice Academy is a free, regularly updated reference listing commonly charged rates for categories such as broadcast commercials, non-broadcast corporate narration, e-learning, explainer videos, IVR and phone prompts, audiobooks, video games and promos. GVAA describes it as an informational resource to help talent set their own rates, not a mandatory price list.
How to use it:
- Find the category that matches the job (for example, non-broadcast corporate narration).
- Check the pricing unit: by script length, per finished minute or hour, per spot, or per word for some e-learning and IVR work.
- For broadcast jobs, match the media, market size and term.
- Adjust for your experience, the client's size and any extra production you provide.
- Check the guide's latest version before quoting, since rates and categories change and recent editions add guidance on AI-related usage.
Union work in the US follows SAG-AFTRA agreements, which set their own scale rates and rules. If you are a union member, those contracts take precedence.
Voice over rates by job type: illustrative ranges
The ranges below are illustrative non-union US figures to show how categories differ. They are not taken from the GVAA guide; consult the current guide and your agent for actual benchmarks before quoting.
| Job type | Common pricing unit | Illustrative range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Short corporate or explainer video (up to 2 to 3 minutes) | Per script | $250 to $600 |
| E-learning or long corporate narration | Per finished minute or hour | $300 to $700+ per finished hour, often with a minimum |
| Audiobook (non-union) | Per finished hour (PFH) | $100 to $400+ PFH |
| Local radio or online ad, short term | Session plus usage per spot | $250 to $1,000 |
| Regional or national broadcast commercial | Session plus usage by market and term | $1,000 to many thousands |
| IVR and phone prompts | Per session or per prompt | $150 to $500 per short session |
| Video game characters | Per hour or session | $200 to $600+ per session |
Illustrative only. Rates vary by market, experience, union status and usage terms.
How usage fees work
Usage is the part beginners most often miss. Three variables drive it:
- Media: TV, radio, internet pre-roll, paid social, cinema, in-store, internal only.
- Market: local, regional, national or worldwide.
- Term: 13 weeks, 6 months, 1 year or perpetuity (buyout).
Internal-only corporate training has minimal usage value, so the session fee carries most of the price. A paid national campaign has high usage value, so usage may be several times the session fee. When the term ends, the client should pay a renewal to keep running the ad. Note the usage start date on your invoice so you know when to follow up.
Worked example: quoting a regional radio and online ad
A regional car dealership group asks for one 30-second radio spot and the same read for paid social, running in one state for 13 weeks, with a live-directed session. The numbers below are an illustrative example, not GVAA figures.
| Line item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session fee, 30-second spot (includes 1 hour directed session) | 1 | $300 | $300.00 |
| Usage: regional radio, 13 weeks | 1 | $450 | $450.00 |
| Usage: paid social, one state, 13 weeks | 1 | $300 | $300.00 |
| Alternate tag versions (3) | 3 | $50 | $150.00 |
| Rush delivery (same day) | 1 | $100 | $100.00 |
| Total | $1,300.00 | ||
The invoice notes: "Usage term: 13 weeks from first air date, state of Ohio only. Renewal required for further use. No AI training or synthetic voice rights granted." That one line protects you if the spot keeps running.
How to set your voice over rates: step by step
- Read the current GVAA guide for your main categories.
- Price your production time: for PFH and long-form work, track how many hours of recording, editing and QC go into one finished hour.
- Set minimums so short scripts still cover set-up, auditions and file delivery.
- Build a usage table for media, market and term so quoting is fast and consistent.
- Write your pickup policy and directed-session fees.
- Add an AI clause stating that no AI training or synthetic voice use is permitted without a separate agreement.
- Quote in writing and invoice promptly after delivery.
How much does voice over cost for different clients?
The same voice actor may quote very different prices depending on who is buying and how they will use the recording. Understanding the client's position helps you quote with confidence.
Small businesses and startups
A small business ordering a website explainer or an on-hold message usually needs non-broadcast or limited usage. Quotes are typically per script with a minimum fee. Explain usage briefly, because many first-time buyers do not know it exists, and offer a simple package price that covers recording, basic editing and one round of pickups.
Production companies and agencies
Agencies and production companies know how usage works and will usually specify media, market and term. They may book directed sessions over a remote connection and expect fast turnaround. They often have their own vendor forms and purchase orders, and their payment terms may be longer, so confirm them before the session.
E-learning and corporate training teams
Corporate training is often long-form and updated regularly. Clients may prefer per finished minute or per word pricing so they can budget for future updates. Agree how you will price small script changes months later, since re-recording a few lines needs a fresh set-up to match the original sound.
Authors and publishers (audiobooks)
Audiobook work is usually priced per finished hour, sometimes as a royalty share on certain platforms. A per finished hour rate must cover reading, editing, proofing and mastering to the platform's technical specifications. Royalty share deals carry risk, so look at the book's sales potential before agreeing.
Home studio costs to factor into your rates
Your rates also have to cover your equipment and running costs. Typical items include a quality microphone, audio interface, acoustic treatment or a booth, headphones, recording and editing software, a remote session tool, demo production, casting site memberships, training and coaching. Spread these costs across your expected billable sessions for the year, as described above. A rate that ignores them can look busy but earn little.
Common mistakes when pricing voice over work
- Quoting session time only and ignoring usage.
- Accepting "buyout" without a scope. Define media, markets and term even in a buyout.
- Underestimating PFH work. One finished hour can take many hours to produce.
- Free unlimited pickups for client script changes.
- Signing contracts with AI or digital replica clauses you have not priced or approved.
- No renewal tracking. Expired usage is lost income.
How to invoice voice over work
Your invoice should mirror the quote: session fee, usage lines with media, market and term, extras, rush fees and payment terms. Reference the script title and the end client if you were booked through an agency or production company. Our voice over invoice template is set up for these lines, and the podcast editing invoice template suits audio editing work. For long audiobook or course projects, use a deposit invoice or milestone payments.
For broader pricing method, see how to set freelance rates; for contract basics, the freelance contract template; and for creator-style work, our UGC rates guide covers usage rights in social content. Rights questions are covered in AI-generated work and copyright. This is general information, not legal advice.
Voice over rates make sense once you separate the session from the usage and check the GVAA guide for each category. When you are ready to bill, the free invoice generator lets you list session and usage lines with notes on term and market, needs no sign-up and downloads a PDF built in your browser. You can create your voice over invoice right after the session.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GVAA rate guide?
The GVAA rate guide is a free reference published by Global Voice Academy that lists commonly charged voice over rates by job type, such as commercials, corporate narration, e-learning, audiobooks and video games. It is meant as an educational resource for talent to set their own rates, not a fixed price list. Many clients and agents are familiar with it, so it is a useful starting point for quotes.
What is the difference between a session fee and a usage fee?
A session fee pays for the recording time and performance. A usage fee, sometimes called a license or buyout, pays for how the client will use the recording: the media, the market and the length of time. A short radio spot on one local station for a few weeks costs much less in usage than a national TV and online campaign running for a year.
How much does a voice actor charge for a commercial?
Commercial rates depend mainly on usage: medium (TV, radio, online, social), market size and term. Local and regional spots cost less than national campaigns, and longer terms cost more. Rate guides such as GVAA's list typical figures for each combination. Always ask the client for media, markets and term before quoting, because the same 30-second script can be priced very differently.
What does per finished hour mean in voice over?
Per finished hour (PFH) means the price is based on the length of the final edited audio, not the time spent in the booth. Producing one finished hour of narration usually takes several hours of recording, editing and quality control. Audiobooks and long e-learning courses are commonly priced PFH, so check that your rate covers all that production time.
Do voice actors charge for pickups and revisions?
Most include a small number of pickups for their own errors at no charge, and bill script changes or client direction changes as new sessions or at an hourly rate. Write the policy into your quote: what counts as a talent error, what counts as a client change and the fee for each type of pickup. This avoids awkward discussions after delivery.
Should voice actors charge more for AI or voice cloning use?
Yes, any use of your recordings to train AI models or create a synthetic voice should be negotiated separately with clear consent, scope, duration and compensation. Many talent and industry groups advise refusing blanket clauses that grant such rights for no extra fee. Read contracts for words like synthesize, train or digital replica before signing.
Is a buyout the same as owning the voice recording forever?
A buyout usually means the client pays once for broad or unlimited usage, often in perpetuity, rather than paying renewals. It does not automatically include rights such as AI training or creating new content with your voice. Because a buyout replaces future renewals, it should cost considerably more than a limited license. Define the exact scope in writing.
What should a voice over invoice include?
Include the project and script name, the client and end client if different, the session fee, usage details (media, market, term and start date), finished length or word count, any editing, pickups or rush fees, studio or directed session costs and payment terms. Listing the usage term on the invoice creates a record you can use when the license needs renewing.
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