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Free Creator Calculator • Updated September 2026

AI Video Cost Calculator

Estimate what AI video generation could cost before you start. Compare popular model rates, include retries, calculate a full project budget and estimate monthly production spend.

Cost Per ClipRetry BudgetProject CostMonthly Estimate
Example creator budgetESTIMATE
ModelSecondsCost
Runway Gen-4.510 sec$1.20
Veo 3.1 + audio10 sec$4.00
MiniMax H3 768p10 sec$1.00
Working calculator

Estimate your AI video production budget

Choose a model, enter your clip length and production volume, then add an average number of generation attempts. The calculator uses API-style per-second rates where a verified public rate is available.

Rates are estimates based on current published API/developer pricing and can change.
Example: 2 means you generate about twice for every final clip you keep.
Cost per generation$1.20
Cost per usable clip$2.40
Total generations / project24
Project video output120 sec
Estimated project cost$28.80
Estimated monthly cost$230.40
10 sec × $0.12/sec × 12 clips × 2 attempts = $28.80/project
Estimate ready. Subscription fees, taxes, minimum charges, reference-media fees and premium output surcharges are not included.
Pricing note: preset rates are based on public developer/API pricing checked in September 2026. Runway lists credits at $0.01 each, including Gen-4.5 at 12 credits/sec and Gen-4 Turbo at 5 credits/sec. It also lists Veo 3.1 at 40 credits/sec with audio and 20 without, plus MiniMax H3 at 10 credits/sec for 768p and 15 for 2K. Always confirm current pricing before making a purchase or client quote.
Why creators need it

AI video costs rise quickly when retries are included

The advertised cost of one generation rarely equals the real cost of a finished video. Creators often generate several versions before choosing one usable result.

01

Plan before generating

See the likely project cost before committing to dozens of clips or higher-priced models.

02

Include failed attempts

Model retries can easily double or triple the practical cost of a usable scene.

03

Compare workflows

Test a premium model against a faster lower-cost option and see how the budget changes.

Preset pricing

AI video rates used by this calculator

These are simple per-second estimates used for planning. Some providers also apply minimum generation charges, input/reference fees, resolution surcharges or subscription rules.

ModelPreset rateExample 10 secNotes
Runway Gen-4.5$0.12/sec$1.2012 credits/sec at $0.01 per credit.
Runway Gen-4 Turbo$0.05/sec$0.505 credits/sec.
Veo 3.1 + audio$0.40/sec$4.0040 credits/sec through Runway developer pricing.
Veo 3.1 no audio$0.20/sec$2.0020 credits/sec.
Veo 3.1 Fast + audio$0.15/sec$1.5015 credits/sec.
Veo 3.1 Fast no audio$0.10/sec$1.0010 credits/sec.
MiniMax H3 768p$0.10/sec$1.00Reference media can add cost.
MiniMax H3 2K$0.15/sec$1.50Higher output resolution.
Gemini Omni Flash$0.10/sec$1.00Text-to-video preset.
How calculation works

Simple formula, realistic planning

Cost per generation = video duration × model rate.

Project cost = cost per generation × usable clips × average attempts.

Monthly cost = project cost × projects per month.

Example: a 10-second clip at $0.12/sec costs $1.20 per generation. If you need 12 final clips and average two attempts for each one, the estimated generation spend is $28.80 for the project.
Important limitations

Why your final bill can differ

Providers may charge differently for audio, resolution, reference video, images, premium formats or minimum clip lengths. Consumer subscription plans may also use credits rather than direct API billing.

Use this calculator for budgeting and comparison, not as an invoice prediction. For commercial client work, confirm the provider’s current pricing page before quoting.

If your workflow also uses language-model APIs for scripts, prompts, automation or other AI tasks, use our AI Token Cost Calculator to estimate GPT, Claude and Gemini API costs from token usage and monthly request volume.

FAQ

AI video cost calculator questions

How much does AI video generation cost?

It depends on the model, duration, resolution, audio options and how many generations you need. Some current developer rates range from about $0.05 per second for lower-cost options to $0.40 per second or more for premium video with audio.

Why should I include retries?

Creators rarely keep every first generation. Including average attempts gives a more realistic estimate of the cost required to produce final usable clips.

Does the calculator include subscriptions?

No. It is designed around per-generation or API-style costs. Monthly subscription fees, bundled credits and plan-specific discounts are not automatically included.

Can I enter a different AI model?

Yes. Choose Custom rate and enter any USD cost-per-second figure you want to test.

Are these prices guaranteed?

No. AI pricing changes frequently and providers may apply additional charges. The presets are planning estimates based on published pricing reviewed in September 2026.

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Pricing last reviewed: September 2026. All results are estimates. CreatorToolly is not affiliated with the providers listed unless explicitly stated.

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