AI video cost calculator

Estimate what a clip, ad, Short, product demo or monthly content plan will cost across the major AI video models — with retakes included.

Need the interactive calculator? Use the full calculator on the homepage. This page explains the inputs, presets and best starting points for searchers comparing AI video costs.

What this calculator should answer

A useful AI video calculator should not stop at the listed generation price. The number that matters is cost per usable second: the vendor's rate multiplied by your retake ratio. A 30-second ad may require 45 to 90 seconds of generated attempts before you have enough clean footage to publish.

Main toolOpen the calculatorChoose model, resolution, length, scene count and retake profile. Quick answerCost per minuteSee raw and usable cost per minute for every tracked model. Example60-second AI video costBudget a one-minute clip on cheap, mid-tier and premium models.

Recommended presets

Project	Start length	Retake profile	Start here
Short social ad	15–30s	High, because products and faces fail more often	30-second ad cost
YouTube Short	60s	Medium to high	Best AI generator for YouTube Shorts
Faceless YouTube B-roll	3–8 min	Medium	YouTube monthly budget
Product demo	30–45s	High to very high	Best for product demos

Official tool links

Use these only to verify final availability and account-level pricing. ClipBudget's comparison stays independent and uses public pricing docs where possible.

OpenAI pricingSora API rates Google pricingVeo / Vertex AI Runway docscredits and API cost Kling pricingAPI and units

FAQ

What is the best first number to calculate?

Start with cost per usable second. It combines the listed model rate and your expected retake profile, which is closer to the final production cost than the raw vendor price.

Should I budget by clip or by month?

Budget by clip for one-off work and by month for YouTube, ads or agency production. Monthly workflows should use the YouTube budget guide or a custom clip-count estimate.

Why not just use the cheapest model?

Cheap models are great for drafts and B-roll. Premium models may be cheaper for hero shots if they reduce failed generations, client revisions or editing time.