Pricing of Translation

How

Pricing for translation projects is determined by several factors:

  • Number of words in the source text (the original document)
  • Complexity/technicality of the subject matter
  • Format of the source file (Microsoft Word is preferred, but we also accept PDFs)
  • Special document formatting (call-outs, diagrams with labels, columns, etc.)
  • Turnaround time

Our per-word pricing includes our high quality translation and all client communication/project management. Click here to learn more about our process. A simple business letter would be priced at the lowest end of the price scale, while a complex technical manual would be at the highest end. Most Romance languages produce 15-20% more words in the translation process from English, but we usually price by source words. Discounts are available for high-volume translations or ongoing work.

Why

Although pricing translations by the word may seem confusing to a client at first, it is the industry standard. Per-word pricing is more accurate and fair than per-hour pricing for the following reasons: different translators work at different paces, many documents have varying margins and line spacing (and therefore varying word-counts per page), and the rendering of one language into another always effects a change in word count.

Free estimates

We will be happy to give you a free estimate for your project. Please contact us via e-mail, giving us as much information as possible about the nature and purpose of the project, intended audience, and expected turnaround time with a sample of your document attached. We can usually prepare a quote for you within 24 hours. We look forward to meeting you!