60 Second Explainer Video Cost UK: Typical Ranges
Most UK businesses spend between £3,000 and £10,000 for a professional 60-second explainer video. Prices start at around £700 for very basic template jobs, but some productions can hit £25,000 or more if you want all the bells and whistles.
Knowing these price bands helps you budget sensibly and pick the right level for your business. It’s not always about spending the most, but spending smart.
Standard Price Bands for 60 Second Explainers
Explainer video pricing in the UK usually falls into four main bands.
Budget tier videos cost from £700 to £2,500. These rely on pre-made templates and stock graphics, with only a bit of customisation. You’ll get a video that does the job, but it might blend in with your competitors.
Mid-range productions sit between £2,500 and £10,000. This is the most popular choice for UK businesses. You get custom graphics, a professionally written script, and a voiceover that matches your brand.
Premium options range from £10,000 to £25,000. These include detailed character animation, several revision rounds, and advanced motion graphics.
Enterprise projects go above £25,000. You might see 3D animation, celebrity voiceovers, or even extra marketing support at this level.
At Educational Voice in Belfast, I’ve noticed about 60% of clients pick mid-range packages. It seems to hit the sweet spot for quality without adding unnecessary extras most businesses in Northern Ireland and the UK just don’t need.
Average Industry Prices
The average 60-second explainer video cost sits at £8,746 across UK studios. This figure comes from a survey of more than 150 video creators.
Most professional studios charge between £4,000 and £8,000 for standard 2D animation. That covers script development, storyboarding, custom character design, voiceover, and sound design.
Animation style really changes the price. Simple 2D vector animations start at about £1,000 per minute. If you want character-based 2D animation, expect £1,200 to £2,500. Whiteboard-style videos cost £800 to £2,500, and 3D animation starts at £4,000.
| Animation Style | Cost Range per Minute |
|---|---|
| Simple 2D | £1,000 – £1,500 |
| Character 2D | £1,200 – £2,500 |
| Whiteboard | £800 – £2,500 |
| 3D Animation | £4,000+ |
Location plays a part too. Belfast-based studios often offer better value than London agencies but keep the same quality.
Cost Versus Value Considerations
Spending £4,000 to £10,000 usually gives you the best mix of quality and value for most businesses.
Videos under £4,000 often use templates that restrict your brand’s personality. Your video might end up looking just like someone else’s, and that’s a bit of a letdown.
If you go over £10,000, you might not get much extra for your money. The jump in quality between a £7,000 and £20,000 explainer video can be pretty subtle. Most viewers won’t spot the difference.
“Businesses should focus on clarity and conversion rather than visual complexity—a well-scripted £6,000 animation typically outperforms a poorly planned £15,000 production,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice.
Think about the long-term. A well-made animated explainer video can bring in leads for years. If your video gets just five extra customers a month, a £6,000 investment pays for itself pretty quickly.
Put your money into strong scriptwriting and brand fit, not expensive effects. The video should make complex ideas simple and get people to act, not just show off fancy animation.
Key Factors Influencing Cost
The price of your 60-second explainer video depends on three main things: the animation style you pick, how much you want to cover, and how fast you need it. Each of these changes how many hours go in and what skills are needed.
Animation Style and Complexity
The animation style you choose has the biggest impact on your quote. Simple motion graphics using shapes, icons, and text usually start around £2,500 to £7,000 for a 60-second video. If you want character-led 2D animation, you’re looking at £4,500 to £12,000 because it takes more design and frame-by-frame work.
At Educational Voice, we often steer Belfast clients towards motion graphics for B2B explainers as they keep things clear without adding unnecessary extras. If your story needs emotion or shows a customer journey, character animation makes sense despite the higher cost.
Detail matters. A video with three simple scenes costs less than one with eight complex transitions, lots of data, or custom backgrounds. If you add layered effects, parallax movement, or mixed 2.5D bits, animation pricing goes up because each part needs its own design and compositing.
Length and Scope
Even though we’re talking about 60-second videos, knowing how length affects cost helps you plan. The first minute costs the most because it covers discovery, scripting, storyboarding, style frames, and voiceover casting.
A 30-second video usually costs £2,000 to £4,500, not half the price of a 60-second one at £3,000 to £8,000. The setup work stays the same no matter how long the video is. If you go to 90 seconds, expect £4,500 to £10,000, since the extra 30 seconds only adds animation time, not all the planning.
Scope covers how many ideas you want to explain, how many scenes you need, and if you want lots of asset variations. A simple explainer about one software feature costs less than a video covering three services with different calls to action.
Turnaround Time and Deadlines
Standard production takes four to six weeks for a professional 60-second explainer. If you want it faster, rush turnaround adds 20-50% to your quote because we have to move your project to the front, work longer hours, or do stages at the same time.
“If you’re launching at a trade show or need the video for a funding pitch, tell us upfront so we can build a realistic timeline that protects quality whilst meeting your deadline,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice.
For UK and Irish businesses, I’d say book at least five weeks before your launch date. That gives time for script approval, one round of storyboard tweaks, and animation feedback without paying extra for a rush. Plan your explainer video early in your campaign.
Breakdown of Major Cost Components
The three biggest cost drivers in your 60-second explainer are the script, storyboard, and audio. Each shapes both quality and budget, so knowing where the money goes makes planning easier.
Scriptwriting and Scripting
The script sets the tone for everything else. Professional scriptwriting usually takes up 10-15% of your budget. A solid 60-second script runs about 130-150 words and needs to get your core message across clearly and quickly.
At Educational Voice, I’ve seen businesses lose thousands by skipping professional scripting. They end up with vague messages and then have to pay for expensive fixes during animation.
A Belfast-based studio will typically give you two or three script drafts in the first week. The process includes messaging workshops, checking out competitors, and profiling your audience. Lock your script early. If you change it after storyboarding, you could add £500-£1,200 to your bill as designers need to rework scenes.
“Most explainer videos fail because the script tries to say too much. We limit clients to one core message and one clear call to action, which consistently outperforms kitchen-sink approaches by 40% in conversion tests,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice.
Storyboarding and Planning
Storyboarding turns your approved script into visual scenes. This step saves money by catching problems before animation starts. Professional storyboards for a 60-second video include 8-12 key frames showing character positions, transitions, and on-screen text.
This stage takes one to two weeks and makes up about 15-20% of your production cost. You’ll review static frames that show what each scene will look like before animation.
The storyboard phase is the last chance to make big changes cheaply. Adding a new character or changing your approach after animation starts can double your revision costs. Studios across Northern Ireland follow a similar workflow: script, style frames, full storyboard, then animation.
Ask for an animatic with your storyboard. A timed rough cut with voiceover helps you spot pacing issues before final animation.
Voiceover and Music Selection
Professional voiceover and music licensing usually make up 8-12% of your explainer budget. A UK-based voiceover artist with broadcast rights costs £200-£500 for a 60-second read. Custom music licensing adds £150-£400 depending on the rights you need.
Your voiceover artist sets the emotional tone for the whole video. UK voice talent can usually deliver in 3-5 days with one revision included. Tell your studio about your audience upfront, as that affects casting.
Music licensing needs careful attention to usage rights. Broadcast, social media, and perpetual licences all cost different amounts. Most UK studios include curated music libraries, so you avoid surprise fees later.
Think about subtitles at the same time as voiceover. They cost little but boost completion rates by 80% on social media, where lots of people watch without sound.
Popular Animation Styles and What They Cost
Animation styles come with different price tags. Motion graphics usually start at £3,000 for 60 seconds, while character-driven 2D work can reach £8,000 or more. Your style choice affects your budget and how well you connect with your audience.
Motion Graphics
Motion graphics offer the most budget-friendly option for 60-second explainer videos, usually costing between £3,000 and £6,000 in the UK. This style uses animated shapes, icons, and text to explain services or processes without characters.
At Educational Voice, we often suggest motion graphics for B2B clients in Belfast and Northern Ireland who need to explain technical services or abstract ideas. The style suits financial services, software, and professional organisations.
Motion graphics cost less because they don’t need character rigging or complex scene illustrations. We focus on clean transitions, branded colours, and clear visuals. A typical 60-second motion graphics video might have 4-6 scenes with smooth transitions.
This style is great when your message is about data, processes, or step-by-step explanations rather than emotional stories.
2D Animation
A full 2D animation explainer for 60 seconds usually lands between £4,000 and £8,000. The price depends on how many scenes you want and how visually detailed you need things to be.
This style lets us craft custom illustrated worlds that match your brand’s look and feel. We design every frame from scratch, building environments, objects, and movement that show off your company’s personality.
Maybe you want a product launch video that shows your item in action across different settings. Or perhaps you need a service explainer that illustrates a customer’s journey through various scenarios.
Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice, puts it like this: “The upfront investment in style frames and asset creation means the first 15 seconds are always the most expensive part of any animated explainer video project.”
If you need character animation, expect costs to climb, sometimes up to £12,000 for a 60-second video. Each character needs designing, rigging, and animating with different expressions and poses.
For businesses in Ireland and the UK, this investment pays off when you want to create a genuine human connection.
Whiteboard Animation
Whiteboard animation usually sits between £3,500 and £6,500 for a 60-second video. This style mimics hand-drawn illustrations on a white background, giving it a friendly, educational vibe.
It costs less than full 2D animation because the visuals are simpler. We draw black and white illustrations that seem to appear in real time, sometimes with a hand visible as it draws.
Whiteboard animation works well for complex topics that benefit from step-by-step visuals. Schools and healthcare providers in Northern Ireland often choose this style because it feels easy to follow.
The detail in each illustration affects the cost. Simple line drawings keep things affordable, but if you want shading and lots of elements, the price goes up as production takes longer.
3D Animation and Premium Explainer Videos
3D animation takes more time and technical skill than standard 2D motion graphics. The extra effort pushes costs up, but you get depth and realism that flat graphics just can’t deliver.
Premium explainer videos might include things like custom music, multiple language versions, or detailed character rigging.
Features of 3D and Hybrid Styles
3D explainer videos in the UK usually cost between £6,000 and £20,000 for 60 seconds. The price reflects all the extra steps: building 3D models, adding textures and lighting, then rendering every frame.
3D animation creates depth that’s perfect for product demonstrations, especially if you want to show how something works from different angles. At Educational Voice, we often suggest 3D for clients in Northern Ireland who manufacture physical products and want to show machinery or rotate items on screen.
Hybrid styles mix live-action footage with animated graphics. These work well for service businesses that want to show real people alongside animated data or screen recordings.
Projects like this usually fall between £3,000 and £9,000, since you need both filming and animation in post-production.
Premium Video Add-ons
Premium explainer videos offer more than just animation. Custom illustration systems build a unique visual style that matches your brand guidelines exactly.
Professional voiceover artists with usage rights for broadcast add £300 to £800, while bespoke music composition runs from £500 to £2,000 depending on how long or complex the track is.
If you want multiple language versions, you’ll need to re-record voiceovers and tweak text animations to fit different word lengths. Each language usually adds 20% to 30% to the base animation cost.
Detailed character animation with facial expressions, intricate data visuals, or compliance checks for regulated industries all add production time. At Educational Voice, we’ve noticed that businesses across the UK who invest in these premium touches get higher engagement because the video feels unique, not like a template.
Budget four to eight weeks for premium projects. The extra revision rounds and stakeholder approvals do slow things down compared to standard explainers.
Budget, Mid-Range, and Premium Options Compared
Explainer video pricing falls into three main tiers, so there’s something for every business and budget. Template-based videos start around £700, while fully custom productions can go up to £25,000 or more if you want loads of originality and brand alignment.
Template-Based Versus Fully Custom Videos
Template-based explainer videos typically cost between £400 and £2,500. You get pre-made graphics where you just swap out text and maybe tweak your brand colours.
These work fine for internal training or quick social posts, but they lack personality. The visuals feel generic, and other companies use the same animations, so your video blends in. Templates limit how well you can tell your unique story.
Fully custom explainer videos usually range from £3,200 to £8,000 for 60 seconds. We design every character, scene, and movement from scratch to fit your brand.
At Educational Voice, we create custom animations for Belfast and UK clients because businesses see about 65% better engagement compared to template options.
Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice, says, “Custom animation allows companies to communicate their story in a way that aligns with their brand values, which templates simply cannot deliver.”
The cost of animation covers the hours spent on original artwork and the expertise needed to bring your message to life. You get to control every detail, from character expressions to colour palettes.
What to Expect at Each Price Tier
Budget videos (£700-£2,500) rely on templates and stock graphics. You get basic animations with limited revisions, usually from freelancers or online tools. Quality can vary a lot, and you might find it tough to get your brand just right.
Mid-range options (£2,500-£10,000) offer the best value for most UK businesses. You get professional scriptwriting, custom 2D animation, voiceover talent, and several revision rounds. Around 60% of explainer video pricing falls here, as it balances quality with affordability.
Premium tier (£10,000-£25,000+) covers 3D animation, in-depth market research, celebrity voiceovers, and strategic marketing support. Larger companies go for this, but honestly, the jump in quality from mid-range isn’t always worth the extra spend for smaller businesses.
Most Northern Ireland companies find that mid-range custom explainer videos give them everything they need to communicate clearly without blowing the budget. The next step is to figure out which tier fits your goals and marketing plans.
Revision Policies and Feedback Rounds
Most UK studios include two or three structured revision rounds in the base price, with clear rules about what counts as a revision and what’s a scope change. Knowing these boundaries before you sign off helps you dodge surprise charges and keeps your project on track.
Standard Feedback and Amendments
You’ll usually get feedback opportunities at three stages: script approval, style frames or storyboard, and the first animation draft. At Educational Voice, we set up revisions this way because catching changes early saves time and money.
Each round usually covers tweaks to messaging, visual adjustments within the agreed style, timing tweaks, and small text edits. If you want to change a character’s colour or adjust a transition’s pace, that’s a standard amendment.
Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice, says, “Clear, consolidated feedback at each stage prevents costly rework later. We ask Belfast clients to gather all stakeholder input before submitting notes, so your animation moves forward efficiently.”
Most studios across Northern Ireland and the UK set a 3-5 business day window for feedback per round. If you miss it, your delivery date shifts.
It helps to gather all your team’s comments in one document before sending feedback to the studio.
Managing Extra Revisions
If you need more revisions than included, expect to pay £150 to £500 per extra round, depending on how complex the changes are and how far along you are in production. Changing your script after animation starts will cost a lot more than early tweaks.
Scope creep is a big risk to your budget. Adding new scenes, asking for a different animation style, or introducing new characters not in the original brief means extra charges. Some studios charge by the hour for extra revisions, others by change request.
Track your revision count and flag any potential changes to your studio early, before the team moves past that stage.
Project Workflow and Typical Production Timeline
Most explainer video production takes four to six weeks from initial briefing to final delivery. Hitting clear milestones at each stage keeps your timeline predictable and your budget under control.
Stages from Briefing to Delivery
The process breaks into clear phases. Week one covers discovery and messaging, where we dig into your audience, goals, and key messages before writing your script.
Once you approve the script in week two, we get started on visual development. This includes style frames to set your video’s look and feel, plus voiceover casting if you need it.
In week three, we focus on the storyboard and animatic. The storyboard lays out each scene visually, and the animatic adds timing so you can see exactly how your 60-second video will flow before animation begins.
Weeks four and five are all about animation, sound design, and subtitles. For a standard 2D motion graphics explainer, this is when illustrations come alive and audio gets locked in.
The final week is for revisions, exporting formats, and delivering master files. Most video production services include two or three revision rounds at key stages. This stops scope creep and gives you real input along the way.
Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice, says, “Early script approval is the single biggest factor in keeping production on schedule and within budget. Late message changes can add a week or more to your timeline.”
Role of Project Management
Good project management stops delays and budget overruns by setting clear approval gates and feedback windows. I always suggest picking one decision-maker on your team who can gather feedback and send clear, consolidated notes, instead of getting conflicting revisions from different people.
Time-boxed feedback windows help a lot. When you get a storyboard or animatic to review, try to return your notes within three to five working days. If you take longer, your delivery date slips and you might end up paying rush fees if you’re up against a launch deadline.
For UK businesses working with studios in Belfast or elsewhere, short video calls at each milestone keep everyone on the same page. We usually schedule these quick check-ins rather than waiting until the end.
Set your revision rounds up front in your contract. Two rounds per stage gives you flexibility but keeps the scope under control, which protects your budget and the studio’s workflow.
Track deliverables from the start. Your final package should include the master video file, social media cutdowns, subtitle files, and any agreed aspect ratio versions. Listing these in your initial brief makes sure nothing gets missed when you’re ready to launch.
Cost-Saving Tips and Budget-Friendly Alternatives
Template solutions can cut your costs to £400-£800, but you’ll lose out on brand uniqueness and that professional finish. Working directly with specialist animation studios instead of marketing agencies usually saves 30-40% while keeping quality high.
DIY and Template Solution Pros and Cons
Online animation platforms usually charge anywhere from £40 up to £400 for template-based videos. These can work for internal training materials or quick social media posts, especially when brand consistency isn’t a dealbreaker.
Templates really do have their limits. Your video ends up looking like plenty of others on the same platform. You’re stuck with pre-made characters, fixed colour schemes, and just a handful of scene options.
“Template videos might tick a box, but they rarely drive the conversions that justify your video marketing investment,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice.
People often don’t realise how much time these platforms demand. You have to learn the software, fiddle with templates, and export files. For someone new to animation, it easily takes 10-15 hours. At that point, you’re saving money but spending your own time instead.
Template platforms work best when:
- You need something in under 48 hours
- The video is just for internal use
- Your budget’s under £500
- Brand consistency doesn’t matter much
Working with Freelancers or Agencies
Specialist animation studios in Belfast and across the UK usually charge between £3,600 and £8,000 for a 60-second explainer. That’s still far less than the £12,000 to £80,000 you’ll see from marketing agencies, who often deliver the same production quality.
At Educational Voice, we’ve watched plenty of businesses waste money hiring marketing agencies that just outsource the animation anyway. You pay extra for the agency but don’t get better results.
Freelancers might charge anywhere from £2,000 up to £12,000. You’ll have to manage a scriptwriter, storyboard artist, animator, and voiceover artist yourself. Juggling all those people takes up hours and can make quality control a headache.
Animation studios offer a full team working together right from the start. You get clearer communication, more predictable timelines, and fewer revision rounds because everyone’s on the same page.
Ask for detailed quotes from three providers. Don’t just look at the headline price. Some quotes include revisions and voiceovers, while others charge extra for anything beyond the basics.
Comparing 30 Second and 60 Second Video Costs
A 30-second explainer doesn’t come in at half the price of a 60-second one. The setup work—script development, style frames, voiceover casting, and brand alignment—remains about the same whether your video runs 30 or 90 seconds.
Price Per Second and Scaling Factors
The average 30-second explainer video starts at £2,960 across UK agencies. A 60-second custom motion graphics piece usually costs £3,000 to £8,000. So, doubling your runtime adds maybe 30-50% to the total, not 100%.
At Educational Voice in Belfast, I’ve seen clients assume a 30-second video should cost £1,500 if a 60-second one is £3,000. In reality, you’ll pay closer to £2,000 to £4,500 for the shorter version. You still cover discovery, scripting, illustration design, and brand setup.
The first minute soaks up all the creative investment. After that, each extra second just adds animation time and reuses assets. The second minute is cheaper per second than the first.
Is a Longer Video Better Value?
A 60 to 90-second explainer usually gives better cost efficiency if you need to explain a process or tell a story. You spread that fixed setup cost across more time.
For SaaS clients in Belfast, I usually suggest 60 seconds for homepage explainers. For paid social, 30-second cutdowns work well. The longer format lets you set up the problem, show your solution, and finish with a call to action without feeling rushed.
“Your explainer should match the complexity of what you’re selling, not just your media budget,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice. “A 30-second video works brilliantly for simple concepts, but squeezing a complex service into that time often confuses viewers more than it convinces them.”
Plan your main message for 60 seconds. Then create shorter edits for different platforms. That’s a smarter way to get ROI than making a bunch of short videos from scratch.
How to Get an Accurate Custom Quote
You’ll get a more accurate price for your 60-second explainer if you share specific project details upfront and know when to move beyond rough estimates.
Information to Provide for Accurate Pricing
I always tell people to give five key details when asking for a custom quote. First, share your target length and whether you need multiple versions for social. Second, describe your preferred animation style—maybe clean motion graphics, character-led animation, or something more involved.
Third, explain how you plan to use the video. An internal training video costs less than one used in paid ads across the UK, since licensing and usage rights change things. Fourth, give your timeline. Standard production takes four to six weeks, but if you need it in a hurry, expect to pay 20-50% more.
Fifth, mention what you can provide. If you already have a script, brand guidelines, or visual assets, production runs more smoothly. At Educational Voice, I’ve seen quotes drop by £1,000 or more when clients in Belfast and Northern Ireland come prepared. The more you specify—voiceover languages, subtitle needs, file formats—the more accurate your quote will be.
When to Request Bespoke Estimates
Ask for a bespoke estimate if you want custom character design, complex data visualisation, or lots of stakeholder approvals. Template pricing is fine for simple motion graphics, but anything needing original illustration or animation consultation needs a custom scope.
“If your explainer needs to fit into existing brand campaigns or requires multiple language versions, don’t trust standard pricing,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice. “We build those quotes after a proper discovery session.”
I also recommend bespoke quotes for videos longer than 90 seconds or projects mixing live-action with animation. These hybrid jobs need detailed breakdowns because costs change based on shoot requirements and post-production work. Ask for your quote after you’ve sorted your core message and target audience, but before you’ve locked in launch dates. That way, your production partner can plan properly and keep your budget realistic.
Choosing a UK Video Production Partner
The quality of your finished explainer depends a lot on which studio you choose. Their track record and how they handle agreements matter more than just chasing the lowest price.
Evaluating Previous Work and Service Quality
Ask to see completed projects that match your sector or style before you commit to any video production services. Check for consistent animation quality, clear messaging, and whether their previous clients work in industries like yours.
Watch how each explainer handles pacing and visual hierarchy. A good 60-second piece should stick to one main idea and avoid cramming in too much or losing the viewer halfway through.
Ask about turnaround times for recent projects. Studios in Belfast and Northern Ireland usually quote four to six weeks for a custom explainer. Delays often come from unclear briefs or late client feedback, not production issues.
“When you look at a studio’s portfolio, see if their animations solve real business problems or just look polished. The best explainers drive action, not just views,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice.
Ask for client references. Check if the studio met deadlines, kept within budget, and responded quickly to revisions.
Transparency in Quoting and Contracts
Good studios give you itemised quotes. You’ll see scriptwriting, storyboarding, illustration, animation, voiceover, and sound design as separate items. This helps you see where your budget goes and makes it easier to adjust the scope if you need to.
Check how many revision rounds are included at each stage. Most UK studios include two or three rounds per milestone. Extra changes usually mean extra fees.
Make sure the contract covers file ownership and usage rights. You should get master files and full licensing so you can use your explainer across your website, social, and paid ads without more fees.
Clarify payment terms before you start. Many studios ask for a deposit, with the balance due at delivery or split across milestones.
Before you sign, talk through your project requirements in detail. Make sure the studio understands your brand, audience, and where you’ll use the video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most UK businesses looking for a 60-second explainer video want clear answers about what drives cost. Animation style, customisation level, turnaround time, and hidden expenses all play a part. Pricing usually falls between £3,000 and £10,000, but plenty of factors can bump it up or down.
What are the typical pricing factors for producing a 60-second explainer video in the UK?
The main things that affect your 60-second explainer price are animation style, script complexity, voiceover quality, and how many revision rounds you need. At Educational Voice, we notice clients in Belfast and Northern Ireland often miss how much the initial setup work shapes the final price.
Script development, storyboarding, and style frames are fixed costs, no matter your video length. These usually make up 30-40% of your total budget.
Your choice of voiceover artist matters. A professional with broadcast experience and commercial rights will cost £200-£500. Stock or AI voices might cost less but often lack the warmth that turns viewers into customers.
The professional 60-second explainer video production process also covers sound design, subtitles, and exports in different aspect ratios for various platforms. These all add value but also increase your spend.
Plan for at least two rounds of revisions at key points. Unlimited revisions might sound good, but they drag out the timeline and push up costs.
How does the complexity of animation affect the budget for a 60-second video?
Simple motion graphics with icons and moving text cost a lot less than character-driven stories with multiple scenes. The complexity of your animation directly affects how many hours our animators need to bring your message to life.
A straightforward explainer using abstract shapes and text might take 40-60 hours of animation work. Character animation with emotions, walk cycles, and interactions can easily double that.
“The biggest jump in cost happens when clients add custom characters and complex scene transitions but don’t adjust their budget,” says Michelle Connolly, founder of Educational Voice. “If you plan your visual complexity around your budget from the start, you avoid disappointment and delays.”
Scene count matters too. A 60-second video with three simple scenes costs less than one with eight detailed environments, even if both use the same animation style.
Ask yourself if your message really needs intricate visuals, or if a cleaner, simpler animation would actually make things clearer and keep costs down.
Can you outline the cost differences between 2D and 3D animations for a one-minute video?
2D motion graphics for a 60-second explainer usually cost between £3,000 and £8,000 in the UK. 3D animation starts at about £6,000 and sometimes goes well over £20,000 for the same length.
This price gap comes down to the technical skill and advanced software that 3D work needs. You just don’t get the same demands with 2D.
2D animation works for most business explainers. It gets your message across without the heavy rendering times and technical hurdles that 3D brings.
If you need to show off physical products from every angle, 3D makes more sense. We’ve helped Belfast manufacturers who wanted to show how their products work on the inside, and 3D cutaway views made that possible—even if the price tag stings a bit.
Timelines vary too. You can usually finish a 2D explainer in four to six weeks. 3D projects take longer—eight weeks or more—because you have to model, texture, light, and render everything.
Most viewers don’t really care if you picked 2D or 3D. They just want a video that explains your offer clearly and nudges them to take action. So, pick the style that fits your message, not just what looks flashy.
What additional expenses should be considered when budgeting for a 60-second promotional video?
Besides the animation itself, you’ll need to think about music licensing. Stock tracks might cost £50, while a custom composition lands somewhere between £500 and £1,500.
A lot of UK businesses forget about usage rights. Then they find out the hard way that their chosen music doesn’t actually cover commercial use everywhere they want it.
Subtitles and captions cost £100-£300. They’re worth it, since most people watch videos on social media with the sound off. At Educational Voice, we always include subtitles because, honestly, they’re just essential now.
You’ll probably want multiple aspect ratio exports. That 16:9 explainer won’t cut it for Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, which need 1:1 square and 9:16 vertical versions. Reformatting costs between £200 and £500, but it really stretches your video’s reach.
If you’re in a rush, expect to pay 20-50% more. We’ve had clients from Ireland ask for last-minute turnarounds for trade shows. It’s doable, but the extra cost covers overtime and shifting resources around.
Translation and localisation for international audiences add £300-£800 per language. That covers new voiceovers and tweaks to any animated text. Plan for this early if you want to reach more than one region.
How does the breadth of customisation impact the price of a 60-second explainer video?
If you want a fully bespoke animation built around your brand, you’ll pay a lot more than you would for a template. But you do get stronger brand recognition and, usually, better conversion rates. Template explainers start at £1,200-£2,000. Custom 60-second explainer videos sit between £3,000 and £10,000 or higher.
When we do custom work, we design every detail for your brand. Your colours, fonts, illustration style, and animation timing all match your identity. You won’t end up with something that looks like everyone else’s video.
Templates can box you in. You’re stuck with pre-made scenes and transitions that might not fit your story. I’ve seen Belfast businesses try templates, then come back for custom videos in six months because the generic look didn’t do them any favours.
How much customisation you need depends on where the video will live. If it’s a homepage hero video, you probably want to go all-in on custom work—it’s your first impression, after all. For internal training, moderate customisation and lower costs usually work fine.
You might start with a custom master explainer, then spin off template-based cutdowns for social media. That keeps your brand looking sharp without blowing the budget across every platform.
What’s the average turnaround time for a 60-second explainer video, and how does it affect the cost?
Most studios can finish a 60-second explainer video in about 3 to 6 weeks. Some move quicker, but rushing the process usually bumps up the price.
Shorter deadlines mean the team needs to work after hours or bring in extra help. That extra effort often shows up on your invoice.
If you’ve got flexibility, you might save money by giving the team more time. It’s always worth asking if a longer timeline can lower the cost.
