Guide
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Cristian Vicașiu, Velrun Studios, Bucharest
How much does an AI commercial cost in 2026? What moves the price
The short answer
An AI commercial is priced by five things: length, the number of cutdowns and ratios, the number of languages and products, how much is custom versus templated, and the rights you need. Published 2026 benchmarks for a finished 15 to 60 second spot run from the low thousands of euros up, against five to fifty thousand dollars for a crewed shoot. Every Velrun project is quoted on its own.
What sets the price
Length first, then the count. A 15 second spot with one cutdown is one piece of work; the same spot in 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1 with two languages is six deliverables, each needing its own edit, mix and check. The third factor is how much is custom: a pinned product, a recurring character and a specific brand world cost more than a generic scene. The fourth is rights: perpetual, worldwide paid-media use costs more than a single-market window. The fifth is talent: real people’s likenesses need consent and a fee.
What the market charges
Public 2026 pricing guides put a finished, broadcast-ready AI spot of 15 to 60 seconds in the range of roughly €1,500 to €3,500 at the low end of the studio market, with product swaps at a few tens of dollars and brand films above a thousand. The same guides put a traditional 30 second commercial at $5,000 to $50,000 before media. The numbers vary by source and by what is included; treat them as a range, not a rate.
Why we quote instead of listing prices
Two briefs that both say ‘a 30 second spot’ can be a day apart in work. One needs a single scene and a product; the other needs a cast, three locations and a version for every market. A rate card would overcharge the first and undercharge the second. Send the brief through Start a project and the quote comes back scoped, no call needed.
How to lower the cost without lowering the film
Decide the cutdowns before production, not after. Approve the boards carefully; changes on paper are free, changes after generation are not. Bring your product renders and brand guide with the brief. And ask for the master plus cutdowns in one delivery rather than a series of small orders.
Questions
Is AI cheaper than a shoot?
For most commercials, yes, because there is no crew, cast, location or travel. The saving is largest where the shoot would have been hardest: hazardous sites, several markets, or scenes that do not exist.
Do you charge for revisions?
Board changes are free until you approve the boards. Two rounds on the finished film are included; more is quoted before we start.
Have a product or a story? Send the brief and get a scoped quote back, no call needed.