What translation
actually costs
Compare published USD rates by language direction. Choose the review level, confirm the billing unit and file scope, then estimate an eligible direction or request a formal quotation.
English → Chinese · L3
Example only. File preparation, layout, review scope and timing are confirmed in the written quotation.
Four service levels
Compare the staffing and intended use below. Confirm terminology references, output formats and review responsibilities in the project scope. L1 is for internal reference, not release or filing.
Translation rates
The figures below are USD per 1,000 source words for the directions shown. The Chinese, Japanese and Korean rows price English-source text only. Reverse directions use source-character billing and require a separate quotation; see the notes below. Pairs without English require an individual quotation. USD estimates apply a $60 calculation floor; confirm the final project minimum in the quotation.
On a small screen, scroll the rate table sideways to compare all four levels.
| Direction priced below | L1Angel AI Review | L2Angel Pro | L3Angel Premium | L4Angel Global |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English → Chinese (Simplified) / Chinese (Traditional) | $28 | $55 | $92 | $129 |
| English → Japanese / Korean | $28 | $55 | $92 | $129 |
| English ⇄ Arabic / Farsi | $26 | $52 | $86 | $117 |
| English ⇄ Russian / Spanish / Portuguese / Italian | $28 | $55 | $92 | $126 |
| English ⇄ French / German / Hungarian / Vietnamese / Hindi | $29 | $57 | $95 | $129 |
| English ⇄ Dutch / Greek / Czech / Polish / Swedish | $29 | $58 | $97 | $137 |
| English ⇄ Slovak / Ukrainian / Albanian | $29 | $58 | $97 | $137 |
| English ⇄ Indonesian / Malay / Thai / Kazakh / Filipino | $29 | $58 | $97 | $137 |
| English ⇄ Latvian / Macedonian | $30 | $61 | $101 | $142 |
| English ⇄ Danish / Finnish / Icelandic / Hebrew / Canadian French | $33 | $67 | $111 | $152 |
| English ⇄ Bosnian / Croatian / Estonian / Serbian | $33 | $67 | $111 | $152 |
| English ⇄ Norwegian / Catalan / Galician | $35 | $70 | $117 | $160 |
English → Chinese uses the source-word rates above. Chinese → English uses the Chinese pricing sheet, counted by source characters excluding spaces; the USD amount is confirmed in the formal quotation. Confirm Simplified or Traditional Chinese, the target market and approved terminology. For English output, agree target-language production and review at the selected level.
See language checks and published projects →English → Japanese and English → Korean use the source-word rates above. Japanese → English and Korean → English are billed per 1,000 source characters at separate character rates. Request the applicable direction and count in your formal quotation; the displayed source-word figures must not be reused as character prices.
The published rate card distinguishes the Japanese and Korean Chinese-linguist option from the standard L1–L4 levels. For English ⇄ European languages, that lower-cost option is not offered. Confirm the direction, translator suitability and review requirements rather than using nationality as a quality measure.
Audio-visual
Transcription, translation and subtitles are billed per source-media minute. Voice-over is billed per finished-audio minute. Two figures per cell: source without subtitles / source with subtitles — confirm which source condition applies. Agree the required output and the relevant duration before commissioning.
| Language | Transcribe + Translate USD / source-media minute | Voice-over USD / finished-audio minute | Subtitling USD / source-media minute | Transcription USD / source-media minute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | $28 / $18 | $33 / $23 | $20 / $19 | $19 / $16 |
| Japanese · Korean | $37 / $23 | $33 / $29 | $24 / $19 | $32 / $27 |
| German · French · Russian | $48 / $40 | $48 / $40 | $30 / $23 | $35 / $30 |
| Spanish · Italian | $51 / $44 | $51 / $44 | $33 / $24 | $38 / $32 |
| Portuguese · Arabic | $55 / $50 | $55 / $50 | $36 / $27 | $41 / $38 |
What to confirm in your written quotation
- Project management and a named point of contact
- Approved glossary and reference material to use
- Required office formats and bilingual output
- NDA and handling requirements agreed before sensitive files
- Desktop publishing for InDesign, complex PDF or full-page graphics
- Rush delivery outside standard turnaround
- On-site or remote interpreting
- Languages and large programmes not listed above
- These table rates use 1,000 source words for the stated directions; Chinese, Japanese and Korean into English use separate source-character rates
- Agree whether repetitions and approved translation-memory matches change the billable volume
- Transcription, translation and subtitles use source-media minutes; voice-over uses finished-audio minutes. Confirm rounding and production scope
Compare scope as well as price
These existing case records show different document requirements. Their scope is evidence of the work described, not a price or turnaround promise for your project.
SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International)
English ⇄ ChineseCorporate reporting and disclosure documentation, delivered across successive annual cycles.
Read the project scope →
NIPRO Medical (Hefei)
Chinese → EnglishMedical-device registration files and technical specifications, in volume.
Read the project scope →
Shining 3D
Chinese ⇄ English interpretingChinese–English simultaneous interpretation.
Read the project scope →Before you compare quotations
Do these rates apply to Chinese into every listed language?
No. The displayed Chinese row prices English → Chinese per 1,000 source words. Chinese-source projects use the Chinese pricing sheet and source characters excluding spaces; the USD amount is confirmed in the formal quotation. Chinese into French, German or another non-English language also needs an individual quotation.
Can I use the Japanese or Korean row for the reverse direction?
No. The displayed figures apply to English → Japanese or Korean per 1,000 source words. Japanese → English and Korean → English have separate rates per 1,000 source characters. Ask for the applicable source-character quotation.
Which duration is used for audiovisual billing?
Transcription, translation and subtitles use source-media minutes. Voice-over uses finished-audio minutes. Confirm the required deliverables and each relevant duration in the quotation.
Is a calculation from this table a formal quotation?
No. A rate multiplied by source volume is a translation baseline. The written quotation confirms the count, language direction, service level, formatting, additional work, schedule and commercial terms.
Does a lower price include the same review as L4?
No. L1–L4 have different staffing and intended uses. L1 is for internal reference and does not include certification. Match review depth to the document purpose, then compare quotations on the same scope.
Can I check a budget before sharing confidential files?
Yes. The online estimator counts supported files in your browser without uploading them. For a formal quotation, agree any required NDA and handling conditions before sending sensitive material. Scans and image text may need manual assessment.
Know your exact cost
Tell us about your project. We acknowledge within 4 hours and assign a project manager, then return a formal quote within 24 — large and multi-language programmes included.