How Much Does a Brand Film Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)

It's the first question almost every client asks, and most production companies avoid answering it. We'd rather be straight with you.

A professionally produced brand film in the UK typically costs between £7,000 and £17,000. Simpler projects can come in below that, and larger multi-location or documentary-led films go well above it.

The honest answer is that it depends on what goes into it. Below we break down exactly what drives the cost, with real example budgets, so you can plan with confidence.

Want a ballpark for your own project? Try our free project scoper — it takes about 30 seconds.

Example budgets

These are guide ranges from our own pricing, excluding VAT and including a contingency. Every final quote is built to the brief.

What actually drives the cost

1. Pre-production

This is the thinking before anyone picks up a camera: the creative idea, the treatment, scripting or interview planning, scheduling, permissions, risk assessments and location recces. It's easy to underestimate, but it's where a film is won or lost. On a smaller brand film it can be a third or more of the budget, and it's money well spent.

2. Shoot days

The single biggest lever. Each extra day of filming adds crew, kit and production management. A brand film that can be captured in one well-planned day costs far less than one spread across three.

3. Crew size

• Solo director/DoP — ideal for interviews and documentary-style brand films. Lean and unobtrusive.

• Small crew (director/DoP, focus puller, sound recordist) — our most common setup for brand films. Better sound, faster setups, more polish.

• Full crew (adding a gaffer and spark for lighting) — for commercials and anything that needs controlled, cinematic lighting across several setups.

We price crew using the APA (Advertising Producers Association) recommended rates, the industry standard for UK commercial production.

4. Locations and travel

Each extra location means moving kit, re-lighting and losing shooting time. Overnight or international shoots add travel and accommodation.

5. Post-production

Editing, colour grading and sound. A 60-second film might need four days in the edit; a 20-minute documentary can need thirty. Social cutdowns, motion graphics, subtitles and a bespoke music score all add to post.

6. Usage

If your film is going into paid advertising rather than your own website and socials, budgets usually rise — particularly if actors are involved, as their fees scale with how and where the film is used.

How to get more from your budget

• Plan for one strong day, not three average ones. Tight pre-production saves money on set.

• Shoot your social content at the same time. Cutdowns from the same shoot cost a fraction of a separate shoot.

• Be clear about where the film will live. It changes the length, format and deliverables you actually need.

• Use real people. Your team and customers are often more compelling on camera than actors, and cost nothing in usage fees.

Why quotes vary so much

If you've had quotes ranging from £2,000 to £30,000 for "the same" film, they're rarely for the same thing. Check what's included: How many shoot days? How many crew? Is pre-production costed or skipped? How many rounds of revisions? Is music licensed? A lower quote often means something has been left out.

Get a guide price for your project

Our free project scoper lets you choose your type of film, length, shoot days, crew and extras, and shows a guide price range instantly — plus where the budget goes. When you're ready, send your choices straight to us and we'll come back with an exact, itemised quote.

Or tell us about your project and we'll reply within 48 hours.