Translation pricing and quote scope

Every project receives its own quote

Two files with the same number of pages can require different amounts of work. One may contain a short text in a simple layout; another may include tables, illustrations or scanned pages that need preparation. The language pair and translator availability also affect the assessment. We therefore do not publish a fixed price list. After reviewing your requirements, we set out the scope and price for your project.

Words, characters and pages measure different things

Word and character counts help describe the length of a text. Page counts also depend on type size and layout. Text in images or scanned pages may be missing from an automatic count. We identify the material to be translated and explain the measure used in the quote. A given number of characters does not always represent the same number of words or lead to a fixed translation price.

Look at the work included in the quote

Tell us if you need services alongside the translation. A comparison against the source, editing in the target language, layout work and document certification are different tasks. The quote explains what will be done, which files will be delivered and whether additional work is required. This lets you compare the scope of different offers as well as their final price.

• Text and languages to be translated
• Requested checks or revision
• Layout and delivery format
• Any certification or physical-copy requirements

File format and source version matter

An editable source can make it easier to work with text and tables. For a scanned PDF, we also need to assess legibility and layout requirements. Identify the version to be translated and keep older and newer files separate. If you add pages or make changes after work starts, we will discuss any effect on the scope and delivery plan with you before proceeding.

Agree the checks and delivery plan

Knowing how the text will be used and who will read it helps us define the checks. If you need a separate person to compare the translation against the source, request that revision service explicitly. Your preferred date is recorded as a request. We review the length and translator schedules before confirming the delivery plan we can offer.

You can start without sending a file

For an initial assessment, provide the languages, approximate text length, file format and preferred date. The destination country, receiving institution, requested checks and output format can also help. You can discuss sharing arrangements before sending confidential documents. An initial assessment made without reviewing the text may contain points that need confirmation once we see the file; we will explain these clearly.

Frequently asked questions