AI Video Generation Cost: Priced by the Second
AI video generation is usually billed per second of footage, with resolution driving the rate. Because seconds add up fast, even short clips can carry a surprising budget.
Seconds times a resolution rate
Estimate cost as total output seconds multiplied by the per-second rate for your resolution. Higher resolutions cost more per second, so a minute of high-res video can dwarf a text or image budget.
Drafts multiply the bill
You rarely nail a clip on the first try, so budget for multiple generations per usable second. Draft at lower resolution and only finalize the approved shots at high resolution to keep spend down.
Calculators for this topic
Frequently asked questions
How is AI video priced?+
Typically per second of generated video, with higher rates at higher resolutions.
Why is AI video so expensive?+
Seconds accumulate quickly and drafts multiply the count — draft low-res and finalize only approved shots to control cost.