How should I estimate AI video cost per minute?

Start with the number of usable videos you need each month, multiply by clip length, and add retries for failed or rejected generations. Then compare platforms by quality level and pricing model.

Why do retries matter for AI video cost?

Retries matter because most teams pay for generated attempts, not only final clips. Cost per usable video is usually higher than the provider's raw per-second or credit price.

Use case calculator

Estimate AI video cost per minute

Calculate AI video generation cost per finished minute across popular video models, including retries and quality settings.

PlatformVideos per monthSeconds per videoRetries per usable video

Estimated monthly cost$96.00$2.40 per usable video on VeoOfficial unit rate · Global, subject to API availabilityOfficial pricing

Cheapest estimatePixVerse$24.00 per month with these inputs

Cost per finished minute$18.00Uses final usable seconds, not every generated attempt

Retry exposure640 sec120 total generations for 40 usable videos

Billable workload960 secGemini API lists Veo 3.1 Fast video with audio at $0.10/sec for 720p, $0.12/sec for 1080p, and $0.30/sec for 4K. Veo 3.1 Standard is $0.40/sec for 720p or 1080p and $0.60/sec for 4K.

PlatformMonthlyPer usable video

PixVerseCheapest$24.00$0.60 Pika$26.31$0.66 Hailuo$29.76$0.74 Haiper$31.68$0.79 Hunyuan Video$40.03$1.00 Luma AI$46.08$1.15 Vidu$48.00$1.20 Kling AI$79.98$2.00 Wan$82.57$2.06 Adobe Firefly$95.90$2.40 Sora (API sunset)$96.00$2.40 VeoSelected$96.00$2.40 Runway$115$2.88 Seedance$145$3.63

Use case calculator

Estimate AI video cost per minute

Cost per second is useful for pricing pages, but creators usually budget per finished minute. This page converts raw generation assumptions into a finished-minute planning number.

Budget signals to model

Set video length to 60 seconds if you want a direct cost-per-minute estimate.
Use retries to represent unusable attempts, because one finished minute may require several generated minutes.
Compare standard and high quality modes before choosing a provider for longer clips.

Workflow notes

Prototype short segments before generating a full minute at premium quality.
Separate narration, B-roll, and final assembly costs from raw generation cost when budgeting client work.
Use the cheapest acceptable quality tier for drafts, then reserve premium generations for final clips.

Related calculators

Compare platforms for this workload

VeoHigh-end video experiments and Google ecosystem workflowsGemini API lists Veo 3.1 Fast video with audio at $0.10/sec for 720p, $0.12/sec for 1080p, and $0.30/sec for 4K. Veo 3.1 Standard is $0.40/sec for 720p or 1080p and $0.60/sec for 4K.RunwayTeams comparing Runway API models and web subscription valueRunway API credits cost $0.01 each; Gen-4.5 is 12 credits/sec and Veo 3.1 audio is 40 credits/sec.Luma AIImage-to-video tests and visually polished short clipsLuma's public pricing page lists plan prices and Ray video credit burn, including Ray3.14 text-to-video or image-to-video at 20 credits/sec for 720p and 80 credits/sec for 1080p, but the public page does not expose a stable USD value per credit. The dollar estimate remains a planning placeholder until logged-in billing is checked.ViduDevelopers who want transparent Q3 per-second API pricingVidu API credits cost $0.005 each; Q3 540p is $0.05/sec, 720p is $0.125/sec, and 1080p is $0.15/sec.