Video Generation Cost Calculator

Calculate the API cost of generating AI video clips based on duration and resolution.

About Video Generation Cost Calculator

AI video generation tools (like Runway, Pika, or Sora-style models) typically bill based on the number of frames rendered, which is a function of clip duration and frame rate. This calculator multiplies duration × fps to get total frames, then applies a per-frame cost to estimate total spend across a batch of videos. Higher frame rates and longer clips increase cost linearly with frame count.

Formula

total_cost = (duration_sec × fps) × cost_per_frame × num_videos

duration_sec: Duration of each video in seconds
fps: Frame rate (frames per second)
cost_per_frame: Cost to render one frame
num_videos: Number of videos in the batch

Worked example

With the default values below, Video Generation Cost Calculator returns Total Cost of $6.00. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Duration per Videoaccepts 0.1–3,600 seconds: 5 seconds
Number of Videosaccepts 1–100,000 videos: 10 videos
Frame Rateaccepts 1–120 fps: 24 fps
Cost per Frameaccepts 0–5 $/frame: 0.005 $/frame

Results

Total Cost: $6.00
Cost per Video: $0.6000
Frames per Video: 120 frames
Total Frames Rendered: 1,200 frames

Step by step

1Frames per video= 120 frames
2Cost per video= $0.6000
3Total cost= $6.00

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does frame rate matter for cost?

Most generative video models render and bill per output frame, so a 30fps clip costs 25% more than the same duration at 24fps.

Does resolution affect video generation cost too?

Yes, in practice — higher resolution increases the per-frame compute cost. Adjust the cost-per-frame input upward to model higher-resolution outputs.

How do I estimate cost-per-frame for a specific provider?

Divide that provider's advertised price for a sample clip by its total frame count (duration × fps) to back into a per-frame rate.