Divide the published package fee by included output to understand allocation, not a standalone video price or guaranteed return. Control Test is EUR 2,000 for 10 variants, or EUR 200 each. Pilot Sprint is EUR 4,900 for 18 videos, or EUR 272.22 each.
Work out your cost per usable ad
A package price divided by delivered files is only half the answer. Add what your own team spends, then divide by the files you can actually use: total cost = external fees + your team's hours x hourly cost, and cost per approved file = total cost / approved files. Start from the worked example or enter your own numbers, and compare two routes side by side. Your numbers stay in your browser unless you choose to copy a link or the result.
ToolCost per usable adTwo routes, side by side: what each costs for every file that gets approved.
Example numbers. Replace them with yours.
The example compares a do-it-yourself setup (Route A) with a managed studio (Route B). Every number in it is made up.
Total cost = external fees + your team's hours x hourly cost. Cost per approved file = total cost / approved files.
For labels only. Nothing is converted: use one currency throughout.
One rate for both routes. Use a cash cost or an internal rate, and say which.
Optional. Copies only the published fee and file count, and sets the currency to EUR. Nothing else changes.
Route ARoute B
External fee or tool cost
Studio fee, freelancers, a share of a subscription, music, anything you pay for this brief. Count each cost once.
Your team's hours
Briefing, checking, corrections, uploads. Hours a vendor already bills belong in the fee.
Files produced
Every file made for this brief, including the rejected ones.
Files approved
Approved for the intended use by whoever owns product accuracy.
Files launched
Approved files that went live. A file held for a later test is not wasted.
Total costRoute A: EUR 2,400Route B: EUR 3,750
Per file producedRoute A: EUR 80Route B: EUR 125
Per file approvedRoute A: EUR 160Route B: EUR 156.25
Per file launchedRoute A: EUR 266.67Route B: EUR 250
Share of produced that is approvedRoute A: 50%Route B: 80%
Share of approved that is launchedRoute A: 60%Route B: 63%
Side by side
Route B costs EUR 3.75 less per approved file (2% lower).
These routes are within 10% of each other. A few files or hours would flip the result.
Route A needs at least 16 of 30 files approved to match Route B's cost per approved file. Approved now: 15.
Route B needs at least 24 of 30 files approved to match Route A's cost per approved file. Approved now: 24.
Your numbers stay in this browser unless you copy a link or the result. A link holds your numbers after the # in the address, a part browsers do not send to a server, but anything that records the full page address could see it, so share it only with people you trust. We count that the tool was used, never what you typed. This calculator counts production cost per usable file. It does not score creative quality, predict results or replace a quote. A launched ad is not a winning ad: whether it worked needs a test with a defined result.
The example numbers are made up. This is not a quote, a benchmark or a forecast of ad results.
Compare scope as well as arithmetic
Performance Retainer is EUR 8,500 monthly for 40 videos, or EUR 212.50 each, up to 30 seconds in 9:16 with weekly delivery. Brand System is EUR 18,000 monthly for 90 videos, or EUR 200 each, up to 60 seconds plus a character and style system. Pilot Sprint runs over 14 days; Control Test uses a 14-day comparison.
Need new ads? Describe your product and what you want to test.
Add internal briefing and review time, and keep media spend separate. Track delivered versus used files. Calculate cost per winning ad only from actual tests with a defined decision rule, never an invented win rate. See AI video ads.
Editorial illustration. This is not evidence of measured customer results.Editorial illustration. This is not evidence of measured customer results.Editorial illustration. This is not evidence of measured customer results.
A hypothetical utilization example
At the EUR 8,500 retainer fee, using all 40 delivered videos allocates EUR 212.50 per used video before other costs. Using only 20 allocates EUR 425 each. These are hypothetical calculations, not client results. Record whether unused files are awaiting approval, upload, later scheduling or replacement. Separate production acceptance from ad performance. Any cost-per-successful-ad analysis should include the full relevant production cost and a documented result definition, including unresolved results.
Frequently asked questions
01What should we decide first?
Divide the published package fee by included output to understand allocation, not a standalone video price or guaranteed return. Control Test is EUR 2,000 for 10 variants, or EUR 200 each. Pilot Sprint is EUR 4,900 for 18 videos, or EUR 272.22 each.
02How should we evaluate the work?
At the EUR 8,500 retainer fee, using all 40 delivered videos allocates EUR 212.50 per used video before other costs. Using only 20 allocates EUR 425 each. These are hypothetical calculations, not client results. Record whether unused files are awaiting approval, upload, later scheduling or replacement. Separate production acceptance from ad performance. Any cost-per-successful-ad analysis should include the full relevant production cost and a documented result definition, including unresolved results.
Next step
Get a proposal for your next ads.
Tell us about your product, audience and ad production needs. We review your brief and reply with a proposed next step.
