Getting a Translation Quote

As we mentioned in the previous article, every translation project needs a proper planning phase; this is what ultimately determines the quality of the final result. Today, we’re taking a closer look at what a translation quote is, what it includes, and why it matters. A quote is more than just a price tag, it outlines the cost of the service and helps ensure everything runs smoothly. Planning a multilingual project? Here’s what you need to know to get an accurate, reliable translation quote that aligns with your goals and expectations.

Why Do You Need a Translation Quote?

A translation quote gives you a clear structure and detailed breakdown of your multilingual project. Without one, it’s hard to know what the final cost will be and easy to run into misunderstandings, especially if the scope or complexity changes along the way. Without a written agreement, disputes can be tricky to resolve. If there are disagreements about deadlines or what’s included in the service, neither the client nor the provider has a legal document to refer to.

Without a quote, expectations can also get lost in translation. The service provider might not fully grasp what the client wants, leading to disappointing results and wasted time. There’s also the financial risk without legal protection, the translator might not get paid, and the client might not receive the work on time.

Bottom line? Starting a translation project without a quote is like performing a stunt without a safety net; it’s risky, unstructured, and bound to cause trouble.

In France, certain information is legally required on a translation quote to comply with current regulations. This includes key details that ensure the quote is clear, transparent, and legally binding.

• The words “Quote” or “Price proposal”
• The contact details of the service provider and the client
• A detailed description of the services requested
• The source language and the target language
• The deadline for completion and the date of validity of the quote
• The word count
• The nature of the content and the level of specialization required
• The total amount excluding taxes and including all taxes (excl. VAT and incl. VAT)

A signed quote serves as a formal agreement between the translation agency and the client, helping to prevent misunderstandings and providing a clear basis for resolving any disputes that may arise later.

Factors That Affect Translation Pricing

Language Combination

Translation pricing can vary significantly depending on the language pair involved. That’s because being a professional isn’t enough; you also need deep linguistic expertise, cultural knowledge, and subject matter proficiency. Some language combinations are more expensive simply because qualified translators are harder to find.

Take French to Arabic, for instance. This is one of the most expensive combinations. While there are many skilled Arabic and Chinese translators individually, it’s far less common to find someone who is highly proficient in both languages and understands the cultural nuances required for accurate translation. As with any market, scarcity drives up the price.

Scandinavian languages like Swedish, Danish, and Finnish are also among the costlier pairs. Demand for translations to and from Nordic languages is rising, but the supply of qualified professionals remains relatively low, especially compared to more widely spoken languages such as English or French. On top of that, the cost of living is very high in these countries, so translators need to charge more to maintain a reasonable income. You’ll see a similar pattern in Switzerland. Translating from French to Swiss German typically costs more than from French to standard German, as spoken in Germany.

Other high-priced combinations include rare or less commonly taught languages. Translations from Haitian Creole, Kazakh, or Icelandic can be particularly expensive. In fact, there are reportedly only a handful of professional Icelandic translators worldwide.

On the other hand, language pairs like French to English or Spanish to English are usually more affordable. The reason is simple: there is a larger pool of skilled translators, which increases competition and helps keep prices lower.

Specialization and Editorial Quality

Translations involving technical or legal content usually require specialized expertise and often come with higher rates than general or informal texts. Translating academic research papers or publications from institutions like University Hospital Institutes or the French National Centre for Scientific Research demands much deeper knowledge than translating recipes or tabloid articles.

In some highly specialized projects, we may need to recruit professionals with dual qualifications, such as a translator who is also a doctor or researcher in the relevant field. At times, we sift through hundreds of profiles to find the exact match for a project’s requirements. When a project demands top-tier expertise, we work only with the best, and that level of quality comes at a cost.

Types of Translation

Machine translation has advanced rapidly in recent years. The development of neural machine translation and artificial intelligence has marked a major shift, particularly with tools like Google Translate and DeepL. These systems use algorithms that learn to understand context and linguistic nuance. Today, AI-generated translations are improving steadily and can be a viable option for certain language pairs. That’s why we have included them in our service offerings.

Level 5: AI Basic Quality Control
This is the most affordable service. It involves correcting basic errors in a machine-translated text. Only the target version is reviewed, and the final result remains close to the original machine output with minimal editorial polish. It is suitable only for content where accuracy and style are not critical and not a stake.

Level 4: Post-Editing of Machine Translation
Slightly more expensive, this service involves improving the machine translation by correcting terminology, meaning, and awkward phrasing. It adds a layer of human refinement to make the text clearer and more natural.

Level 3: 100% Human Translation
This remains the gold standard. A native-speaking professional translator, who also has subject matter expertise, produces the entire translation manually. The document is then reviewed by the translator and quality checked by a project manager.

Level 2: ISO 17100-Compliant Translation
This service involves a complete human translation that is fully revised by a second linguist. The text is reviewed in its entirety to ensure accuracy, tone, and consistency. The additional step increases the price by about 30 percent compared to a standard human translation.

Level 1: Transcreation
Used mainly in marketing and communications, transcreation goes beyond translation. It involves rewriting the content to resonate emotionally with the target audience, encouraging engagement or specific actions such as brand recognition or purchasing. This service is ideal for advertising materials, press releases, and promotional campaigns.

Le volume de mots ou de pages

Translation rates are generally based on word count. For Asian languages that use ideograms, the unit is usually the character. For certified translations, the unit is often the page. A quote should clearly state both the number of new words and the number of repeated words. The larger the word or page count, the higher the total cost.

Document Format

Certain file formats, such as websites, Adobe Illustrator files, or LaTeX documents, require more time to handle. These formats often involve additional preparation or layout work, which can increase the overall cost of the translation.

Delivery Deadlines

Urgent translations typically cost more due to shorter turnaround times. A professional translator can handle about 2,000 words per day. Larger projects with tight deadlines may require multiple translators and added project management, which can affect pricing.

Additional Services

Translation is often just one part of a more complex multilingual project. Your quote may include additional services such as layout formatting, SEO optimization for websites, or voiceover and subtitling for audiovisual content.

Submit a Request and Compare Translation Quotes

You have two ways to request a quote.

If your project is straightforward and the content is ready, you can use our online quote form. Simply upload your documents, select the target language or languages, and submit your request. You’ll receive a quote by email within an hour.

If your project is complex or too large to submit online, we recommend contacting us by phone. This allows us to discuss your goals in detail and provide a tailored solution.

When reviewing quotes from different providers, don’t focus solely on price. A quote that seems unusually low may reflect lower quality or missing services. It’s important to compare providers based on experience, qualifications, customer service, and reliability. Make sure the quotes you receive cover the same services and expectations. This will allow you to make a fair and informed decision.

Translation quote request form

Would you like to know the price of a translation? Look no further, you’ve come to the right place! A simple form, a team of experts at your service, and a quick quote, just like magic. Let us transport your words across language barriers… Fill out the form below and we’ll take care of the rest!