Video Editor Invoice Template — Free Download (2026)
Free invoice template for freelance video editors. Whether you bill per project, hourly, or on retainer — here's exactly what to include and how to protect yourself from revision creep and ghosted payments.
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Create free invoiceVideo editor invoice line items (by billing type)
The right billing model depends on how you work. Use the section that matches your typical engagement.
Per-project billing
Fixed fee for a defined deliverable. Best for short-form content, promos, and one-off edits.
Short-Form Social Edit (60 sec)
Vertical reformat, captions, colour grade, 2 revision rounds
YouTube Video Edit (8–15 min)
Full edit, lower thirds, transitions, 2 revision rounds
Corporate Promo (2–3 min)
Brand edit, licensed music, motion graphics, 3 revision rounds
Wedding Highlight Film (5–8 min)
Colour grade, licensed soundtrack, titles — delivery within 8 weeks
Hourly billing
Best for long-form content, complex edits, or projects where scope isn't clear upfront.
Editing (per hour)
Assembly, rough cut, fine cut — tracked via time log
Motion Graphics (per hour)
After Effects, title cards, animated lower thirds
Colour Grading (per hour)
DaVinci Resolve colour correction and grading
Audio Mix / Sound Design (per hour)
Dialogue cleanup, SFX, music mix, loudness normalisation
Retainer billing
Monthly content volume. Great for brands, agencies, and YouTube channels with regular output.
Social Content Retainer
8 short-form edits/month — Reels, TikToks, Shorts
YouTube Channel Retainer
4 long-form edits/month, up to 15 min each
Agency Editor Retainer
Dedicated editor, up to 40 hours/month, priority turnaround
Additional charges
Bill these separately so clients understand what goes into the total.
Rush Delivery
Turnaround under 48 hours — 25–50% premium
Additional Revision Round
Beyond included rounds per the project brief
Stock Footage / Music Licensing
Cost + markup, receipts provided — never absorb these costs
Subtitles / Captions
Auto-captions with manual review, or manual transcription
Raw Footage Delivery
Full project archive, proxies, or original media
What a video editor invoice looks like
INVOICE
Invoice #: VE-2026-022
Date: June 13, 2026
Due: June 20, 2026 (Net 7)
Your Name
Freelance Video Editor
yourname@email.com
Billed to
Peak Marketing Agency
billing@peakmarketing.co
Description
Amount
Corporate Brand Video Edit (2:30 min)
Assembly, colour grade, motion titles, licensed music. 2 revision rounds included.
$1,400.00
Social Reformats ×4 (9:16, 1:1, captions, non-captions)
4 platform-specific exports from final master
$320.00
Stock Footage License — Artgrid (3 clips)
License cost $89 + 15% handling
$102.35
Rush Delivery Surcharge (48hr turnaround)
25% premium on edit fee
$350.00
Deposit Received
50% paid May 28, 2026
−$1,036.18
Balance Due
$1,136.17
Full-resolution master and all delivery files released upon receipt of final payment.
Payment: Bank transfer or PayPal. Reference invoice VE-2026-022.
6 invoicing rules every video editor should follow
Define revision rounds before you start
Every video editing invoice should specify how many revision rounds are included. 'Two rounds of revisions based on the approved cut' is standard. After round two, additional changes are billed at your hourly rate. Add this to the line item description, not just your contract.
Never absorb stock footage or music costs
Any licensed media — stock footage, music, sound effects — should be billed as a separate line item: cost + a 10–20% handling fee. Attach the receipts. Clients who see actual license costs understand why it's charged; clients who don't see itemisation push back.
Require a deposit on projects over $500
50% upfront before starting any edit, balance on delivery. This protects you from clients who ghost after you've cut 20 hours of footage. State the deposit policy on the invoice itself: 'Deposit ($X) paid [date]. Balance due on final delivery.'
Invoice immediately on delivery
Send the invoice the same day you deliver the final files. Don't wait for them to confirm they've watched it. Attach the invoice to the same email as the delivery link. Clients pay faster when invoicing is immediate — the work is front of mind.
Hold the full-resolution files until payment
Deliver a watermarked or compressed preview for approval. Release full-resolution, uncompressed files only after the invoice is paid. State this on the invoice: 'Full-resolution delivery released upon receipt of final payment.'
Separate your edit fee from platform-specific deliverables
If a client needs the same video in 5 formats (16:9, 9:16, 1:1, subtitled, non-subtitled), each format is a separate deliverable. Quote per format or as a bundle. Don't let the client assume reformatting is included in the base edit fee.
What every video editor invoice must include
- Your full name or business name
- Your email and contact details
- Client's name or company name and billing email
- Invoice number (sequential)
- Invoice date and due date
- Project name or reference
- Itemised description: edit type, length, specs
- Revision rounds included — stated clearly
- Stock footage / music license costs itemised separately
- Rush or priority surcharge (if applicable)
- Deposit received (deducted from total)
- Balance due — prominent and clear
- Payment method and bank details / payment link
- File delivery policy: 'Full-res files released on payment'
Frequently asked questions
How should I invoice for a wedding or event video?
Invoice in two or three parts: a booking deposit (25–50%) to secure the date, sometimes a mid-project payment for longer timelines, and a final balance due on delivery. Never deliver the final film before the balance is paid. For destination events, add a travel and accommodation line item billed at cost.
Can I charge for project management and client communication time?
Yes — especially on hourly projects. Track all client calls, revision discussions, and file transfer time separately. Many editors charge 'project management' at their standard hourly rate. On fixed-rate projects, build it into your quote rather than adding it post-hoc.
What payment terms should video editors use?
Net 7 is standard for most video work. For retainer clients, invoice at the start of the month with Net 7. For wedding and event work, final payment is typically due before delivery day or within 7 days of delivery. Avoid Net 30 — you shouldn't wait a month to be paid for creative work.
Should I invoice per minute of finished video?
Per-minute pricing is common in some markets but has a major flaw: it penalises tight, well-paced editing and rewards bloated content. A 90-second ad that took 20 hours of work earns less than a 5-minute corporate video that took 8 hours. Price the complexity and time, not the output length.
How do I handle a client who wants unlimited revisions?
Decline. Every project brief should define what a 'revision' is and how many rounds are included. Clearly state in your invoice: '2 revision rounds included based on the approved brief. Additional revisions billed at $X/hr.' This converts unlimited revision requests into billable work rather than scope creep.
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