Veo3 Credit Cost Calculator
This tool helps you avoid surprises. Plan your credit spend before you blow it. Built for use with professional Generative AI video models.
AI Video Cost Calculator (Veo3)
Veo3 typically uses around 150 credits per video generation. Adjust if your usage differs.How to Use This Calculator
Use this to estimate how much it will cost to generate your film using Veo3, Google’s highest-quality AI video model.
Veo3 charges a flat 150 credits per generation. It doesn’t matter if your shot is 4 seconds or 8 — the cost is fixed. What does matter is how many versions you run to get the result you want.
Step-by-Step
1. Number of shots
How many unique camera shots you plan to generate.
2. Generations per shot
How many attempts you'll need to get each shot right.
Most productions average 3 to 5 generations per shot. Use 4 if unsure.
3. Credits per generation
Fixed at 150 credits for Veo3. Leave this as is.
4. Credit price
Enter how much you're paying per 1,000 credits.
At current pricing, use £9.50 if you're buying top-up packs.
5. Average shot length (optional)
This is only used to estimate total film duration.
It doesn't affect the cost.
6. Click Calculate
The calculator gives you:
Total generations
Total credits
Estimated cost
Estimated film runtime
Example
You have 60 shots, averaging 4 generations each.
At 150 credits per generation, that’s:
240 generations
36,000 credits used
≈ £342.00 at £9.50 per 1,000 credits
Accuracy of the Model for Large-Scale AI Video Project Budgeting
Summary
This calculator provides a strong baseline for estimating direct AI video generation costs using Veo3 or similar credit-based tools. It's useful for forecasting individual shots, scenes, or short-form sequences. For longer-form or professional-grade productions, it must be expanded.
Strengths of the Model
Direct AI Generation Costs
The calculator accurately reflects the cost of generating footage using a transparent formula:
Shot length × Versions × Credits per second × Price per 1,000 credits.
Scalability
The model scales efficiently. Multiply it across sequences or runtimes to project broader cost implications.
Limitations at Scale
This model does not include:
– Human labor (editorial, creative direction, production oversight)
– Pre-production (script, boards, planning)
– Post-production (sound, grade, mastering, deliverables)
– Infrastructure (storage, bandwidth, render environments)
– Administrative overhead (project management, review cycles)
– Licensing and compliance (AI model terms, dataset rights, output usage)
Variable and Hidden Costs
At scale, hidden costs emerge. Cloud storage, GPU infrastructure, legal risk, licensing fees, and failed iterations—all increase with complexity. This model doesn't track them. Don’t assume it will.
Best Practice
Use this calculator to scope AI generation costs. Then add a full production budget around it.
Include:
– Line items for human expertise
– Technical infrastructure
– Creative development
– Legal and delivery costs
Reliability of the Calculator Across Different AI Video Content Types
Direct Cost Estimation
The calculator is dependable for estimating AI video generation costs under controlled conditions:
– The credit-per-second rate is accurate for the type of content being generated
– Credit pricing is stable
– The workflow (shot length, version count) matches the calculator’s assumptions
This makes it effective for standardised, repeatable content where variables are minimal.
Limitations by Content Type
Cinematic or Photorealistic Work
The calculator tends to underestimate costs for high-end cinematic projects. These typically demand:
– More iterations for quality control
– Additional editorial or post-production oversight
– Higher credit consumption due to complexity or resolution
Specialised or High-Motion Content
Projects involving animation, VFX, or dynamic camera work push AI systems harder, often requiring:
– Greater prompt tuning
– Higher credit burn per second
– More failed outputs and retries
Short-Form, Faceless, or Social Content
For formats like explainer videos, YouTube Shorts, or marketing assets, the calculator is generally accurate. These use simple framing, lower fidelity, and fewer iterations.
Quality and Evaluation Factors
AI Model Variance
Video quality, motion stability, and fidelity vary widely between models. This impacts the number of iterations needed to get a usable shot — and therefore the cost.
Human Oversight Not Included
The calculator does not account for:
– Prompt engineering
– Visual quality reviews
– Iterative editorial work
These become increasingly important with creative or commercial content.
Usage Assumptions
This calculator works on standard assumptions based on current use of Veo3 and similar AI video tools. Here’s what it assumes by default:
1. Film Duration
You enter the final runtime of your film in minutes.
The calculator converts that to total seconds for credit calculation.
2. Complexity Settings
The Complexity dropdown adjusts the average number of credits needed per second of footage.
Setting Description Credits per Second
Simple - Static shots, basic motion, low detail - 100
Standard - Normal branded content, moderate motion - 175
Cinematic - High detail, camera moves, dramatic lighting - 250
These are based on typical Veo3 performance across different scene types.
3. Versions per Scene
You choose how many times you expect to re-run each scene to get a usable result.
1 = first attempt, no revisions
3–5 = standard for commercial or artistic content
More = if you're exploring style, or generating variants per shot
The calculator applies this number across the entire film.
4. Credit Pricing
The calculator uses a fixed £9 per 1,000 credits, matching current Veo3 prices.
You can update this field if your rate differs.
Example
A 5-minute cinematic film with 3 versions per scene will estimate:
5 minutes × 60 seconds = 300 seconds
300 × 250 credits/sec = 75,000 credits
75,000 × 3 versions = 225,000 credits total
225,000 ÷ 1,000 × £9 = £2,025
