How Much Does Professional Translation Cost?
Professional translation is usually priced per word or per page, and the final figure depends on the language pair, subject matter, turnaround and whether the translation needs to be certified. The most reliable way to know your cost is to request a quote with your actual documents — a good agency will give you a clear, itemized price with no obligation.
How translation pricing works
Most agencies quote either per source word or per page. Per-word pricing is common for editable text where the word count is known, while per-page pricing is often used for certificates and fixed-format documents. Either way, the price reflects the time a professional human translator needs to render your content accurately and review it.
What affects the price
- Language pair — rarer combinations cost more than common ones.
- Subject matter — legal, medical and technical content requires specialist expertise.
- Turnaround — rush deadlines carry a premium.
- Certification — certified translations include a signed statement of accuracy.
- Formatting — complex layouts or scanned files add preparation time.
- Volume — larger projects may qualify for better rates.
Per word vs. per page
If your document is editable and text-heavy, per-word pricing is usually the fairest and most transparent. For short, standardized documents such as birth or marriage certificates, a flat per-page rate is often simpler. Ask your provider which model they use and what's included so there are no surprises.
How to get an accurate quote
Send the actual files rather than an estimate of the length, tell the provider the target language and deadline, and mention whether you need certification. With that information, Lidon returns a clear, itemized quote — usually within one business day.