What editing costs
Published here because hidden pricing is this industry's biggest trust problem. You should be able to judge a quote before you're on a call with the person who gave it to you.
These are ranges, not quotes. They're typical market rates for professional editing in the US, drawn from what editors in this field commonly charge. Individual editors set their own prices, and a good editor charging above these ranges isn't overcharging. They're pricing their experience.
By stage, per 1,000 words
| Stage | Typical range | On an 80,000-word novel | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developmental | $30–$60 | $2,400–$4,800 | An editorial report plus in-manuscript notes. Often a follow-up call. |
| Line editing | $25–$45 | $2,000–$3,600 | Tracked changes throughout, with comments explaining the significant ones. |
| Copyediting | $18–$35 | $1,440–$2,800 | Tracked changes plus a style sheet, the record of every decision made. |
| Proofreading | $12–$25 | $960–$2,000 | A final marked pass. No rewriting. |
| Manuscript assessment | flat fee | $500–$1,500 | A written report on whether it works. No in-line editing. |
What moves a price
- Condition. A clean draft costs less than a rough one. Editors quote on what they see, so send a real sample rather than your best page.
- Genre and technical load. Heavy research, citations, dialect, or a large cast all take longer.
- Turnaround. Rush work carries a premium, often 25–50%.
- Experience. An editor with a track record in your genre charges more and is frequently worth it.
- Length. Per-word rates sometimes soften on very long manuscripts.
How editors quote
Per word is the most transparent and the most common. Per hour is normal for messier work. That's reasonable, but ask for an estimated total and a cap. Flat project fee is easiest to budget; make sure the scope is written down.
Always ask for a sample edit. Most editors will do 1,000–2,000 words free or for a small fee. It tells you whether they understand your voice, and it lets them quote accurately instead of guessing. An editor unwilling to do one is a real signal.
Warning signs on a quote
- Far below these ranges. A $200 edit of an 80,000-word novel isn't an edit. Something is being skipped, or it isn't a person doing it.
- No written scope. "Editing" is four different jobs. The agreement should name which one.
- Guaranteed outcomes. Nobody can promise an agent, a deal, or sales. An editor who does is selling something other than editing.
- Full payment up front, always. A deposit is completely normal. Half now, half on delivery is the usual shape.
- No sample and no references.
If you can't afford it yet
Genuinely reasonable options, and worth saying out loud on a site that also lists paid editors:
- A manuscript assessment instead of a full developmental edit. Far cheaper, and it tells you whether the expensive work is even the right next step.
- Beta readers first. Free, and they catch a surprising amount.
- Edit the first three chapters only. Many writers learn enough from that to revise the rest themselves.
- Do your own copyedit pass before paying for one. Every hour of mess you remove is money back.
Work out which stage you need Find an editor
These figures are general guidance, not a quote, and not advice about any specific agreement. Rates change. We aren't party to anything you agree with an editor.