Correction
Proofreading
What does proofreading cost?
What does a professional proofreading service really cost? Prices, services & saving tips
Do you want to perfect your texts but are unsure about the costs involved? The pricing for proofreading can vary. To help you decide, we explain the different factors that influence the price. Do you need a customised quote? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation!
The topic briefly and concisely
The costs for editing vary significantly, depending on the type of text, scope, and type of service (proofreading vs. editing). Compare offers to find the best value for money.
A professional proofreading service is an investment in the quality of your texts and can prevent costly revisions. The quality of the work can improve by up to 30%.
When choosing an editor, pay attention to qualifications, experience, and specialisation. A sample editing helps to assess the quality in advance and ensures that the collaboration runs smoothly.
Discover everything about the costs of proofreading – from the different pricing models to hidden fees. Find out how to get quality at the best price.
A professional proofreading service can make the difference between a good text and an excellent one. But what does proofreading really cost? The answer is complex, as prices depend on various factors. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn all about the costs of proofreading – from the different pricing models to hidden fees. We show you how to get quality at the best price and what aspects to consider when choosing a proofreader.
At Mentoc, we understand that investing in proofreading is an important decision. We offer certified translations and professional proofreading services in all languages to ensure that your documents are internationally recognised and accurate. Our goal is to help individuals and businesses present their texts in the best possible way. Discover how you can benefit from our extensive network of sworn translators and experienced proofreaders working across various fields.
The cost of proofreading consists of various components. These include the type and scope of the text, the type of service (proofreading vs. editing), the quality of the proofreader, and the urgency. We will examine these factors in detail below to give you a clear picture of the expected costs. This way, you can make an informed decision and find the best offer for your needs.
Pricing Models: How the Proofreading Costs Are Composed
Pricing for editing services can be structured in various ways. The most common pricing models include price per word or page, hourly rates, and fixed prices for specific text types. Online services often provide transparent pricing based on the volume of text and editing time required. It is important to understand the different models to better estimate and compare costs.
Price per word/page: This model is particularly common for longer texts. Costs are calculated either per word or per standard page (usually 1,500 characters including spaces). For proofreading, prices average around €3-10 per standard page, while comprehensive editing costs range from €5-15 per standard page. Listando.de, for instance, states that editing is expected to cost between €4 and €8.50 plus VAT per standard page of 1,500 characters.
Hourly rates: Some editors prefer billing by the hour. Typical hourly rates range from €30 to €80+, depending on the editor's experience and qualifications. This model is particularly suitable for projects where the scope is difficult to estimate or requires intensive collaboration. It is advisable to obtain an estimate of the required hours in advance.
Fixed prices: Fixed prices are often offered for specific types of texts, such as bachelor's theses, master's theses, or dissertations. These prices are based on the average scope and expected workload for the respective text type. Scribbr offers pricing based on word count, editing time, and academic level.
Online services: Online editing services often provide a cost-effective alternative. Average costs here start at around €0.016 per word. However, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the services offered and to consider other customers' reviews. BachelorPrint, a Scribbr partner, offers similar prices for its editing services.
Overview of Costs: This is how much proofreading your work will cost
To give you a clear idea of the editing costs, we've compiled some pricing examples for different types of texts. Please note that actual costs may vary depending on the provider and the specific requirements of your text.
Bachelor's Thesis: At Scribbr, the cost for editing a bachelor's thesis starts at about €0.016 per word if you choose a 7-day turnaround. Since BachelorPrint collaborates with Scribbr, the pricing is similar here. So, for a bachelor's thesis with, say, 10,000 words, you would pay approximately €160.
Master's Thesis: The cost of editing a master's thesis also depends on the word count and turnaround time. At Scribbr, a master's thesis with 12,000 words costs €201 for a 7-day turnaround. If you're in a hurry, you can choose a shorter turnaround time, but should expect higher costs. For instance, the same master's thesis would cost €293 for a 3-day turnaround and €387 for a 24-hour turnaround.
Dissertation/Doctoral Thesis: As the length of a dissertation or doctoral thesis can vary greatly, there are no flat-rate prices available. It is generally necessary to obtain a custom quote. Costs depend on the word count, the field of study, and the required scope of services.
Fiction/Novels: Costs also vary widely for fiction and novels. Listando.de reports that proofreading with light editing for a 40,000-word paperback costs about €635. For comprehensive editing, costs can rise to about €1,170. For a lengthy book with 100,000 words and extensive services, the costs can even be around €2,885.
Proofreading or editing: What is the difference and how does it affect the price?
An important factor influencing the cost of editing is the type of service. Basically, a distinction is made between proofreading and editing. Proofreading focuses on eliminating errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation, while editing involves a more comprehensive revision of the text, which also improves style, expression, coherence, and argumentation.
Proofreading: The focus here is purely on error correction. Spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors are eliminated. The price for proofreading is generally cheaper than for editing, as the workload is less. Mentorium.de offers basic proofreading from €1.19 per standard page.
Editing: Editing is about more than just eliminating errors. It also involves revising and improving style, expression, coherence, argumentation, and text structure. Therefore, the price for editing is higher than for proofreading. Mentorium.de offers editing from €1.79 per standard page.
Academic Editing: In scholarly works, an academic edit is often added. Here, citation style, bibliography, and formatting are also checked. Academic editing is generally more expensive than standard editing, as it requires additional expertise. Lektorat-Korrekturlesen.de offers academic proofreading (K2) from €3.50 per standard page, which includes both error correction and checking of citation style, indexes, and bibliography.
Additional Costs: These factors can further influence the price
In addition to the basic pricing models and the type of service, there are other cost factors and services that can influence the price of an editing service.
Express Service: If you need your text particularly quickly, you can often opt for an express service. However, this comes with additional costs. GoThesis.de points out that express services can significantly increase the costs.
Additional Services: Many editors offer additional services such as a consistency check, comprehensibility check, source verification, plagiarism control, or layout design. These services are typically associated with additional costs, either per word/page or as a flat rate. For example, Scribbr offers additional services like a "consistency check" and a "comprehensibility check" at an extra charge.
VAT: Be aware of whether the quoted prices include or exclude VAT. As a rule, prices are subject to an additional 19% VAT. Verena-Metzler.de notes that all prices are subject to 19% VAT.
It is important to consider all these factors to realistically assess the actual costs of an editing service.
Quality Features: How to Choose the Right Editor for Your Needs
Choosing the right editor is crucial for the quality of the editing. Consider the following aspects:
Qualification and experience: Although there is no formal training for editors, they should possess relevant experience and expertise. Lektorat-Tintenwald.de emphasises that the lack of formal qualifications means anyone can offer editing services, regardless of their expertise. Therefore, pay attention to references and reviews from other clients.
Field of expertise: Especially for academic work, it is important that the editor is specialised in the relevant field. Studi-Lektor.de stresses the importance of matching the editor's expertise to the specific topic of the work to achieve the best results.
Sample editing: Before hiring an editor, request a sample edit and a quote. This allows you to assess the quality of the work and ensure the price is fair. Listando.de also recommends getting a sample edit and a quote.
Communication and trust: Good communication and a trustworthy relationship are important for successful collaboration. Discuss your expectations and wishes openly and ensure the editor understands and considers them.
Savings Potential: Affordable Alternatives and Their Risks
If you're looking to save money, there are some affordable alternatives to traditional proofreading. However, these are not without risks.
AI-based Proofreading: AI-based proofreading solutions offer quick and detailed feedback, and they are often cheaper than human proofreading. GoThesis.de, for example, offers AI tools for writing dissertations that also provide detailed feedback.
Very Low Prices: Be cautious of offers with very low prices. Frequently, these involve poor quality due to inexperienced or unprofessional proofreaders. Lektorat-Tintenwald.de warns about dubious offers and emphasizes that very low prices often come with reduced quality.
Hobby Proofreaders: Hobby proofreaders might also be a cost-effective alternative. However, there's a risk that they lack the comprehensive training and expertise to deliver high-quality work. Lektorat-Tintenwald.de points out the quality risks with hobby proofreaders, who often lack comprehensive training and experience.
It is important to weigh the pros and cons of these alternatives and be aware that quality comes at a price.
Conclusion: Invest in quality for optimal results
A professional proofreading service is an investment in the quality of your texts. Although the costs may seem high at first glance, you should consider the long-term benefits. A professional proofreading service helps you avoid expensive revisions and protects your manuscript from errors that could damage your reputation.
The investment should align with your goals. If you want to publish or self-publish your book, higher quality is crucial. Lektorat-Tintenwald.de emphasises that investing in professional proofreading can be worthwhile to avoid costly revisions and protect the manuscript.
Here is a summary of the price ranges as a guide:
Proofreading: from €3 per standard page
Editing: from €5 per standard page
Hourly rates: €30-80+
At Mentoc, we offer you professional editing services tailored to your individual needs. We combine linguistic precision with official certification to provide high-quality translations and corrections for official and academic documents. Our team includes sworn translators and experienced editors for different fields, ensuring all translations are legally recognised and meet the highest quality standards.
Are you ready to elevate your texts to the next level? Contact us today for a personalised quote and let our experts advise you. We look forward to supporting you with your project! Contact us here!
More useful links
Wikipedia provides a general introduction to the topic of editing and its significance.
Federal Government offers a publishing study from 2021 that provides insights into the book industry and associated services.
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin may offer resources and information on the topic of editing and proofreading, particularly in an academic context. Check the website for relevant information.
FAQ
What is the cost of proofreading a Bachelor's thesis?
The cost of proofreading a Bachelor's thesis depends on the word count and the processing time. At Scribbr, prices start at approximately €0.016 per word with a processing time of 7 days. For a 10,000-word paper, this would be about €160.
How do the prices for proofreading and editing differ?
Proofreading focuses on spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and is cheaper. An editing service involves a more comprehensive revision of style, expression, and coherence, and is therefore more expensive. Proofreading starts at around €3 per standard page, editing at around €5.
What pricing models are available for editing services?
Common pricing models include: price per word/page (€3-10 for proofreading, €5-15 for editing per 1,500 characters), hourly rates (€30-80+), and flat rates for specific text types. Online services often offer transparent prices based on volume and processing time.
What other factors affect the cost of editing?
Additional cost factors include: express service (faster processing), additional services (coherence check, plagiarism check), and VAT (usually 19%).
How can I find a qualified editor?
Look for experience, expertise (especially with academic papers), references, and offer a test edit. Good communication and a trusting relationship are also important.
Are very cheap editing services advisable?
Be cautious of very low prices, as these often come with poor quality from inexperienced or non-professional editors. Quality has its price.
Does Mentoc also offer editing services?
Yes, Mentoc offers certified translations and professional editing services in all languages. We combine linguistic precision with official certification and work with sworn translators and experienced editors.
Is there a student discount for editing services?
Some providers, such as Lektorat-Korrekturlesen.de, offer a 20% student discount. Ask the provider directly.
