How Much Does It Cost to Translate a Document?

cost of translating documents

The overall costs of translating technical documents vary depending on plenty of factors. If you wish to hire a translating agency to make technical translation readable and understandable, then the pricing may vary depending on the document. There are plenty of factors that determine the price of technical translations. Let us discuss some of them to get a better picture of the overall costs of the professional technical translation.

The Rate of Document Translation per Page

You can easily calculate the overall cost of your documentation by finding out the cost of document translation for each page. Every technical translation agency has different rates for the translation of each document page.

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Sometimes, the cost of translating a document is high regardless of less number of pages and words.

So, how much does it cost to have documents translated?

Sometimes, the cost is high regardless of the number of pages and words.

Every technical translation agency has different rates for the translation of each document page. By evaluating this rate and the number of pages on your documentation, you can easily calculate an estimate of how much the technical translation will cost you.

However, this is not as simple as it seems because every technical translating company has its standard pricing. Furthermore, you also have to take into consideration the type of documentation. These include brochures, pamphlets, files, certificates, diplomas, letters, and other official documents.

What is The Hourly Rate for Translating Documents?

This is the most common method of cost calculation in terms of technical translation. Many freelance technical translators also set their charges according to the number of words in the documentation.

This is presumably a better method of price calculation than the page-count method. That is because the size of the font, along with the pictures and graphics, greatly influences the number of pages.

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How Much Does the Subject Matter in the Determining the Cost of a Translation?

Sometimes, the cost of translating a document is high regardless of less number of pages and words. Therefore, the number of pages or words in a given document becomes irrelevant in terms of cost if the subject matter is unique.

Sometimes, it does not depend on the complexity of the subject matter. Instead, it depends on the number of technical translators that know that subject matter. If the number of technical translators is small then the cost will invariably be high. Therefore, translators of very specific fields will charge emphatically more despite the number of pages or words.

How Much Does the Type of Document Matter in Determining the Cost of a Translation?

The type of document significantly influences the overall cost of translation. For example, a simple letter or email translation might be relatively inexpensive due to its general language and short length. Conversely, legal documents such as contracts, wills, or court transcripts require specialized knowledge of legal terminology and formats, increasing the translation cost.

Birth and marriage certificates also require careful handling due to their official nature. Such documents may need a certified translation, where a translator or translation company guarantees the accuracy of the translation with an official stamp or signature. This certification process incurs additional costs.

Additionally, technical documents like scientific reports, user manuals, or patent applications demand a translator with subject-matter expertise, which also raises the price due to the specialized knowledge required.

Remember, it’s not just about translating words; it’s about conveying the exact meaning in the context of the specific document type, ensuring all nuances and technicalities are correctly interpreted. This complexity in document types invariably affects the translation costs.

How Much Does the Level of Service Impacts the Cost of a Translation?

The cost of translating a document also depends on the type of translation service you wish to acquire from an agency. Every translation agency offers different levels of service that have varying degrees of prices.

If you wish to get high-quality translation services, with translation and proofreading from a native, along with extra revisions, then it will cost substantially more.

 

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Every translation agency offers different levels of service that have varying degrees of prices.

On the other hand, if you wish to get a basic translation for your documents that involve machine-aided translations and no editing by a professional native editor, then the cost of translating documents will be low.

To Conclude

When asking themselves, “How much should I charge for translating a document?” the answer given by agencies depends on several things. The primary factors involve the size of the document, which involves the number of pages and words. Besides that, the subject matter of the document can also set the price of the translation charges. Lastly, there is also the factor of the document language that can be instrumental in deciding the cost of translation.