How Much Does an Editor Cost?

The cost of professional editing varies widely, and is affected by things such as the level of experience an editor has, how in demand they are, and where they are located. However, as with all things in this world, you get what you pay for.

Rates for Professional Editing Services

As a guideline, you should expect to pay at least $12 per 1,000 words for proofreading, $25 per 1,000 words for copy editing, and $70 per 1,000 words for content editing or rewriting. As the word count increases, many editing services will charge a lower rate per word. This is only a guide, but it is worth knowing what sort of price you will be expected to pay. A few online editing services charge the following prices for 5,000 words and a 1-day turnaround as of 2023: Scribbr - $355; Scribendi - $223; ProofreadingServices.com - $190; PaperTrue - $185; Editor World - $170. Choose your expert editor today and get started. 

Prices for editing a dissertation with 80,000 words vary from $1,680 to $2,800. For more details on dissertation editing costs, see How Much Does Dissertation Editing Cost?

Some editors charge per word, other editors charge per thousand words, and others charge by the hour. It is important that you check how the editor you choose sets prices so that you can be clear on what the cost will be before you get started. 

You may find an editor who is happy to edit your 50,000-word book for just $100, but how can you be sure they will edit your book properly for that figure? In short, you can't. However, if you research the editor you are looking to use, check any testimonials they have from previous work they have done, and look at their qualifications and experience, you can assure yourself that they are likely to work hard on your book. For a book of 50,000 words, for example, you should expect to pay at least $1,100 for editing services.

The price you pay for editing services is also affected by the level of editing you require. Content editing, or substantive editing (also referred to as rewriting), will be the most expensive, and copy editing will cost more than the final stage of proofreading. This is due to the level of work involved in these processes.

Having your document edited means your work will be in the best state it can be, so it is important to make use of professional editing services. If your essay, article, or book is full of spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and grammatical mistakes, it will not be taken seriously. After all, first impressions count.

Due to the above, it is worth spending money to ensure your document is as perfect as it can be. You took the time to write the document, so you want to be certain that it reaches its intended audience in the best way possible. Researching editors to help you choose the best one for your work is very important.

If you need a long document edited very quickly, you should expect to pay a higher price. If time is not as issue, then the price will be lower. This is because an editor who is expected to turn your work around very quickly will not be able to take breaks or take on any other work. All these things should be kept in mind when considering the price for editing services.

In conclusion, the price of professional editing services varies widely. Your timeline and the length of document you need edited are the main factors that will affect the price. The stage of your document and the type of editing required is another factor. Editing and proofreading are essential activities for every document.

About Editor World’s Prices for Editing & Proofreading Services

Editor World offers professional document editing services at affordable prices. We serve as your on-demand, personal editing team. As of November 2023, the cost to edit a document with 300 words is $8.40 for a 3-day turnaround. Have your 300-word edited document returned in 2 hours for $17.40. Learn more about professional document editing costs as well as prices for writing services and rewriting or paraphrasing services using our Instant Price Calculator. Editor World is also available for academic editing, dissertation editing, thesis proofreading, and so much more!

Get a free quote for your writing, rewriting, or editing needs using our instant price calculator.