How Much Does Proofreading Cost? (Freelancer vs. Company)

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If you need a proofreader to polish your prose, you may wonder how much proofreading costs and why the rates vary. As a trained proofreader, I can help you identify reasonable proofreading costs and understand the factors that cause base rates to increase.

On average, proofreading costs 1–3 cents per word if you hire a freelance proofreader and 3–6 cents per word if you hire an online proofreading service. However, you will need to pay more if you have a tight turnaround time, a technical document, or a poorly written text.

Let’s see how much proofreading costs depending on whether you hire a freelancer or a business. We’ll also discover why fees vary considerably and how to get the most value for your money.

How Much Does Proofreading Cost?

Before we begin, it’s important to understand the distinction between proofreading and editing. Editing comes before proofreading, and editing is much more expensive.

Briefly, proofreading involves identifying and fixing errors and inconsistencies in five principal areas: grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and formatting.

I penned a post about proofreading if you’d like to know more about what occurs during this critical step in the editorial process.

As mentioned, proofreading typically costs between 1–6 cents ($0.01–$0.06) per word, although rates can be higher depending on variables we’ll soon consider.

Some freelance proofreaders charge by the hour or page, but most charge by the word.

Online proofreading services charge by the word.

Later, we’ll see the cost of proofreading if you pay a freelancer by the hour, but for comparison’s sake, let’s focus on the price per word for now.

We’ll look at how much it would cost to proofread 1,000 words at various rates.

But first, let’s get an idea of how many pages we’re talking about with specific word counts.

In the publishing industry, one page equals 250 words.

Number of Pages according to Word Count

Number of Words	Number of Pages
250	1
1,000	4
2,000	8
3,000	12
4,000	16
5,000	20
10,000	40
50,000	200
100,000	400

Okay, now let’s see what you’d need to pay for proofreading a 1,000-word document at various rates.

Cost to Proofread a 1,000-Word Document Based on Different Rates

Price per Word	Price for 1,000 Words
$0.01	$10
$0.02	$20
$0.03	$30
$0.04	$40
$0.05	$50
$0.06	$60
$0.07	$70
$0.08	$80
$0.09	$90
$0.1	$100

Next, let’s find out how much it would cost to proofread texts of various word counts at a fixed rate.

Since most freelance proofreaders charge toward the lower end of the price range mentioned, we’ll see how much it would cost for documents with various word counts at $0.01 and $0.02 per word.

Cost to Proofread Various Word Counts at $0.01 per Word

Number of Words	Cost
250	$2.50
1,000	$10
2,000	$20
3,000	$30
4,000	$40
5,000	$50
10,000	$100
50,000	$500
100,000	$1,000

Cost to Proofread Various Word Counts at $0.02 per Word

Number of Words	Cost
250	$5
1,000	$20
2,000	$40
3,000	$60
4,000	$80
5,000	$100
10,000	$200
50,000	$1,000
100,000	$2,000

Finally, let’s see how much it would cost to proofread your document if you hired an online proofreading company, and they charged $0.04 per word.

Cost to Proofread Various Word Counts at $0.04 per Word

Number of Words	Cost
250	$10
1,000	$40
2,000	$80
3,000	$120
4,000	$160
5,000	$200
10,000	$400
50,000	$2,000
100,000	$4,000

Now, let’s figure out why proofreading rates fluctuate so darn much!

Factors that Affect Average Proofreading Rates

The following factors can influence the base rate charged for proofreading:

• turnaround time
• type of document
• quality of writing
• training and experience of proofreader

The Turnaround Time for Your Document

The turnaround time (TAT) for your text is the factor that usually causes the most significant price changes.

If you have a tight TAT, expect to pay a premium.

While freelance proofreaders charge more for a fast TAT, online proofreading companies charge an exorbitant fee. Be ready for sticker shock!

Let’s see an example of how much TATs influence the price you pay for proofreading services if you hire an online company.

Here’s an example of a few TATs offered by Proofreading Pal—a reputable online proofreading business.

Proofreading Pal’s Price for 1,000 Words according to TAT

TAT	Rate per Word	Cost
7 days	$0.027	$27
24 hours	$0.044	$44
90 minutes	$0.149	$149

If you need your text back in 90 minutes, you’ll pay over five times as much as you would if you needed it back in seven days. What a whopping difference!

Also, if you hire a freelancer, you may need to pay more if they’re required to work on the weekend or on a holiday to get your document back by the deadline. However, this typically isn’t a factor with online proofreading services.

The Type of Document You Need Proofread

Another element to consider is the genre of your writing. Some kinds of texts are more straightforward to proofread than others. For example, it’s easier to polish a children’s book than a master’s thesis on language acquisition.

Also, business documents generally command a higher rate than most other types of writing.

But what genres command the highest proofreading rates?

Medical documents and those in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field are usually the most expensive genres to proofread due to the knowledge required to work with them.

You’ll pay a higher rate whenever the proofreader needs specialized knowledge.

The Quality of Writing within Your Text

I’ve proofread nearly error-free documents and ones riddled with blunders.

It takes much more time to proofread writing filled with mistakes than to tidy up a relatively clean text.

Most freelance proofreaders will want to see the document they’ll be working on before establishing a price. This way, they can charge a fair fee that factors in how long they’ll need to spend getting your text into tip-top shape.

Also, if your writing contains errors beyond the scope of what proofreading fixes, the proofreader will probably recommend you have your text copyedited or even edited.

The Training and Experience of the Proofreader You Hire

If you hire a freelancer, you’ll find considerable variation between proofreaders’ experience levels, quality of training, and educational backgrounds.

These differences are why average rates vary significantly from one freelancer to the next.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Freelance Proofreader?

As we’ve seen, costs differ between freelancers, but most trained proofreaders charge $0.01–$0.03 per word, with most proofreaders sticking to the lower end of this range.

Proofreaders on Freelance Platforms Tend to Charge Low Fees

Although exceptions exist, proofreaders working on freelance marketplaces (e.g., Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer) tend to charge less than those who own their own proofreading business.

If you’re looking for the most inexpensive services available, you can find them on a freelance platform called Fiverr.

You can discover proofreaders on Fiverr who charge incredibly low prices, but you may be disappointed with the quality of their work. It’s a safer bet to search the platform for someone who charges a rate within the usual range and has been highly rated by previous clients.

Upwork is another popular platform for finding proofreaders.

I wrote an article about finding affordable, high-quality proofreading services on Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer. This article explains how these platforms work and shows you how to select a good proofreader based on the platform.

Proofreaders with Their Own Company Tend to Charge More

Although great proofreaders can be found on freelance platforms, some of the best proofreaders with the highest level of training have their own businesses.

These proofreaders usually charge higher fees than those on freelance marketplaces.

Their websites explain what they offer, and most provide information about fees. Also, the sites usually display client testimonials that highlight their skills.

You can find these proofreaders by searching on Google and by looking through member directories of respected editorial organizations, like the ones I’ll mention soon.

How Do Freelance Proofreaders Determine Their Rates?

Freelance proofreaders establish prices by looking at the rates recommended by well-established proofreading and editing organizations worldwide. Here are three of the most reputable associations:

1. The Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), based in the UK
2. The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), based in the US
3. The Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers (AFEPI), based in Ireland

All these associations have recommendations for hourly rates, so we’ll look at those first. Then, we’ll glance at a chart published by the EFA that includes price-per-word rates.

How Much Does Proofreading Cost per Hour?

Here are the minimum hourly rates suggested for professional proofreaders who have received formal training and have at least some experience.

Recommended Minimum Hourly Proofreading Rates

Editorial Organization	Minimum Recommended Rate (per Hour)
Editorial Freelancers Association	$35*
The Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading	$38**
The Association of Freelance Editors, Proofreaders and Indexers	$35**

I wrote an article about how much time proofreading takes and the factors that influence a proofreader’s speed if you’d like to know more.

How Much Does Proofreading Cost per Word?

As we’ve seen, freelance proofreaders who’ve received adequate training ordinarily charge $0.01–$0.03 per word.

However, we know rates fluctuate for a variety of reasons. Here’s a chart from the EFA that will give you an idea of how much proofreading costs per word.

Again, it’s important to note that the EFA hasn’t recommended these rates; they’re based on a 2023 survey given to EFA members.

However, the rates align with those put out by the CIEP and AFEPI.

2024 Median Proofreading Rates from the EFA

Type of Text	Per Word	Per Hour	Per Page	Pages/ Hr
Academic, humanities (student)	2.0¢–4.0¢	$40.00–$50.00	$5.00–$10.00	7.0–10.0
Academic, humanities (faculty, publication)	2.0¢–3.4¢	$40.00–$50.00	$5.00–$8.53	7.0–10.0
Academic, STEM (student)	3.0¢–5.0¢	$42.50–$55.00	$7.50–$12.50	6.0–10.0
Academic, STEM (faculty, publication)	3.0¢–5.0¢	$40.00–$50.00	$7.50–$12.50	6.0–10.0
Academic, other	2.0¢–4.1¢	$41.50–$55.00	$5.00–$10.25	6.0–10.5
Business/ marketing	2.0¢–4.0¢	$45.00–$57.50	$5.00–$10.00	7.0–10.0
Fiction	1.2¢–2.0¢	$35.00–$45.00	$3.00–$5.00	8.0–14.0
Graphic novels	1.5¢–2.8¢	$35.00–$40.00	$3.75–$6.88	9.5–17.5
Legal	2.0¢–3.8¢	$40.00–$51.00	$5.00–$9.38	6.0–10.0
Medical	5.0¢–5.0¢	$45.00–$60.00	$12.50–$12.50	6.0–10.0
Medicolegal	n/a–n/a	$37.50–$65.00	n/a–n/a	n/a–n/a
Memoirs	2.0¢–2.5¢	$35.00–$47.50	$5.00–$6.25	8.0–12.0
Nonfiction	2.0¢–3.0¢	$40.00–$50.00	$5.00–$7.50	7.0–11.0
Technical	2.5¢–4.0¢	$45.00–$57.00	$6.25–$10.00	6.0–10.0
Other	2.0¢–3.3¢	$36.00–$51.00	$5.00–$8.28	6.5–10.0

Source: The Editorial Freelancers Association

The chart above makes it easy to see how much rates vary based on the type of document (business, medical, etc.).

How Much Does Proofreading Cost per Page?

Occasionally, proofreaders like to charge by the page. As mentioned, this isn’t as popular as charging by the word or hour.

But let’s take a brief look at charging by the page based on different rates, in case you’re curious.

Cost per Page according to Different Rates

Per Word Rate	Cost per 250-Word Page
$0.01	$2.50
$0.02	$5.00
$0.03	$7.50

How to Get Your Money’s Worth with a Freelance Proofreader

If you hire a proofreader from a freelance platform, the ratings they’ve received from previous clients are the best indicators of their future performance. But remember that those ratings are relative to the price they charge for services.

As we know, we get what we pay for.

You can also look at a proofreader’s profile to learn more about their background and training. Ideally, you want to hire someone who has received training from a reputable business or editorial organization.

I talk about credible companies and organizations in my post about how to hire a proofreader if you’d like to learn more.

Finally, if you have a lengthy text (e.g., book manuscript, screenplay), you can ask the proofreader for a sample edit.

Most proofreaders charge for this edit, which involves polishing a small section of writing from the middle of your document.

The sample edit has a dual purpose: it enables you to see if you’ll be satisfied with the proofreader’s work, and it allows the proofreader to determine how much work your writing needs so they can establish a fair price.

How Much Do Online Proofreading Services Cost?

Online services differ in what they provide in their “proofreading” service, so make sure to read the service description to know exactly what you’re paying for.

Many companies offer a combination of editing and proofreading for one price.

However, some companies let you pay for proofreading and editing separately.

On average, proofreading businesses charge 3–6 cents per word.

Let’s see a few examples of prices from online proofreading services based on 12-hour and 48-hour TATs.

Online Proofreading Company Rates (per Word) Based on TAT

Company	12-hour TAT	48-hour TAT
Proofreading Pal	$0.049 (10 hours)	$0.034
Proofed	$0.06	N/A
Scribendi	$0.053*	$0.041
Paper Blazer	N/A	$0.03 (72 hours)

I was curious about the highest rate you could pay using one of the four services above, so I researched it. The highest price comes from Proofreading Pal since they offer a lightning-fast 30–60-minute TAT.

And how much does it cost if you want your document back from Proofreading Pal in an hour or less? The rate is $0.21 per word. That means you’d pay $52.50 per 250-word page. Yes, that’s a very pretty penny!

Proofreading Pal offers Superman-like speed, but they’re not miracle workers. 😉 Their 30–60-minute TAT is available only if you have a text of 800 words or fewer.

Proofreading businesses that provide tight TATs establish word limits to ensure they have enough time to polish your writing to a high standard.

How to Get the Most Value from a Proofreading Company

I think we can conclude from that last point that getting your text to the proofreading company ASAP is the best way to obtain optimal value for your money.

Also, many companies offer a free sample edit, so be sure to take advantage of it.

Finally, to get the best value, you need to know how these companies stack up against one another. But that research would take countless hours, and it’s probably not your idea of fun.

No worries! I’ve researched over 70 proofreading and editing companies and put together articles based on what you’re looking for. 😊

If you’re looking for speed, I authored an article about the fastest proofreading and editing businesses.

If you have an academic document, I published a post about the top academic proofreading services.

Finally, if you have a book manuscript, I created content about the best services to whip your book manuscript into shape.

Choosing a Freelance Proofreader vs. a Proofreading Business

Now we’ll go over the pros and cons of hiring a freelance proofreader vs. a proofreading company so you can see which option best meets your needs.

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Freelance Proofreader

Pros of Hiring a Freelance Proofreader

• much less expensive than services from an online proofreading company
• having a fast turnaround time will cost more (but not too much more)
• easier to develop an ongoing business relationship with a freelancer

Cons of Hiring a Freelance Proofreader

• the quality of work varies from one freelancer to the next
• you’ll have to wait longer to get a price quote
• you may not have recourse if you’re unsatisfied with their work

Top-Notch Takeaway

Hire a freelance proofreader if price is your primary concern and you’re willing to spend a little time finding a qualified and responsible freelancer.

Pros and Cons of Hiring an Online Proofreading Company

Pros of Hiring an Online Proofreading Company

• high quality is almost guaranteed due to strict vetting of proofreaders
• many companies offer instantaneous price quotes
• greater possibility of recourse if you’re not satisfied

Cons of Hiring an Online Proofreading Company

• much more expensive than hiring a freelancer
• you have to pay high premiums for tight turnaround times
• difficult to develop a business relationship with an individual proofreader

Top-Notch Takeaway

Use a proofreading company if you don’t have time to find a qualified proofreader and are willing to pay considerably more to guarantee top-quality results.

I hope this article has given you a clear picture of how much proofreading costs depending on whether you hire a freelancer or an online proofreading service. And, hopefully, it has helped to unravel the mystery of why proofreading rates vary.

Best wishes to you!

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

– J.M. Barrie