Video editor invoice template
A worked example for video editors in the creative and media category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A video editor invoice should show a unique invoice number, your name and address, the client's details, the date, each item of work with its price, and the total due. Video editors typically allow 30 days to pay. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example video editor invoice
Dated 1 October 2026 with 30 day terms. Names and prices are fictional.
Invoice
INV-0042
From
L. Campbell
Video editor
21 Harbour View
Plymouth
PL1 6HJ
Bill to
Northgate Dental Ltd
Unit 4, Riverside Park
Leeds
LS10 1RW
- Invoice date
- 1 October 2026
- Due date
- 31 October 2026
- Terms
- 30 days
- Reference
- Video editor work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit: 12 minute YouTube episode, from 3 hours of footage, including captions | 1 episode | £380.00 | 20% | £380.00 |
| Short-form cuts, vertical, 60 seconds | 4 cuts | £65.00 | 20% | £260.00 |
| Motion graphics title sequence | 1 fixed | £240.00 | 20% | £240.00 |
| Additional revision round beyond 2 included | 2 hours | £55.00 | 20% | £110.00 |
- Subtotal
- £990.00
- VAT at 20%
- £198.00
- Total
- £1,188.00
Typical rates for video editors
Guide figures for 2026. Rates vary by region and experience; the VAT figures come from the 2026-27 tax year data.
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Typical hourly rate | £35 to £75 |
| Typical day rate | £280 to £550 |
| Payment terms | 30 days |
| Deposit | Not usually taken |
| VAT flat rate sector | Film, radio, television or video production (13%) |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 taxable turnover in 12 months |
How do video editors usually invoice?
Video editors invoice per finished video or per day, with monthly retainers common for YouTube channels and agencies that need a set number of episodes. The invoice states the finished length, the footage ratio and the number of revision rounds included, because unlimited revisions are where editing jobs lose money. Remote work for overseas clients is common, which brings place of supply rules into play once VAT registered.
Video editors in this example give the customer 30 days to pay. Hourly rates run from £35 to £75. A full day is typically £280 to £550.
What should a video editor put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, video editors should:
- Price per finished minute or per video and state what footage volume and revisions are included.
- Charge revisions beyond the included rounds by the hour, and show them as a line.
- For retainers, state the number of videos covered in the month and the rollover rule for unused ones.
- Note the delivery format and resolution so the deliverable is defined.
Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:
- a unique, sequential invoice number
- your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
- the client’s name and address
- the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
- a clear description of each item of work or goods
- the amount due and when it must be paid
- your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered
Do video editors charge VAT?
You only charge VAT once registered, which is compulsory when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Below that, show no VAT line and no VAT number. Once registered, this work is standard rated at 20%, including work for clients outside the UK in some cases, so check the place of supply rules for overseas clients.
On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for video editors is usually “Film, radio, television or video production” at 13% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.
Source: GOV.UK: Invoicing and taking payment from customers; GOV.UK: VAT Flat Rate Scheme, how much you pay. Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
- How do video editors charge?
- Per video, per finished minute or per day. A 10 to 15 minute YouTube edit with captions is typically £250 to £500 in 2026, short-form cuts £40 to £100 each and day rates £280 to £550. Retainers for four videos a month run from £1,000 to £2,000.
- Do video editors charge VAT to overseas clients?
- If you are VAT registered, editing for a business customer outside the UK is generally outside the scope of UK VAT under the place of supply rules, so no VAT is charged and the invoice should say so. UK business clients are charged 20%. Below the £90,000 threshold none of this applies.
- Should an editor use a retainer?
- Yes for regular channels or agencies: invoice a fixed monthly fee in advance for an agreed number of videos. It smooths income and gives the client a predictable cost. Put the month, the included videos and the rollover rule on each invoice.
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Cite this page: “Video editor invoice template (free UK example)”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/video-editor