Summary
- General translation costs $0.12–0.25 or £0.10–0.20 per word.
- Certified documents are usually priced per page.
- Confirm certification requirements with the receiving body first.
- Always use native speakers of the target language.
- Provide a glossary and context to avoid mistranslation.
Quick answer
General translation costs $0.12–0.25 per word in the US and £0.10–0.20 per word in the UK. Technical, legal and medical translation costs more, and certified translation of official documents is usually priced per page at $30–80 or £25–65.
Typical 2026 rates
| Service | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| General translation | $0.12–0.25/word | £0.10–0.20/word |
| Technical / legal / medical | $0.18–0.40/word | £0.15–0.32/word |
| Marketing transcreation | $0.25–0.60/word | £0.20–0.50/word |
| Certified document, per page | $30–80 | £25–65 |
| Minimum charge | $40–90 | £35–75 |
| Proofreading only | $0.04–0.09/word | £0.03–0.07/word |
| Machine translation post-editing | $0.06–0.12/word | £0.05–0.10/word |
| Interpreting, per hour | $60–150 | £45–120 |
| Interpreting, half day | $250–600 | £200–450 |
Rush jobs typically add 25–50%.
Certified and official translation
Requirements differ by country and by receiving institution. Immigration authorities, courts and universities usually require a certified translation with a statement of accuracy, the translator's credentials and sometimes notarisation or an apostille. Ask the receiving body exactly what they require before ordering — paying twice for the wrong format is the most common mistake.
Human, machine or hybrid?
How to check quality without speaking the language
Working well with a translator
Send final text, not drafts — retranslating changes costs more than waiting. Supply reference material, previous translations and any style guide. Allow realistic turnaround: roughly 2,000–2,500 words a day per translator, plus revision time.
Summary
Budget £0.10–0.20 or $0.12–0.25 per word for general translation and more for specialist fields. Confirm exactly what certification the receiving institution needs, insist on native speakers of the target language, and have key pages reviewed by a second pair of eyes.