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How much does a commercial cost in 2026?

At Branded, a commercial costs from €4,000 excluding VAT for a 15 to 30-second online ad, from €8,000 for a concept-led spot with actors and several locations, and from €15,000 for a large campaign or TV commercial. Here is what drives the price and how to get more for your budget.

Alexander Partulov, director and producer · 19 October 2026

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Commercial prices by type

The price of a commercial depends above all on scale: how many shoot days it needs, how many people work on it and how many versions you get at the end. That is why we start from three guide levels.

Online ad
from €4,000
A 15 to 30-second ad. One shoot day, one location, up to two actors. Versions in 16:9, 9:16 and 1:1.
Concept-led commercial
from €8,000
Idea and script, casting, up to two shoot days, several locations. Music, voice-over and 6, 15 and 30-second versions.
Large campaign or TV commercial
from €15,000
Several shoot days, a larger crew, set design or effects. Versions for TV and for several markets.

Prices exclude VAT and are a guide only. The exact price depends on the idea, shoot days, cast, locations and post-production. We send a detailed quote within 24 hours.

What drives the cost of a commercial

Two ads of the same length can cost very different amounts. Thirty seconds with one person in a studio and thirty seconds with actors on three locations are completely different productions. These are the things that change the price most:

Shoot days. This is the biggest cost: every day means crew, equipment, a location and cast.
Idea and script. A finished script from your agency, or a concept we develop for you.
Cast and casting. How many actors, their roles, and where and for how long the ad will run.
Locations. A studio, office, shop or outdoor location, filming permits and transport.
Crew and equipment. Director, camera, lighting, sound, make-up, styling, art department; cinema cameras, drone, special rigs.
Post-production. Editing, colour grading, sound, graphics and visual effects.
Music and voice. Licensed or original music and professional voice-over.
Versions. 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 and 4:5 formats and short 6, 15 and 30-second cuts for each platform.

What the price includes

The price covers making the whole ad, from the idea to the finished files: idea and script, pre-production, casting and locations, shoot days, edit, colour, sound and versions for every platform. We work in Bulgarian and English.

TV airtime and paid placement on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok or Facebook are paid separately. That is the budget that puts the ad in front of people, and it is not part of the production.

How long it takes

A short online ad is usually ready 2 to 3 weeks after the idea is approved. A large campaign or TV commercial needs more preparation, so the exact schedule is part of the quote.

The process has four steps: brief and idea, shoot preparation, shoot days, and the edit with your approval.

How to get more for your budget

The biggest difference in price comes from shoot days, so good preparation saves the most.

Shoot several ads in one day. If you are planning a campaign with several spots, one longer shoot day costs less than several separate ones.
Plan the versions up front. When we know from the start that you need vertical and short cuts, we shoot for them all at once.
One strong idea instead of many locations. A clear idea in one location often works better than an expensive production without one.
Give us a clear goal and audience. The sharper the brief, the less time goes into changes.

Example: the Colgate ads

Branded made four short vertical ads for Colgate Optic White Pro Series from “The Science of WOW” campaign, published on Colgate US’s official Instagram. Together they drew over 1.7 million views. The full story is on the project page.

The full case study

How to get an exact quote

Write to us with a few sentences on the ad’s goal, audience, platforms, length, deadline and indicative budget. If you have examples of ads you like, send them too. We reply and send a detailed quote within 24 hours.

Common questions about commercial costs

How much does a 30-second ad cost?

An online ad of up to 30 seconds with one shoot day, one location and up to two actors starts at €4,000 excluding VAT. With a concept, several locations and more actors, it starts at €8,000.

Do the prices include VAT?

No. All prices exclude VAT and are a guide only. The exact price is in the quote.

Is TV airtime included?

No. The price is for making the ad. Airtime and paid social placement are paid separately, to the broadcaster, the media agency or the platform.

Can we start with a smaller budget?

Yes. Tell us your budget and we will suggest what can be done with it: fewer locations, one shoot day or a series of short social clips.

How long does a commercial take?

A short online ad is ready 2 to 3 weeks after the idea is approved. Bigger productions take longer, and the exact schedule is in the quote.

Want an exact price?

Tell us about your project. We send a detailed quote within 24 hours.