When you want to have something translated, it often helps to have an idea of the price of the translation in advance. You might think this is a simple calculation: price per word multiplied by the number of words. But in reality, the price depends on several factors. No translation is the same. Various aspects come into play, and quality isn't always the most important factor.

To start with a simple example: you want to have a Word document translated. You request a few quotes. The price of the translation is often per word; therefore, these quotes will be similar. You approach the translator who you think fits best and agree on a delivery date. Once you receive the translation, you review it yourself and use it for its intended purpose. This is the simplest translation process.

However, it gets more complicated when the translation needs further processing, for example with a flyer or brochure. In that case, a graphic designer is also needed. Or you want to translate a website or app. Then someone needs to take care of the technical side. Or you have so much to translate that you need more than one translator. In this case, how do you make sure the quality and terminology are consistent?

When it gets complex, it often helps to engage a translation agency. Such a agency has a large database of translators and often has experience with your translation request. An additional advantage is that a translation agency can also take care of other steps of the process, such as the lay-out or inserting the translation into HTML. However, this does make your translation more expensive.

Translation price for English

When looking at the price of a translation from English to Dutch, it's important to know that Englis to Dutch is a common language combination. Therefore, it won't be difficult to find a translator. A common price for English-Dutch translations is 10 cents per word. This is excluding VAT.

For this price, a translator will use all their skills and reference materials to deliver the best possible translation. If you have found a good translator, you will get a good translation. But this does mean are you done?

What is ISO 17100:2015?

Language is subjective. Therefore, the quality of a translation cannot be objectively measured. There is an international standard that aims to guarantee the quality of translations: ISO 17100:2015. However, this standard does not define what constitutes a qualitatively good translation. Instead, it outlines what the translation process should look like to achieve a translation of good quality.

One of the requirements of ISO 17100:2015 is that a second translator checks the work of the first translator. This has several advantages and leads to a higher quality text. However, this second translator also needs to be paid. This amount will be lower than what the first translator receives because checking takes less time. Often an hourly rate is charged for this, and usually, a fixed number of hours is offered based on the number of words and the complexity of the text.

Saving costs with post-editing

One way to save costs on translating a text is by having an algorithm make the initial translation. In that case, the translator corrects the translation made by the algorithm. And also in this translation process a second translator will check the work of the first translator. Major players in this market are RWS with Language Weaver and DeepL from the German company DeepL SE. Tech giants like Google and Amazon also offer machine translations. You could add ChatGTP from OpenAI to this list, although some caveats should be considered.

The rates per word for post-editing, or MTPE (Machine Translation Post-Editing), are lower because the translator will spend less time translating a text. However, the text must be suitable for MTPE. If a text is less suitable, the translator often has to translate again, which means sometimes even spending more time than without the algorithm. Therefore, carefully consider beforehand whether MTPE is an option.

The price of a translation

The price of a translation can be broken down into several components, depending on what you need. In principle, it comes down to the price per word for the translator plus the hourly rate of the second translator. Everything else you need comes on top of that. For example, a graphic designer or programmer, or a review by a specialist, such as a lawyer or doctor who evaluates the translation for accuracy. Sometimes an extra round of proofreading is desired, such as for printing, and an extra proofreader is specifically hired for that purpose. And if you engage a translation agency, you also pay for the account manager and other services you take from them.

The costs of cheap translations

There are players in the translation market who deliver translations as cheaply as possible. In the short term, you may benefit from this. You pay less for a reasonable to good translation. However, in the long term, this is harmful. Among translators, the following expression is often used: "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys." What this means is that if you pay poorly, you'll get a translation that looks like it's been made by a monkey.

The quality of a translation is determined by three factors: the skill and concentration of the translator and the available time. If one or more of these factors are lower, it will have a negative impact on the quality of the translation.

For example, if the deadline is very tight, the translator will work hastily, and the chances of typos and other errors increase. Therefore, especially with a tight deadline, work with one or more proofreaders.

If a translator is less experienced, the chances of errors due to ignorance are higher. In that case, let a translator with a lot of experience in that field check the translation and communicate the improvements to the less experienced translator.

Finally, a less concentrated translator will deliver lower quality work. For example, a translator may be distracted because they happen to be very busy during that period. But also, a too low fee is demotivating and can result in getting a professional translator who, often unconsciously, delivers a translation with a quality that corresponds to the amount offered. In short, it is better not to pay too little for a translation, especially if you want to work with a certain translator more often.

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