Audiobook production is notoriously difficult to estimate upfront. The true cost depends on factors that only reveal themselves once recording begins, from how consistently a narrator delivers takes to how much work the audio needs in post. Word count gives us a starting point, but two manuscripts with identical word counts can require very different amounts of studio time. The estimator below uses industry-standard formulas to get you into the ballpark based on your manuscript length, material complexity, and narrator experience. Treat the result as a working range. We always recommend a 2-hour test session before full production to give you a more accurate final number.