Costs for translations per page - price overview

01. July 2025

How much does a page cost for certified or specialised translations? This is probably the most frequently asked question by clients of our professional translation agency. We use price examples to show you what is important in the answer.

Price factors for translations

The cost of a translation depends on several aspects. The most common are:

The language combination: Common language pairs such as German-English are cheaper, while rare combinations such as German-Japanese are significantly more expensive.
The length of the text: The more words, lines or pages, the higher the total cost.
The degree of difficulty: Specialist texts with legal, technical, pharmaceutical or medical content require specialised knowledge and are therefore more expensive.
The delivery time: Express surcharges range from 25 to 50 per cent, depending on urgency.
The level of quality: Revisions, certifications or additional proofreading increase the price.

These factors often work together. For example, a certified specialised translation in a rare language with a tight time frame can easily cost many times more than a standard translation.

Overview of average costs and minimum charges

Billing types	Average net price (plus VAT)	Characteristics
Per word	€ 0.08 – € 0.28	This billing method is transparent and widespread worldwide, but is mainly used for billing translations with editable continuous text. In addition, the lower price limit mainly applies to texts with larger volumes and many repetitions.
Per standard line (52 characters incl. spaces)	€ 1.35 – € 2.00	When quoting line prices, it must be taken into account that the length of a translation can vary considerably depending on the language combination – translations from German into French can be up to 25% longer.
Per page	€ 45 – € 60	In addition to the number of words, the total length is also relevant. Translation agencies usually base their translation costs per page on 30 standardised lines of 52 characters each. Page prices are therefore usually lower for larger translation jobs.

IMPORTANT: Since even small translation jobs involve a certain amount of time and effort that should not be underestimated, there are minimum charges, as in many other professional fields. At our translation agency these start at € 70 and depend, among other things, on the language combination. This is comparable to the initial consultation fees charged by lawyers, which are € 190 plus VAT, i.e. a total of € 226.10, even if the consultation only lasts half an hour.

Costs based on the type of translation

Before deciding on a quote, it is worth knowing what types of translation are available and what needs to be taken into account. Here is an overview:

Normal translations

Certified translations

Specialist translations

Express translations

Ideal for websites, brochures or internal communication. The costs are at the lower end of the price range.

If you require a translation with legal validity - for example for birth certificates or certificates - there is an additional cost of € 11.90 (gross, i.e. including VAT) for the stamp, signature and official certification.

For complex texts such as contracts, medical reports or technical manuals, the price is between € 0.18 and € 0.40 per word. This is due to the necessary expertise and research effort.

If a translation is required at particularly short notice, an express surcharge of 25-50% can often be added. This flat rate covers, among other things, overtime and the prioritised processing of your order.

As a professional translation agency, we offer you all these services from a single source. We reliably translate and notarise the following documents, among others:

Birth certificates
Diplomas
Marriage certificates
Contracts and legal documents
Divorce decrees
Death certificates
Extracts from the trade register
Driving licenses
Wills
Certificates of good conduct
Reference letters
Bank statements
Extracts from the criminal register
Certificates from insurance companies

From private correspondence to complex business texts - we deliver precise and professional translations.

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Modern technologies as a cost and quality factor

Our translation agency also works with translation memory (TM) systems. This technology saves previously translated text modules and automatically recognises recurring phrases. For you as a customer this has two major advantages:

Noticeable cost benefits: For texts with many repetitions, such as operating manuals, product catalogues or technical handbooks, price reductions of up to 40 % are possible.
Greater consistency: Technical terms and wording are used consistently throughout. This ensures a consistent, professional translation – which is of particular importance for technical, pharmaceutical, legal and medical documents.

This also means that customers not only benefit financially, but receive high-quality results with consistent terminology.

Price comparison of language combinations

The required language combination significantly influences the price per word, standard line or page as well as the availability of qualified translators and the processing time.

Low-cost		Medium price level		Expensive and rare
German-English, German-French, German-Spanish. Thanks to many qualified specialist translators and standardised terminology, prices are usually between € 0.08 and € 0.15 per word.		German-Italian, German-Dutch. Costs start at € 0.12 and can rise to € 0.20 per word, depending on the speciality.		German-Japanese, German-Chinese, or less popular languages such as Icelandic or Georgian. Here prices often start at € 0.20 per word and can go up significantly due to fewer available experts, complex writing systems and time-consuming research.

We offer translations for over 22 language combinations - from all common European languages to complex projects in Asian and other rare languages.

Our Nuremberg translation agency also produces certified translations of birth certificates in numerous other languages

and many more...

Additional services and their costs

In addition to the translation itself, there are often additional services that affect the overall price:

Copyediting/proofreading: Translators usually charge between € 0.04 and € 0.06 per word for a professional review of the text. Ideal for perfecting style, grammar and terminology.
Layout and formatting: Complex documents - such as technical manuals or marketing brochures - incur additional costs due to the high amount of formatting effort involved.
Transcreation and localisation: For creative projects such as slogans, marketing campaigns or apps, the costs can be around 30% higher than for standard translations, as these often require not only literal translation but also cultural adaptation, which takes considerably more time.

Advice and criteria for choosing the right translation agency

When choosing a translation agency, in addition to quality, adherence to deadlines and professional expertise, you should also look for transparent and fair price structures. A reputable language service provider not only impresses with linguistic precision and expertise, but also with openness when it comes to pricing. As translation jobs vary greatly - from short certifications to lengthy specialised texts - it is important to know exactly which services are included in the price and whether minimum charges, additional costs or express surcharges are clearly indicated. Fair prices are not automatically the cheapest, because quality has its price: Experienced specialist translators invest time, expertise and care into every assignment. AP Fachübersetzungen considers fairness to be an integral part of its mission and values with a focus on fair prices, high quality, reliability and respectful and appreciative treatment of customers and employees.

Advice for optimising costs

Clear requests: Specify all details such as text length, language, desired format and any deadlines.
Obtain comparisons: Obtain at least three offers in order to realistically assess market prices.
Take translation memory into account: Intelligent systems can save up to 40 % of translation costs, especially for technical texts with repetitions.
Avoid hidden costs: Make sure that all additional services such as revision, VAT or shipping are clearly listed in quotations.

Important criteria when selecting a translation agency
Type	Description
Qualification	State-certified and sworn translators vouch with their name for a complete and truthful translation.
Certifications:	Our quality assurance is based on the specifications of the recognised quality standard DIN EN ISO 17100.
References	Positive reviews on verified portals and letters of recommendation are a reliable sign of quality.
Transparency	Clear price information and open communication help to avoid misunderstandings and additional costs.

The cost of a translation therefore depends on many factors

Translation prices depend primarily on the language combination, text type, length and urgency. Simple texts start at around € 0.08 per word, while specialised or certified translations are significantly more expensive. With clear agreements, a reputable translation service provider and modern technologies, you can be sure of high-quality results at a fair price. As a professional translation agency, AP Fachübersetzungen realises all these points for you: from precise translations and proofreading to layout adaptations and terminological consistency. Use our contact form and request your non-binding offer.