Most pricing articles are written by people who have never delivered a commercial to a paying brand. This one is written by a studio that produces AI commercials for brands like Samsung and Royal Canin — so these are real numbers, not estimates.

The short answer

In 2026, a professionally produced AI commercial costs between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on length, complexity and turnaround:

A 15–30 second social media ad (TikTok, Reels, Meta) typically runs $1,000–$2,500. A 30–60 second full commercial runs $2,000–$6,000. A 1–3 minute brand film or trailer runs $4,000–$10,000. Ongoing monthly retainers for brands that need a steady stream of creative range from $2,500 to $15,000 per month.

Compare that with traditional production, where a single broadcast-quality commercial starts around $30,000 and routinely passes $100,000 once you add crew, location, talent and post — and you understand why CMOs are moving budgets to AI production.

What actually drives the price

Three factors move the number more than anything else. Complexity of the creative — a single product hero shot is cheaper than a multi-scene narrative with consistent characters. Number of deliverables — most brands today order a hero spot plus 5–10 platform cutdowns (9:16, 1:1, 16:9) and A/B variations; AI production makes each additional variation marginal in cost, which is impossible in traditional production. Turnaround — standard delivery is 3–7 days; 24–48 hour rush carries a premium.

What should be included (demand this from any studio)

A serious quote always includes creative strategy and scriptwriting, AI video production, professional voiceover, licensed music and sound design, brand integration, a revision round, multi-format exports and full commercial usage rights. If a studio charges extra for usage rights or “platform versions,” you’re not comparing equal quotes.

When AI production wins — and when it doesn’t

AI commercials win on speed (days, not weeks), testing volume (ten variations for the price of one traditional shoot) and visual ambition — scenes that would be impossible or unaffordable to film. Traditional production still wins when a campaign legally requires real product demonstration footage or live celebrity talent.

The quality gap closed in 2025. Our animated commercial for CatRex passed 1.6 million organic views on TikTok, and our work has been recognized at the Burano AI Film Festival in Venice and shortlisted at London’s Saatchi Gallery — audiences respond to story and craft, not to how the pixels were made.

Get an exact number for your project

Every project is different, and a real quote takes one short conversation, not a calculator widget. Book a free 20-minute Vision Call and you’ll leave with a concrete scope, timeline and price for your commercial — whether you work with us or not.

ArcaneWiz is a premium AI video studio. Clients include Samsung, Royal Canin and Anipet. See our work →