How much to charge for a TikTok video
TikTok work is short-form video, so the base rate follows the short-form grid — production effort doesn't change because of where a file ends up.
What does change is the rights conversation. TikTok is where whitelisting and spark ads come up most, and where creators most often hand them over for nothing.
Where the base rate lands
Calculated for short video / reel / tiktok (<60s) at average engagement, one revision round, no rush and no exclusivity. These are starting points, not market quotes — adjust for your category, your market, and the value the brand is getting.
| Following | Organic only | Paid, 30 days | Paid, 90 days | Paid, 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5K | $120.00 | $150.00 | $180.00 | $240.00 |
| 25K–100K | $195.00 | $243.75 | $292.50 | $390.00 |
| 100K–500K | $240.00 | $300.00 | $360.00 | $480.00 |
Notice the jump across the columns rather than down the rows: the licence moves the number more than the follower count does.
Price your exact briefWhat's different on TikTok
Spark ads and whitelisting are a separate product
Running paid ads from your handle borrows your identity, not just your footage. It's an uplift on top of ordinary paid usage — never a free extra because "it's the same video".
Hook variants are the currency
TikTok creative fatigues faster than anywhere else, so brands test hooks aggressively. Include two variants in your base and price further ones; it's the most-requested extra on this platform.
Licence terms run shorter
TikTok assets are often licensed for 30 or 90 days rather than a year. That's good for you — short terms mean frequent expiries, and every expiry is a renewal conversation if you tracked the date.
Volume over size
TikTok deals tend to be smaller and more numerous than Instagram or YouTube work, which makes the admin overhead per dollar higher. Bundles and retainers matter more here than anywhere.
Questions
How much should I charge for a TikTok UGC video?
The base follows short-form video pricing — around $120 calculated for a creator under 5,000 followers with organic-only rights, with most beginners quoting $150–$250. Add explicit uplifts for paid usage and again for spark ads or whitelisting.
What should whitelisting cost on TikTok?
It's an addition on top of paid usage, not a replacement for it, because the brand is borrowing your handle as well as your footage. Price it as its own line and always state the term.
Should I charge per hook variant?
Include two in your base rate and price additional ones. It sets the expectation before the brief arrives and turns an unbounded request into a line item.
Put your rates somewhere brands can see them
Save a rate card, publish a media kit, and stop rebuilding the same PDF every time a brand asks what you charge.
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