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FILM BUDGET ESTIMATOR

Film Budget Estimator

Get a realistic budget range for your film project in seconds. Describe your project or import your screenplay. Free top-sheet, full department breakdown with credits.

  • Free budget top-sheet, no account needed
  • Adjusted by country, union status, and format
  • Import screenplay for AI-powered accuracy
  • Department breakdown with plotwell credits

How it works

1Describe your project or import a script
2AI calculates budget ranges per category
3Get full department breakdown in plotwell

Rule of thumb: ~3 script pages per day. Comedies tend to shoot faster; location-heavy dramas slower.

Leads + named supporting: 6-10. Total speaking parts: 15-30.

Frequently asked questions

Is the film budget estimator free?

The top-sheet estimate is free and shown directly in the tool. The full department breakdown (line-by-line costs) uses 5 credits from a free plotwell account.

How accurate is the budget estimate?

The estimate is based on industry-standard rates for the selected country and production type. Importing your actual screenplay or treatment significantly improves accuracy by letting the AI account for specific locations, stunts, VFX, and cast size.

Which countries does the estimator support?

The estimator covers USA, UK, Canada, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, India, and Other. Currency and labor rates are adjusted per region.

What does the full department breakdown include?

The full breakdown gives line-item costs for every production department: above-the-line talent, camera, sound, lighting, art department, costumes, locations, post-production, and more — with low and high rate assumptions for each.

Can I use my script to get a better estimate?

Yes. Expand the "Script or treatment" section and paste your screenplay or import a .fountain or .fdx file. The AI reads your script to estimate locations, cast size, visual effects requirements, and shooting complexity more accurately.

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