What determines translation rates in the UK
Translation rates in the UK are determined by several key factors, including language pair, urgency, translator expertise, volume, and certification requirements. Here's what you should know:
Language pair: Translation between common languages like English, French, and Spanish is cheaper than translation between rare languages. This is because common languages have a higher supply of professional translators. For example, if you want to translate a Spanish death certificate into English, you can expect to pay £25-£40 per page. However, translating an Arabic marriage certificate into Hindi can cost between £30 and £100 per page due to a shortage of translators.
Word Count: Most agencies use the per-page translation pricing structure. However, a page is approximately 200–250 words. Even if your document is on a single sheet of paper but exceeds 250 words, it will cost more. Additionally, for professional translation priced per word, you will pay more for a document with 1000 words than one with 250.
Type of document: The type of document you want to translate will affect your pricing. Personal documents, such as birth certificates, often cost about £30 per page. However, legal or technical documents are more complex and require domain expert translators. This requirement will increase translation costs in the UK to £50 per page or £0.30 per word.
Certification required: Different certifications are required when submitting translations. This often depends on the use case and receiving country. For example, a document intended for the USA requires a certified translation, while one intended for Spain requires a sworn translation. There are also instances where you need notarisation or an apostille. A certified translation of a birth certificate can cost £30 per page, but a sworn translation will cost up to £40 per page.
Formatting: Some documents, like medical records and academic transcripts, have specific formatting and stamps. In some cases, you must translate seals and stamps while maintaining their format, which makes the translation complex. Translators need to spend more time on these types of document translations, which will affect the final cost.
Typical price ranges by document type
In the UK, translation prices range from £0.08 to £0.19 per word for general documents, while certified translations often cost £20–£60 per page. Here's a breakdown of the price range for some documents
Translation costs across different UK regions
Translation costs across different UK regions also vary by agency, demand, and other factors. Here's a breakdown of the price range to expect:
Translayte offers a flat fee across all locations, eliminating pricing discrepancies. Whether you are ordering a birth certificate translation in Birmingham or a marriage certificate in Manchester, you pay a flat fee starting from £24.99 per page. You can also request a free quote to get prices for complex projects without uploading any documents.
Certified vs non-certified translations
A certified translation in the UK includes a formal statement from a qualified translator confirming accuracy and completeness. This statement is accompanied by their signature, credentials, and contact details.
UK authorities, including the Home Office, UKVI, courts, universities, and professional bodies, require certified translations for official purposes such as visa applications, legal proceedings, and academic enrolment. This certification adds £10 - £30 per document as a flat fee, or £5 - £15 per page, depending on the provider and document complexity.
Non-certified translations do not need formal statements or certification. It's used for business documents and other non-official processes. These types of translation are also cheaper and priced per word. Only certified translations carry legal weight and are accepted as official in the UK.
At Translayte, we offer both certified and professional translation in the UK, with pricing starting from £24.99 per page and £0.10 per word. You can request a quote for your project's translation costs without uploading any documents.
How urgency & add-ons affect cost
Turnaround time significantly impacts translation costs. For example, the standard delivery for most UK translation companies is usually 3 - 5 working days for standard documents. However, when you request express services with a 24-hour turnaround, a 25–50% surcharge applies. In some cases, same-day or emergency services can double the standard cost.
If you are requesting additional services, such as notarisation, you should expect to pay £5–£20 per document. Apostille certification for international use costs £30-£75 through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. But if it has complex formatting that must match original layouts, you can expect to pay an additional £20 - £50, depending on complexity. Lastly, physical shipping or courier delivery adds postal costs.
Note: Translayte has a standard delivery timeline of 12 - 24 hours for standard documents. You can also request expedited translation services for same-day delivery.
How to get the best value for your translation budget
Compare quotes from multiple providers, but evaluate certifications, reviews, and acceptance guarantees rather than focusing only on price.
Get certified & transparent quotes from Translayte
Don't let unclear pricing hold back your important applications or submissions. Translayte provides certified translations accepted by UK authorities, with transparent rates, flexible turnaround options, and professional quality guaranteed. Our online ordering system makes getting your documents translated simple and stress-free, with upfront pricing and no hidden fees.
