In 2026 a beginner beauty UGC creator charges $150–$250 per video, an experienced one $300–$600, and specialists with proven ad results $600–$1,500+. Paid usage rights add 30–50% per 30 days, exclusivity adds 20–30%, and rush delivery adds 50%. Price the deliverable, not your follower count.
Every week someone DMs me the same panicked message: “A brand just asked for my rates, what do I say??” I remember that feeling, because my first answer was $150 said in a hurry. So here’s the answer I give now, with the actual numbers I use in 2026 for beauty and wellness brands, and the formula so you never have to guess in a panic again.
The 2026 rate ranges
These are per finished vertical video (15–60 seconds), edited with captions, for organic use on the brand’s channels. Ranges reflect what US-based beauty brands are paying right now, from indie skincare to retail brands.
| Level | Per video | Who this is |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner (0–5 paid deals) | $150 – $250 | Clean footage, decent lighting, learning to hook |
| Experienced (portfolio + repeat clients) | $300 – $600 | Consistent style, understands briefs, reliable |
| Specialist (proven ad performance) | $600 – $1,500+ | Brands hire you because your videos convert in paid |
Bundles are cheaper per video. A typical 3-video bundle is priced at roughly 2.6× a single video, which is why brands like it and why you should offer it.
What moves the price up
The base rate is only the beginning. Most of the money in UGC is in the add-ons, and beginners lose thousands by not charging for them.
Paid usage rights. If the brand wants to run your video as an ad, charge extra. The standard in 2026 is +30% to +50% of the video price per 30 days of paid usage. Perpetual paid usage should be at least 3–4× the base rate. Do not give it away (I did once, here’s what it cost me).
Whitelisting / Spark Ads. The brand runs ads from your account. That is your face and your handle on their ad, so it is priced separately: $150–$400 per 30 days is the norm.
Exclusivity. If you cannot work with competing brands for a period, add 20–30% per month of exclusivity. Category exclusivity for a year on a $300 video is not a $300 deal.
Rush delivery. 48-hour turnaround: +50%. Same-day: double.
Raw footage. Handing over unedited clips lets the brand recut forever. Charge 25–50% of the video price.
Extra hooks. Brands testing ads want the same video with 3 different first lines. $50–$100 per hook variation.
Photos. A set of 5 lifestyle stills alongside the video: $100–$200.
The formula I use to quote
Instead of guessing, I price every deal the same way:
Quote = (Base × Videos × Bundle discount) + Usage + Exclusivity + Rush + Extras
A real example from my inbox: skincare brand, 3 videos, wants to run them as ads for 2 months, needs them in a week.
- Base $350 × 3 videos × 0.87 bundle factor = $913
- Paid usage 2 × 30 days at +40% of the $913 = $730
- Rush within a week: not quite 48h, I charge +25% = $228
Total: roughly $1,870. That same brief priced by a beginner at “$150 a video, usage included” would be $450. The brand would have paid either number.
Mistakes that keep rates low
- Quoting by follower count. UGC is not influencer marketing. The brand posts it, not you. Price the work.
- Including paid usage “to be nice”. Ads are where the brand makes money from your video. That is exactly where you charge.
- No rate card. If you build the number live in the email, you will undercharge. Write a rate card once, send it every time. Download my template if you want a head start.
- Not asking where the video will run. “Where will this be used?” is the single most profitable question in UGC.
What brands think is fair
I have sat on the other side of this too, reading creator quotes as the brand contact. Brands expect to pay for usage. Brands expect bundles. Brands do not expect a beginner to charge $600, but they also do not respect $50. A confident, itemized quote in the ranges above gets accepted far more often than a low number with no structure.
Rates change. I update this page every quarter with what I am seeing in my own deals and in the replies from brands I pitch.
Frequently asked
How much should a beginner charge for UGC videos?
Start at $150–$200 per finished vertical video for organic use. That is enough to be taken seriously, and you can raise it after your first three to five paid projects.
Do UGC creators need followers to get paid?
No. UGC is sold to the brand for its own channels and ads, so your follower count is irrelevant. What matters is how your videos look and whether they convert.
What are usage rights in UGC?
Usage rights define where and for how long a brand can use your video. Organic use (their own social accounts) is usually included. Paid use (running it as an ad) is charged extra, typically per 30 days.
Should I charge for the product?
No. The product is a cost of doing business for the brand. Never accept 'free product' as full payment for a deliverable that will run on the brand's channels or in ads.
NYC beauty UGC creator. I make product videos for skincare, makeup and wellness brands, and I write about how the business side actually works.
More about me →