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Freelance editors charge by the hour, by the word or by the project. The EFA 2026 Rate Chart shows median ranges from $35 to $45 an hour for fiction proofreading up to $52.50 to $70 for fiction developmental editing.
The deeper the edit, the higher the rate. Here’s what each type of editing costs, what a full book edit adds up to and how to hire an editor.
Key takeaways
- Per word: EFA medians range from 1.2 to 2.0 cents (fiction proofreading) to 4.5 to 6.0 cents (business developmental editing).
- Per hour: most EFA medians fall between $35 and $75, depending on edit type and genre.
- On Upwork: editors typically cost $15 to $40 an hour, and a full book edit $1,500 to $5,000.
- Know the level: developmental, line, copyediting and proofreading are different jobs with different prices.
- Hire on proof. When I hire freelancers, ratings, recent reviews and past work drive about 80% of my decision.
How much do freelance editors charge per hour?
The Editorial Freelancers Association surveyed 1,100+ members about their 2025 rates. These are its 2026 median hourly ranges:
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Type of editing | Fiction | Nonfiction | Business and marketing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proofreading | $35 to $45 | $40 to $55 | $45 to $60 |
| Copyediting | $40 to $50 | $45 to $60 | $50 to $60 |
| Line editing | $50 to $60 | $50 to $65 | $55 to $75 |
| Developmental editing | $52.50 to $70 | $57.50 to $70 | $60 to $75 |
The EFA doesn’t set rates. Treat these as typical medians, and expect specialists and rush jobs to cost more.
What are typical editing rates per word?
Per-word pricing makes quotes easy to compare. Here are the EFA 2026 median ranges in cents per word:
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Type of editing | Fiction | Nonfiction | Per 1,000 words (fiction) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proofreading | 1.2 to 2.0¢ | 2.0 to 3.0¢ | $12 to $20 |
| Copyediting | 2.0 to 2.7¢ | 3.0 to 4.0¢ | $20 to $27 |
| Line editing | 2.7 to 3.5¢ | 3.5 to 5.0¢ | $27 to $35 |
| Developmental editing | 3.0 to 3.5¢ | 4.0 to 5.0¢ | $30 to $35 |
To get a per-1,000-word price, multiply the cents by 10. The EFA counts a page as 250 words, so fiction copyediting works out to $5.00 to $6.75 a page.
What are developmental editing rates?
Developmental editing deals with content, organization and genre. The EFA notes it’s also called substantive, structural or content editing.
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Genre (EFA 2026 medians) | Per word | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Fiction | 3.0 to 3.5¢ | $52.50 to $70 |
| Nonfiction | 4.0 to 5.0¢ | $57.50 to $70 |
| Memoir | 3.5 to 4.5¢ | $60 to $75 |
| Business and marketing | 4.5 to 6.0¢ | $60 to $75 |
| Academic humanities (student) | 4.0 to 6.0¢ | $55 to $75 |
Not ready for a full edit? The EFA lists a manuscript assessment at 1.5 to 1.8 cents a word, with a $600 project median.
How much does it cost to edit a book?
Multiply the word count by the per-word rate. For an 80,000-word novel (example length), the EFA fiction medians work out to:
- Developmental edit: $2,400 to $2,800 (3.0 to 3.5¢)
- Line edit: $2,160 to $2,800 (2.7 to 3.5¢)
- Copyedit: $1,600 to $2,160 (2.0 to 2.7¢)
- Proofread: $960 to $1,600 (1.2 to 2.0¢)
On Upwork, a full book or manuscript edit typically runs $1,500 to $5,000. Still drafting? See how to start writing a book.
What do editors charge on Upwork?
These are Upwork’s own published ranges:
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| Service on Upwork | Typical hourly (median) | By experience |
|---|---|---|
| Editors | $15 to $40 | Varies by type and length |
| Copy editors | $20 to $40 | $30 / $48 / $100 (beginner / intermediate / advanced) |
| Proofreaders | $18 to $35 | $20 / $30 / $60 (beginner / intermediate / advanced) |
Per project, Upwork lists $100 to $300 for a proofreading pass (up to about 5,000 words) and $900 to $2,500 for developmental or line editing.
Which type of editing do you need?
Pick the level that matches your draft. These are the EFA definitions in plain English:
Developmental editing
Feedback on content, organization and genre, often as a written critique. Best for an early draft.
Line editing
Sentence and paragraph work focused on language and style. Best once the structure is solid.
Copyediting
Spelling, grammar, usage and punctuation, plus a style sheet for consistency. Best for a finished draft.
Proofreading
One of the last stages: a check for typos and formatting mistakes. It isn’t a rewrite.
Many projects use more than one, says Upwork: a copyedit or developmental edit first, then a proofread. Want to do this work yourself? Read our copyediting freelance guide.
What are editing rates in the UK?
The CIEP publishes suggested minimum hourly rates for 2026 to 27, starting 1 March 2026:
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| Type of work (CIEP) | Suggested minimum per hour |
|---|---|
| Proofreading | £31.92 |
| Copyediting | £37.11 |
| Substantial editing, rewriting, development editing | £42.66 |
Where can I hire a freelance editor?
Here are 3 places I’d use, ranked by how easy they make hiring. Fees are what you pay as the client, checked on each official page.
1. Fiverr: best for fixed-price proofreading and editing
Compare packages by word count, delivery time and reviews. Good for blog posts, ebooks, résumés and short manuscripts.
Fees: Fiverr adds a service fee of 5.5% of your purchase, plus $3.50 on orders under $200.
2. Upwork: best for book and long-form projects
Upwork says clients rate its editors 4.9 out of 5 from 644 reviews. It averaged three hours from job post to first proposal in 2025.
Fees: Upwork’s client pricing page lists a 5% fee on the Basic plan (3% for eligible U.S. clients paying by checking account), plus a $0.99 to $14.99 contract fee.
3. EFA job list: best for experienced editors
Post your project through the EFA job form. The EFA says jobs are typically posted within 48 hours.
Need a wider list? Our best freelance websites guide compares the main platforms.
How do you hire a freelance editor?
Follow these steps to get the edit you need at a fair price.
Choose the level of edit
Decide between developmental, line, copyediting or proofreading. Asking for the wrong one wastes money.
Share word count, genre and style guide
Editors quote from these. Name your style guide, such as Chicago (CMOS), AP or APA.
Shortlist on samples and reviews
Look for before-and-after samples in your genre. Then read recent reviews for deadlines and communication.
Ask for a small paid test edit
Upwork suggests a paid test of 500 to 1,000 words when you have several strong candidates.
Agree price, deadline and revision rounds
Put the rate, total, turnaround, how tracked changes are used and how many rounds are included in writing.
Pay by milestone
Split long manuscripts into chapters or sections. Review each batch before you release the next payment.
Hourly, per word or per project: which is best?
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Pricing model | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Per hour | Messy drafts where effort is hard to predict | Ask for an hour estimate and a cap |
| Per word | Manuscripts and long articles | Check if the count is before or after edits |
| Per project | A clear scope, like one book or report | Define what’s included and revision rounds |
| Monthly retainer | Ongoing blog or newsletter edits | Set a number of pieces each month |
Editing video instead of text? See our separate guide to video editing rates.
FAQ
How much do freelance editors make?
The BLS lists a May 2025 median of $77,920 a year ($37.46 an hour) for employed editors. That excludes the self-employed, who are 9% of editors.
What is a beta reader, and what does it cost?
A beta reader acts as a test audience and flags plot problems, inconsistencies or unclear sections. The EFA chart lists beta reading at a $150 project median.
Do I need to file a 1099 for an editor?
Possibly, if you pay a U.S. freelancer for business. The IRS threshold for Form 1099-NEC is $2,000 for payments made in 2026.
Is proofreading cheaper than editing?
Yes, usually. In the EFA fiction, nonfiction and business tables, proofreading has the lowest medians of the four main edit types.
Sources (checked 26 October 2026)
- EFA: 2026 Rate Chart (medians by genre and type, per word and per hour; survey of 1,100+ members on 2025 rates; 250 words a page)
- EFA: Editorial services (definitions of developmental, line, copyediting, proofreading)
- EFA: Job post submission (typically posted within 48 hours)
- Upwork: Hire editors (4.9/5 from 644 reviews, $15-$40/hr, project ranges, paid test edit, hiring steps)
- Upwork: Editor cost ($15-$40/hr median)
- Upwork: Copy editor cost ($20-$40/hr; $30 / $48 / $100 by level)
- Upwork: Proofreader cost ($18-$35/hr; $20 / $30 / $60 by level)
- CIEP: Suggested minimum rates (2026-27, from 1 March 2026)
- BLS Occupational Outlook: Editors ($77,920 / $37.46 May 2025 median, 9% self-employed)
- Fiverr Help: Paying for orders (5.5% service fee, $3.50 under $200)
- Upwork: Client pricing (5% Basic, 3% eligible U.S., $0.99-$14.99 contract fee)
- IRS: Am I required to file a Form 1099? ($2,000 for 2026 payments)
What to do next
Count your words, pick the level of edit and get three quotes. Compare the per-word price and what each includes, not just the total.
