CERTIFIED TRANSLATION COST
How Much Does a Certified Translation Cost in 2026?
Certified translation starts at $0.05 per word, so a typical birth certificate costs about $15–25 total — certified, formatted, and delivered in 24–48 hours. US agencies commonly charge $25–40 per page for identical work. Here is how pricing works and how to avoid overpaying.
Updated July 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Victor Luján, Founder — certified translations since 2018
| Document | Typical words | Translation HelpDesk | Typical US agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | ~300 | $15–25 | $25–40 |
| Marriage certificate | ~350 | $18–30 | $25–50 |
| Divorce decree | ~800 | $40–80 | $75–150 |
| Academic transcript | ~1,200 | $60–120 | $120–250 |
Estimates for common language pairs at standard turnaround. Rare languages and rush add a small percentage. Try the free calculator →
Per Word vs. Per Page
We price per source word because it is honest: a dense medical record holds far more text than a sparse birth certificate. Per-page pricing (often $25–40/page) rounds everything up and overcharges for short documents. With per-word pricing you see the exact count and rate before you pay.
What's Included
The per-word rate includes the signed Certificate of Accuracy (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)), format-matched layout, a second-linguist review, and PDF delivery. The only add-ons — notarization, apostille coordination, certified hardcopies — are always quoted upfront. No surprises.
Check the Price on Your Document
Use the free cost calculator for an instant estimate, or send your document for an exact quote within an hour. First 250 words translated free.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a certified translation cost?
At Translation HelpDesk, certified translation starts at $0.05 per word. A typical one-page civil document (birth, marriage, single-status certificate) runs $15-25 total, certified and delivered in 24-48 hours. Many US agencies charge $25-40 per page for the same work.
Is certified translation priced per word or per page?
We price per source word, which is fairer than per-page: a dense transcript has far more words than a sparse birth certificate. Per-page pricing (often $25-40/page) can overcharge for short documents.
Why are your rates lower than US agencies?
We are a nearshore team in Chihuahua, Mexico serving the whole US remotely — same certification and guarantees, without a US office's overhead. The savings are operational, not quality cuts.
Is there a cheaper option than certified translation?
For USCIS, courts, and universities, certified is the requirement — a cheaper uncertified or machine translation will be rejected. Our $0.05/word rate is already among the lowest US-accepted prices; a free 250-word sample lets you check quality first.