Usually customers will ask for a translation quote or estimate from vendors. Vendors give the quote and customers decide to accept or deny them. Quotes vary in many ways from format to currency. This article aims to provide a way to calculate your Dutch translation price and which means of quoting is more effective, by word or page. It is to be noted that these are not the only means of quoting translations.

How to calculate your Dutch translation price

Calculating your Dutch translation price involves several factors to ensure you receive high-quality and accurate translations tailored to your specific needs. Start by determining the type of translation required, whether it’s professional, standard, or certified translation, and consider the expertise needed, such as medical or business translations. Assess the complexity of the content, such as medical reports or financial documents, as this can impact the translation cost.

Additionally, take into account the target audience and any specific cultural nuances relevant to Dutch speakers in South Africa or elsewhere. Factor in the competitive rates offered by translation service providers, including expert freelance translators or translation agencies, while ensuring timely delivery. Finally, request accurate quotes from multiple vendors to compare prices and services, ensuring you receive affordable prices without compromising on quality for your Dutch document translation or Dutch website translation needs.

Page count

Page count can be categorized in two ways  through the number of characters: excluding and including spaces. For example, a person can receive a quote for a translation: 1000 characters without spaces and 1800 characters with spaces.

Including spaces in one’s quote should be discouraged since it does not require effort with regards to translating. It is also quite common for some to include unnecessary spaces in one’s translation, further increasing the quote. This leads us to the question, is it fairer to send a quote without regard for spaces? It all depends on the number of characters in the page.

Word count

Word count is the opposite of page count. Thus, it is free from its disadvantages:

• Spaces aren’t paid for.
• Non-translatable characters such as commas and periods  aren’t paid for.
• Payment is not set due to rounding since quote is based on words.

Furthermore, word count has many advantages:

• Lower rates for repetitions
• More translation consistent per project
• Better quality due to faster retrieval of previous works
• Less turnaround time
• Vendors are easier to replace since previous works are more accessible

Ergo, choosing word count can give many advantages that page count does not possess.

Here at DutchTrans we base our quotes on word count as it is more advantageous for our clients. If you need to find out our Dutch translation price feel free to contact us at any time. We’ve also created a special page where you can get a free translation quote in 5 minutes.

Why do translation vendors still offer page count?

Page count is still being used as means for pricing though, for the following reasons:

• People are attached to tradition methods of calculating translation. Oftentimes, they have not adopted newer computer based methods, which makes it difficult to give effective estimates.
• It is much easier to count characters and pages. There is no need to use expensive software, and training of employees is lessened. Furthermore, page count is easier to account for by the client, since they may view it anytime.
• It is more profitable for translators to engage in page count, since they can charge more and omit discounts from repetitions and matches.

How to compare translation quotes from vendors using different approaches

When comparing translation quotes from vendors, it’s essential to consider various factors to ensure the highest quality and most accurate translations, especially for legal documents or technical content. Firstly, assess the qualifications and expertise of the translators provided by each vendor. Look for professional translators with experience in the specific language pair, such as Dutch translators for Dutch documents, and verify if they are native speakers or have a deep understanding of the target audience.

Additionally, consider the translation industry standards and quality control measures implemented by each vendor to guarantee accurate translations. While comparing quotes, pay attention to the delivery time offered by each vendor, as rush orders may incur higher costs. Finally, evaluate the overall value proposition, including the balance between the hourly rate or average price and the level of translation quality provided. By taking a comprehensive approach and considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when selecting the most suitable translation service provider for your needs.

Frequently translation customers want quotes while not wanting to provide the source text. When receiving quotes based on calculations, clients may have a hard time understanding.

Firstly, be sure to ask for a Dutch translation price per word from any provider. The costs can vary due to many factors, such as topic and date of deadline. Without viewing the original, companies can become too positive about their quotes, which will disappoint later on.

Secondly, try to check whether the translator used computer-aided translation (CAT) tools to calculate their work. Quotes should contain matches and repetition. Consequently, your preference should be given to vendors that frequently use TM.

Thirdly, page-rate can be converted to word-rate:

• A page of 1800 characters is approximately equal to 250 words. Through the division of per-page rate by 250, the approximate word rate can be calculated. If a page costs $80, $80 can be divided by 250 to result in a $0.32 per word rate.
• A page of 1000 characters with spaces is 170 words. If a page costs $80, then it can be divided by 170 to result in $0.47 per word rate.

Non-editable source text

The amount of words in source text is not usually easy to count, especially in non editable text such as scanned documents. This makes quoting and translating even harder. Consequently, it is best to let the vendor create a new version of the original text that is editable if time allows. This may cost extra, but it allows you to receive a quote based on objective figures instead of guesses.

Word count without translation memory

A few vendors provide word based quotes but without CAT tools. This is the middle solution between the two methods discussed, and is free from the disadvantages of page based quotes. However, it does not have the benefits of translation memory, which can be easily calculated by CAT tools.

Summary

As a translation buyer, it is generally better paying by word count instead of page count so you only spend on what really requires translation. Word count also implies your vendor’s use of translation memory. Again, this has good impact on quality, time and costs. If however, they do not use this method, you should insist on its usage.

Dutch Translation Price

When determining the price for Dutch translation services, several factors should be considered to ensure accuracy and quality. Begin by identifying the source language and content type to be translated, especially if it involves medical documents requiring precise terminology. Seek out experienced translators with extensive experience in medical translation to ensure a true representation of the source material. Request an online quote from reputable translation service providers, considering whether human post-editing is necessary to maintain the highest level of quality. Assess if the pricing model includes a flat rate or standard rate, and inquire about any additional costs, such as bank transfer fees. Ultimately, prioritize quality Dutch translations services over price, aiming for a fair price that reflects the expertise and effort required to deliver accurate translations that meet your needs

We recognize that price is your preference. Our clear Dutch translation price plan will cut the jargon out to make the entire translation process easy for you. The translator’s job is tough, and arriving at a quality end-product is an exhaustive, multi-stage process. Although, we always balance these factors against your preferences, and we try to give you the best quote possible for your project.

We also make use of the excellent translation memory technologies where possible. These do not compromise the quality of your translation as machine translation would. They work merely to eliminate the effort of spending time and effort translating repeated content and technical terms, which has the effect of driving down your per-word quote price.

You’ll have them just a phone call away to smooth out even the slightest issue. Tap into the talent of our project management and translation teams, and get a quote now.

How prices are typically calculated by translation service providers

The target language and the source document’s complexity, such as technical documents or legal translation services, significantly impact the cost. Human translation, particularly for professional translation services, often commands higher rates to ensure the quality of translations. The type of content, including marketing materials or audio files, and the file formats, like Google Docs, also play a role.

Translation rates may vary, with extra costs for rush fees, project management fees, or additional charges for complex documents. Many providers offer price quotes or use translation cost calculators to give instant quotes. The source file’s length, whether it’s an average book or previous translations, and the need for Translation Management also influence the final price. Fair prices and the cost of English translation services are assessed based on these combined factors, ensuring transparent and competitive pricing for clients.

Translation service providers typically calculate prices based on several factors to ensure accurate and fair pricing for Dutch translation services. The price of translation often depends on the document’s complexity, the language combination involved (such as Dutch to English or vice versa), and the type of document, whether it is an official document like a birth certificate or marriage certificate. Professional translation services prioritize quality, employing qualified translators, including native-speaking professional translators, to handle each project with a nuanced approach to cultural references and technical details.

The average cost may also be influenced by the need for urgent translations, which require timely delivery, or specialized translations such as technical translations, which demand expert translators with industry-specific knowledge. Providers might use a calculation tool to offer an estimate, taking into account the document’s length, subject matter, and any additional services like quality assurance or certification of accuracy. Furthermore, factors like the average delivery time, the qualifications of the human translators, and the specific requirements of federal governments or other official bodies can also impact the final pricing. Affordable translation prices are maintained while ensuring high-quality translation services through a meticulous evaluation of these various elements.

Additional fees that may be incurred

In addition to the base cost of Dutch translation services, clients may incur additional fees depending on specific requirements. Urgent translations often attract extra charges due to the expedited turnaround needed to meet tight deadlines. Specialized translations, such as technical or legal documents, may also cost more due to the necessity for expert translators with industry-specific knowledge. Fees can increase for projects involving complex formatting or extensive use of cultural references that demand a nuanced approach. Additionally, official documents requiring certification, such as a certificate of accuracy for government agencies, may come with an extra fee. Other potential costs include quality assurance processes, such as thorough proofreading and editing by a second linguist, and any supplementary services like desktop publishing or localization.