What is the per-word rate for blog posts?

Industry standard for blog posts is $0.10-$0.50 per word for beginners. This means a 500-word blog post ranges from $50 (at $0.10/word) to $250 (at $0.50/word). However, per-project pricing is recommended over per-word pricing because it accounts for research time, revisions, and communication that per-word rates miss.

What factors affect blog post pricing?

Four main factors affect pricing: 1) Research needed (light research adds nothing, moderate adds 30-50%, heavy adds 75-100%), 2) SEO requirements (basic SEO adds $20-40, full SEO adds $50-75), 3) Revisions included (2-3 rounds adds $25-50, unlimited adds 50-75%), and 4) Turnaround time (rush 2-3 days adds 25-50%, 24-hour rush adds 50-100%).

Should I charge per word or per project for blog posts?

Charge per project for blog posts, not per word. Per-project pricing is simpler and fairer because it accounts for research time, client communication, and revisions—things per-word pricing doesn't capture. A 500-word technical blog post requiring 3 hours of research should cost more than a 500-word listicle requiring 30 minutes, even though the word count is the same.

How much should I charge for a rush blog post?

Add 25-50% for rush deadlines (2-3 days) and 50-100% for super rush (24 hours). If your standard rate for a 500-word blog post is $100, charge $125-150 for a rush job and $150-200 for a 24-hour turnaround. Rush work disrupts your schedule and requires you to deprioritize other projects, so charging a premium is fair.

How Much Should I Charge for a 500-Word Blog Post?

Q: How much should I charge for a 500-word blog post?

Beginner copywriters (0-6 months) typically charge $50-100 per 500-word blog post. Growing copywriters (6-18 months) charge $100-200. Portfolio builders (1.5-3 years) charge $200-350. The final price depends on research needed, SEO requirements, revisions included, and turnaround time. Heavy research, full SEO optimization, and rush deadlines can increase the price by 50-100%.

You landed a client who wants a 500-word blog post. Great! Now they’re asking: “What’s your rate?”

And you’re panicking. What do you say? $50? $100? $200? You have no idea.

I totally get it! I still remember quoting my very first blog post. I asked for $70 because it sounded “professional enough” to me. The client said yes right away which was my clue that I definitely should’ve charged more!

Let’s break down exactly what to charge for a 500-word blog post based on your experience level, what the project involves, and what’s actually fair.

Quick Answer: The Price Range

Here’s what beginner copywriters typically charge for a 500-word blog post in 2026:

Getting Started (0-6 months experience):
$50-$100 per post

Growing Skills (6-18 months):
$100-$200 per post

Portfolio Builder (1.5-3 years):
$200-$350 per post

Why the big range? Because blog posts aren’t all the same. Keep reading.

What Affects Your Price?

A 500-word blog post about “5 Summer Salad Recipes” is way easier than one about “How Blockchain Technology Impacts Healthcare Data Security.”

Here’s what makes a blog post worth more:

1. How Much Research Is Needed

Light research (15-30 minutes): Basic topics you already know about
Price impact: Base rate

Moderate research (1-2 hours): New topics, need to read articles and take notes
Price impact: Add 30-50%

Heavy research (3+ hours): Technical topics, interviews required, data analysis
Price impact: Add 75-100%

2. SEO Requirements

No SEO: Just write naturally
Price impact: Base rate

Basic SEO: Include keywords naturally, add meta description
Price impact: Add $20-40

Full SEO: Keyword research, optimize headings, internal links, etc.
Price impact: Add $50-75

3. Revisions Included

1 round of revisions: Standard
Price impact: Base rate

2-3 rounds: More back-and-forth
Price impact: Add $25-50

Unlimited revisions: Red flag, but if you agree, charge way more
Price impact: Add 50-75%

4. Turnaround Time

Standard (5-7 business days): Normal timeline
Price impact: Base rate

Rush (2-3 days): Disrupts your schedule
Price impact: Add 25-50%

Super rush (24 hours): Drops everything
Price impact: Add 50-100%

Real Examples (What I'd Charge)

Let me show you actual pricing for different scenarios:

Scenario 1: Easy Listicle

Project: “7 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Families”
Research needed: Light (30 minutes)
SEO: None
Revisions: 1 round
Turnaround: 5 days

My quote as a beginner: $75
My quote now: $150

Scenario 2: Industry Blog Post

Project: “How Small Businesses Can Use Email Marketing”
Research needed: Moderate (1 hour)
SEO: Basic keywords + meta description
Revisions: 2 rounds
Turnaround: 5 days

My quote as a beginner: $100
My quote now: $225

Scenario 3: Technical Content

Project: “Understanding HIPAA Compliance for Telehealth Platforms”
Research needed: Heavy (3 hours)
SEO: Full optimization
Revisions: 2 rounds
Turnaround: 7 days

My quote as a beginner: $200
My quote now: $350+

Simple Formula to Calculate Your Rate

Here’s how to figure out what to charge:

Step 1: Pick your base rate

Getting Started: $50-100
Growing Skills: $100-200
Portfolio Builder: $200-350

Step 2: Add for complexity

Light topic: +$0
Moderate research: +$30-50
Heavy research: +$75-100

Step 3: Add for SEO

No SEO: +$0
Basic SEO: +$20-40
Full SEO: +$50-75

Step 4: Add for rush work

Normal timeline: +$0
Rush (2-3 days): +$25-50
Super rush (24 hours): +$50-100

Total = Your quote

Per-Word Rate Breakdown

Some clients think in “per-word” rates. Here’s the math:

500 words at different total prices:

$50 total = $0.10 per word
$100 total = $0.20 per word
$150 total = $0.30 per word
$200 total = $0.40 per word
$250 total = $0.50 per word

Industry standard for blog posts: $0.10-$0.50 per word for beginners.

But honestly? I don’t like per-word pricing for blog posts. It doesn’t account for research time or revisions.

Charge per project. Simpler and fairer!

What I Actually Charged (My Story)

First 500-word blog post: $70
I had no idea what I was doing. Client said yes immediately. I realized I undercharged.

After 3 months: $100-125
Started including SEO basics. Felt more confident.

After 6 months: $150-175
Added research time to my quotes. Clients still said yes.

After 1 year: $200-250
Specialized in marketing topics. Could charge more because I knew the subject.

Now: $250-400 depending on complexity
I don’t take basic blog post work anymore unless it pays well.

Lesson: Start somewhere. Raise rates as you get better. Don’t be scared to charge more than you think 🙂

Use Our Free Pricing Calculator

Not sure what to charge? Try our Mille calculator.

It factors in:

Your experience level
Project complexity
Research time
Revisions

And it gives you a fair price based on what people in the real world actually charge! Try the Free Pricing Calculator

The Bottom Line

For a basic 500-word blog post:

Beginners: $50-100
Intermediate: $100-200
Experienced: $200-350+

But adjust up for:

Heavy research
SEO work
Multiple revisions
Rush timelines

Start small. Raise your prices as you get better at what you do. And don’t be afraid to charge what your work is really worth!

You’ll get there too. Just start somewhere and keep learning. 🙂

– Complete Guide to Copywriting Pricing
– Free Pricing Calculator (Mille)
– How to Get Your First Copywriting Client
– 7 Signs You’re Undercharging as a Copywriter
– Work-from-Home Copywriter Setup Guide