Simultaneous interpretation cost depends on the assignment, not just the minutes spoken. A useful quote separates interpreter staffing, booked time, equipment, technical support and additional charges. Public rates can help you understand a supplier's terms, but comparing a court contract in US dollars with a conference service in Korean won does not establish a global market price.
Key takeaways
- Compare quotes for the same event scope, currency and tax treatment.
- Ask the interpreting team to specify staffing; do not apply a universal two-person multiplier.
- Count interpreter-days and receiver-days separately, including all booked days.
- For AI tools, distinguish minutes consumed from the package you must purchase.
Use published rates within their actual scope
As checked on September 12, 2026, the US Courts fee schedule lists federally certified interpreters at $566 for a full day and $320 for a half-day. It separately announces $617 and $349 from October 1, 2026. These are federal court contract rates for a specific category. They are not a commercial conference minimum, a retail quote or evidence that every event should cost more.
The HUFS Center for Interpreting and Translation rate card gives another scoped example: English, German and French interpreting costs KRW 700,000 for up to one hour or KRW 1,000,000 for up to six hours, per interpreter and excluding VAT. Those figures apply to that provider's terms, not every language or location. They illustrate why dividing a day rate into hourly slices may misrepresent the price of a short booking.
Ask what counts as booked time. Preparation, rehearsal, travel, evening work, recording permissions, overtime and cancellation can affect the total. Request an itemised quote with a validity date. Do not combine figures in different currencies without a stated exchange-rate date, and do not compare a tax-inclusive package with a tax-exclusive labour rate.
Confirm staffing instead of assuming a fixed rule
HUFS normally specifies at least two simultaneous interpreters, with three potentially needed depending on duration and complexity. However, the same rate card explicitly allows one interpreter for guide-device simultaneous work without a booth, for an audience of at least three and up to two hours, at 150% of its standard rate. That exception disproves a blanket claim that every simultaneous assignment always needs two people.
This is a supplier-specific example, not a recommendation to minimise staffing. Tell the team whether the event uses booths, portable equipment, remote channels or multiple concurrent rooms. Agree breaks, handovers, subject expertise and language directions. A short, demanding negotiation may require a different arrangement from a prepared presentation of similar length.
Calculate each budget line with the right units
| Budget line | Calculation basis | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreter labour | Agreed people × booked days or blocks × applicable rate | Language directions, preparation, overtime and breaks |
| Booths or remote platform | Quoted configuration and rental or licence period | Channels, rooms, delivery and technical setup |
| Receivers and headsets | Required units × rental days × quoted rate | Spare units, distribution, loss fees and discounts |
| Technical support | Staffing and hours specified in the quote | Rehearsal, installation and event-day coverage |
| Other charges | Itemised travel, accommodation, permissions and taxes | Included items, cancellation and change terms |
Illustrative staffing calculation: four channels, each staffed by two interpreters on each of two days, require 4 × 2 × 2 = 16 interpreter-days. Eight is the number of people in that assumed team, not the two-day labour total. Confirm the actual team configuration rather than equating the number of spoken languages with the number of staffed channels.
Illustrative equipment calculation: 300 receivers needed on each of two days represent 600 receiver-days before package discounts. Attendee count alone omits duration. A supplier may quote a bundle instead of charging per unit, so use its written breakdown rather than multiplying an unrelated web estimate. Room layout, connectivity and technical support may also change with audience size.
Compare AI packages with the same event scope
Wordly's pricing page currently says pricing starts at about $1,500, shows a Starter package with 10 annual hours, and describes a 12-month usage term. It also says a 30-minute session consumes 30 minutes without rounding up. Accurate usage deduction does not mean a new customer can purchase just half an hour for a proportionate share of the package price.
Compare the amount you must pay for the event, the hours you expect to use during the term, participant access and any support charges. An AI setup may avoid some human-channel equipment, but it still needs suitable audio capture, listener devices, connectivity and testing. Neither cost savings nor the removal of technical staffing is guaranteed for every venue.
MirrorCaption provides automated transcription and translation of supported captured speech. It does not supply human interpreters or interpret signed languages. For an informal call, test the actual audio and languages, then check current account pricing and the intended sharing arrangement. Do not assume every attendee must run a separate transcription session or that one account necessarily covers every audience workflow.
Send suppliers a comparable event brief
Include the date, venue or meeting platform, speaking schedule, source and target languages, audience size, concurrent rooms, accessibility needs and intended recording use. Ask each supplier to state what is excluded and what happens if the schedule changes. Choose the arrangement that meets communication requirements before comparing price totals.
For related planning, see recurring meeting translation costs, how simultaneous interpreting works and interpreting software categories. Where professional assistance is required, automated captions are not an equivalent replacement.
Test captions for an informal conversation
Check the real audio setup and current account options before budgeting.
Try MirrorCaptionFrequently asked questions
How much does simultaneous interpretation cost per day?
There is no universal day rate. Ask for a quote stating the language directions, interpreter team, booked duration, location, equipment, taxes and additional fees. Public rate cards describe particular suppliers or contracts, not a worldwide price range.
Does simultaneous interpretation always require two interpreters?
No single staffing rule covers every arrangement. HUFS normally requires at least two interpreters but lists a limited single-interpreter exception for guide-device work. Agree suitable staffing with the interpreting team for the actual format, duration and complexity.
How many interpreter-days does a two-day event need?
In an illustrative setup with four channels and two interpreters assigned to each channel on both days, the total is 4 × 2 × 2 = 16 interpreter-days. Actual staffing depends on language directions, scheduling and the agreed team plan.
Does minute-based AI usage mean I only buy a few minutes?
Not necessarily. Usage deduction and purchase commitment are different. A supplier may deduct only the minutes used while requiring an upfront package with a validity period. Check the minimum purchase and expiry terms.
Can AI captions replace a qualified human interpreter?
No. Automated speech transcription and translation can help with suitable informal conversations, but they do not provide a qualified human interpreter or signed-language interpretation. Select the service based on participants' needs and the consequences of errors.