How much does a keynote speaker cost?
Most professional keynote speakers charge between $3,000 and $120,000. The range is wide because it covers a local practitioner speaking for 45 minutes and a broadcast name headlining a 3,000-seat conference.
Most agencies will not publish these numbers. They ask you to call, quote a fee with 20 to 30 per cent added, and keep the speaker's real rate to themselves. We publish the bands instead, so you can plan a budget before you speak to anyone.
Fee guide by tier and topic
| Tier | Motivational | Leadership | Business | Futurist & AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerging | $3k – $7k | $4k – $8k | $4k – $9k | $5k – $10k |
| Established | $9k – $18k | $12k – $22k | $10k – $20k | $15k – $30k |
| Celebrity | $35k – $75k | $40k – $90k | $35k – $80k | $45k – $120k |
Ranges are for a single in-person keynote of up to 60 minutes, excluding travel and accommodation. Emerging speakers are strong practitioners early in their speaking career. Established speakers have a book, a track record or a research base. Celebrity speakers are known outside their industry.
Questions
- What drives a speaker's fee?
- Four things: how well known they are outside their industry, how much preparation the session needs, the length of the engagement, and the date. A half-day workshop costs more than a 45-minute keynote. A speaker with a book and a television profile costs more than an equally good practitioner without one.
- Are travel costs included in the fee?
- No. Travel and accommodation are quoted separately at cost, and we show them before you commit. For international travel, budget economy or business airfares plus two nights depending on time zone.
- How do your prices compare to a speaker bureau?
- A traditional bureau adds 20 to 30 per cent on top of the speaker's fee, and usually will not tell you the fee until you have had a sales call. We publish the band and take no markup, so the number you see is the number you budget.
- Do virtual sessions cost less?
- Usually. Most speakers price a virtual keynote at roughly half to two-thirds of their in-person band, because there is no travel and less time away.
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