Prices · Cost · Comparison

How much does mastering cost?

Short answer: professional mastering usually costs roughly €50–150 per track. AI services are cheaper, renowned studios more expensive. At Polished, one song is €79 incl. VAT, an EP €349 and an album €629, each with a written audio audit and unlimited revisions.

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By Tim Borchert, mastering engineer · Updated October 2026 · All prices final incl. 19% VAT

Mastering prices compared

Provider type	Typical price per track	What you get
AI / automated mastering	a few euros or a subscription	An algorithm applies loudness and EQ; no analysis of your mix, no questions
Freelance marketplaces	roughly €15–60	Very mixed quality, often not specialised in your genre
Specialised mastering studios	roughly €50–150	A dedicated engineer, revisions, experience in your genre
Renowned studios	roughly €100–300+	Big names and rooms, often surcharges for stems, vinyl and rush delivery

Indicative ranges based on publicly listed prices, October 2026.

Reading in German? The same comparison with euro prices for the German market: Mastering-Kosten und Online-Mastering-Preise.

Mastering prices at Polished

Single · Stereo

€79

One track, full audio audit, streaming + Bandcamp exports, 48–72h.

Single · Stems

€129

Up to 6 stems for maximum control per element, 48–72h.

EP · up to 5

€349

Save €46 vs. 5 singles. Audit per track, consistent loudness across the release, 5–7 days.

Album · up to 10

€629

Save €161 vs. 10 singles. Per-track + album audit, tonal consistency, vinyl master on request, 7–14 days.

All prices are final prices incl. 19% VAT. No upfront payment required: pay on invoice after delivery, or up front if you prefer. Every package includes the written audio audit and unlimited revisions. Full package details · Price comparison · Stereo or stems? · Label rates

Bundles: Single Series €73 per single (3 singles) · Stem EP €549 · Label Partner from €63 per single. Details.

What affects the price

Stereo vs. stems: stem mastering processes several track groups individually and costs more.
Number of tracks: EP and album packages cost less per track and include a consistency pass.
Formats: streaming, Bandcamp, CD and vinyl may need separate versions. Streaming and Bandcamp exports are always included at Polished.
Revisions: many providers cap or charge for revisions. At Polished they are unlimited.
Analysis: a written audio audit of your mix is included at Polished; elsewhere a mix analysis is often not part of the service.

Polished specialises in Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom & Gothic and Metalcore & Djent. You can pay up front or on invoice after delivery.

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Mastering cost FAQ

How much does professional mastering cost?

Professional mastering typically costs roughly €50–150 per track, and €200 or more at well-known studios. Automated AI services are much cheaper but do not analyse your mix individually. At Polished, stereo mastering costs €79 per track incl. 19% VAT, including a written audio audit and unlimited revisions.

How much does it cost to master one song?

At Polished, one song costs €79 incl. VAT for stereo mastering or €129 from stems, including a written audio audit, streaming and Bandcamp exports, 48–72h delivery and unlimited revisions. Booking three singles together costs €73 per single.

How much does EP or album mastering cost?

At Polished, an EP of up to 5 tracks costs €349 (€46 less than 5 singles) and an album of up to 10 tracks costs €629 (€161 less than 10 singles), both with a per-track audit and a consistency pass across the release.

How much do mixing and mastering cost together?

Mixing takes considerably more work than mastering and usually costs roughly €100–300 per song at studios, depending on track count and studio. Together with mastering, one song typically lands around €150–450. Polished offers mastering only (€79 per song incl. VAT); the audio audit shows beforehand whether your mix is ready for mastering.

Are revisions included in the price?

Many providers include one or two revision rounds and charge for more. At Polished, revisions are unlimited and have no time limit in every package.

How much does stem mastering cost?

Stem mastering costs more than stereo mastering because several track groups (e.g. drums, bass, guitars, vocals) are processed individually. At Polished it is €129 per track with up to 6 stems, and €549 for a Stem EP of up to 5 tracks. How to prepare stems: stem mastering guide.