Free template

Free film budget template

Film budgets fail in predictable places: the categories nobody remembered (insurance, contingency, deliverables) and the estimates nobody updated once spending started. This template addresses both — a standard above/below-the-line account structure with every commonly forgotten line included, and estimate/actual/variance columns with working formulas.

It follows the structure professional budgets use — numbered accounts grouped into Above the Line, Production, Post-Production, and Other — so it translates directly if you later move to dedicated software.

Film budget template (Excel)

Free for any production, commercial or personal. No signup required.

How the template is organized

  • •Above the Line — story & rights, writer, producer, director, principal cast, casting. The creative commitments made before the crew exists.
  • •Production — production staff, camera, grip & electric, sound, art, wardrobe, hair & makeup, locations, transport, catering, stunts & safety, and production insurance.
  • •Post-Production — editing, colour, sound mix, music & licensing, VFX/titles, and deliverables.
  • •Other — marketing & festivals, legal & accounting, and a 10% contingency line that is not optional.
  • •Each line has Qty × Days/Units × Rate = Estimate, an Actual column, and a Variance formula. Category subtotals and the grand total compute automatically.

The lines first-time producers forget

  • •Contingency. Ten percent, untouchable until something breaks. Every experienced producer treats this as a real cost.
  • •Insurance. Public liability and equipment cover are conditions of most location permits and rental agreements, not extras.
  • •Catering. Feeding a 15-person crew properly for 5 days is a four-figure line; hungry crews slow down measurably.
  • •Deliverables. DCP, closed captions, festival formats, music cue sheets — the costs that arrive after the film is "done".
  • •Payroll add-ons. Superannuation/benefits, payroll tax, workers’ comp — a percentage on every labour line, not an afterthought (this is what fringes are).

Estimates are the start, actuals are the job

A budget you write once and never reconcile is a fundraising document, not a management tool. The template’s Actual and Variance columns are the discipline: fill them weekly and the budget tells you where the money is going while you can still react.

This is also where spreadsheets hit their ceiling. Production Slate tracks estimates vs actuals with itemised per-day entries, a Days × Units multiplier, Movie Magic-style globals & fringes formula cells, crew rates that flow from payroll, and imports existing budgets from Excel, CSV, and Movie Magic Budget files.

How to budget a short film

  1. 1Break down the script first: cast count, location count, shoot days, and any stunts, VFX, vehicles, or animals.
  2. 2Fill Above the Line: rights, writer, director, and principal cast — even deferred fees should appear at value.
  3. 3Estimate Production per department using Qty × Days × Rate with real local rates.
  4. 4Add the unforgiving lines: insurance, catering, transport, and 10% contingency.
  5. 5Estimate Post: editing, colour, sound mix, music licensing, and deliverables.
  6. 6Reconcile weekly during the shoot — enter actuals and act on variance before it compounds.

Common questions

What does above the line vs below the line mean?

Above the line covers the creative principals committed before production — story rights, writer, director, producer, and principal cast. Below the line is everything about physically making the film: crew, equipment, locations, post. The line comes from the layout of classic studio budget top sheets.

How much does a short film cost?

Anywhere from a few hundred dollars to six figures — the honest answer is what this template computes from your script: shoot days × crew size × local rates, plus equipment, locations, food, insurance, and post. A typical festival-quality short with a small paid crew lands in the low five figures.

What is a contingency and how much should it be?

A reserve for the unplanned — weather days, reshoots, a blown rental. Ten percent of the total budget is the standard for independent work; bonded productions are required to carry it.

Can I import this into Production Slate later?

Yes — Production Slate imports budgets from Excel and CSV directly (and from Movie Magic Budget files), mapping categories and line items automatically.

When the spreadsheet stops scaling: itemised per-day actuals, globals & fringes, and Movie Magic import — free to start.

Start FreeSee the Budgeting feature →

More free templates

Call Sheet TemplateShot List TemplateStoryboard TemplateStripboard Template

We use cookies for analytics to improve your experience. See our Privacy Policy.