Free template
Film Budget Template
A film budget top sheet totals what a movie costs in four blocks: above the line, production, post and everything else. This free film budget template does the maths as you type, adds fringes and contingency, and exports a CSV for Excel or Google Sheets. Start blank or from an example.
Written and reviewed by ScriptLix Editorial
Budget top sheet
Top sheet
- Above the line
- $0
- Production
- $0
- Post production
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Fringes (0% of labour lines)
- $0
- Contingency (10% of below the line)
- $0
- Total
- $0
Above the line$0
$0
$0
Production$0
$0
$0
$0
Post production$0
$0
$0
Other$0
$0
How to use it
- 1
Start blank, or load an example micro short, indie feature or low budget feature to see the shape.
- 2
Edit each line: item, quantity, unit and rate. Tick Fringe on wages that carry payroll costs.
- 3
Set your fringe and contingency percentages, then download the CSV or print the top sheet.
What goes in each part of a film budget?
| Section | What it usually covers |
|---|---|
| Above the line | Rights and screenplay, producers, director and principal cast |
| Production | Crew, camera, lighting and grip, art, wardrobe, locations, food, transport |
| Post production | Editing, sound design and mix, colour, music, visual effects, deliverables |
| Other | Insurance, legal, accounting, festivals, publicity and marketing |
| Fringes | Payroll costs on top of wages: taxes, union pension and health, payroll fees |
| Contingency | A reserve for the things that will go wrong, usually a percentage |
What does above the line and below the line mean?
Above the line covers the people who shape the film creatively and are often hired before anything else: the writer, producers, director and lead cast, plus the rights to the story. Their fees are usually negotiated one by one. Below the line is everything it takes to physically make the film: crew, equipment, locations, post and the rest.
The split matters because financiers read the top sheet first. A budget where above the line swallows most of the money tells them very little will end up on screen.
What are fringes, and what percentage should you use?
Fringes are the costs on top of a wage: employer payroll taxes, and for union crew and cast, pension and health contributions. They depend on your country, your state, which unions you work with and your payroll company, so there is no single right number. Ask your payroll provider or the relevant guild for the rates that apply to your shoot, and put that figure in.
Tick Fringe only on wage lines. Equipment rentals, locations and food do not carry fringes.
Are the example budgets real?
No. The three examples use rough, round figures to show how a budget is shaped at different sizes, not what anything costs where you are. Rates vary hugely by city, union status and how many favours you can call in. Replace every number with real quotes before you show the budget to anyone.
A realistic budget starts from a schedule, and a schedule starts from a script breakdown. Our free script breakdown tool counts scenes, locations and cast from your script, which tells you how many shoot days to price.
Questions writers ask
Is there a free film budget template?
Yes. Fill this one in on the page and download it as a CSV for Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers, or print the top sheet as a PDF. No signup.
What is a budget top sheet?
The first page of a film budget: a one page summary of the totals for each section, fringes, contingency and the grand total.
How much contingency should a film budget have?
There is no fixed rule. This template starts at 10 percent so the line is never forgotten, but completion bond companies and financiers may require their own figure, so ask them.
Is there a sample film budget I can look at?
Load one of the examples: micro short, indie feature or low budget feature. They are illustrative figures only, not market rates.
Can I use this as a movie budget template in Excel?
Yes. Download the CSV and open it in Excel. Every line item and the top sheet totals come across as rows you can keep editing.
Further reading
- From the blogLow Budget Screenplays for Sale: What They Really Cost to BuyWhat low budget actually means under WGA, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE rules, what option fees really run, and which script marketplaces survived the 2025 shutdown wave. Real numbers, no guesswork.
- From the blogHow to Price a Screenplay by Genre: What the Market Really PaysGenre does not set screenplay price, budget does. Here is what the WGA floor actually pays in 2026, how low budget deals get discounted, and how to price without comps.