DCP creation costs between $5 and $18 per minute of finished film, depending on resolution (2K or 4K) and how quickly you need it. For most independent filmmakers submitting to festivals, a 2K DCP on standard 5-day turnaround is the right choice — and at $5/minute, it’s more affordable than many expect.
Pure DCP pricing is straightforward: you pay per minute of runtime with a $150 minimum charge. Digital cloud delivery and 6 months of cloud storage are included in every order at no extra cost.
Here’s everything you need to know to calculate your DCP cost and understand what you’re paying for.
Pure DCP Pricing
$150 minimum charge applies to all orders.
Size | 5-Day | 3-Day | 1-Day (Rush) |
|---|---|---|---|
2K |
$5/Min |
$8/Min |
$12/Min |
4K |
$8/Min |
$12/Min |
$18/Min |
Understanding the $150 Minimum Charge
The $150 minimum applies to all orders regardless of film length. This covers the base cost of encoding, packaging, and delivery for any project. Here’s how the minimum translates to runtime at each tier:
Resolution | 5-Day | 3-Day | 1-Day (Rush) |
|---|---|---|---|
2K minimum runtime |
30 min |
19 min |
13 min |
4K minimum runtime |
19 min |
13 min |
8 min |
Example: A 10-minute short film at 2K 5-day costs $150, not $50. If your film is under the minimum runtime threshold for your chosen tier, the minimum charge applies.
Real-World DCP Cost Examples
Here are typical costs for common film lengths at Pure DCP:
Film | 2K 5-Day | 2K 3-Day | 2K 1-Day | 4K 5-Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Short film (10 min) |
$150* |
$150* |
$150* |
$150* |
Short film (20 min) |
$150* |
$160 |
$240 |
$160 |
Short film (30 min) |
$150* |
$240 |
$360 |
$240 |
Short film (45 min) |
$225 |
$360 |
$540 |
$360 |
Feature (65 min) |
$325 |
$520 |
$780 |
$520 |
Feature (90 min) |
$450 |
$720 |
$1,080 |
$720 |
Feature (120 min) |
$600 |
$960 |
$1,440 |
$960 |
* $150 minimum charge applies — film is under the minimum runtime threshold for this tier.
What’s Included in Every Pure DCP Order
Every DCP order includes the following at no extra charge:
- Professional JPEG 2000 encoding at your chosen resolution (2K or 4K)
- Accurate color space conversion from Rec.709 to DCI XYZ
- Uncompressed PCM audio packaging in stereo or 5.1
- Aspect ratio formatting to DCI Flat or Scope
- Digital cloud delivery — download your DCP from anywhere
- 6 months of cloud storage for re-downloads and future festival screenings
- Spot-check review for common technical issues before delivery
Additional Costs to Know About
Beyond the base encoding cost, these are the additional services and delivery options that may add to your total:
Physical Hard Drive Delivery
Digital cloud delivery is included free with every order. If you need a physical drive — for venues that don’t accept digital delivery or require a specific drive type — drive costs are additional. Options include USB drives, SSD drives, and CRU DX115 hard drives (required by some festivals and larger venues). Contact us for current drive pricing.
4K Upscaling
If your source material is 2K or HD and you need a 4K DCP, upscaling is required. Most festivals and independent theatrical screenings are fine with 2K. 4K is primarily relevant for premium large-format venues or when your source was shot natively in 4K.
Subtitles and Captions
Adding subtitle or caption tracks to your DCP is an additional service. This includes open subtitles (burned into the picture for all viewers) and closed captions (displayed on an auxiliary device). Contact us for subtitle pricing based on your specific requirements.
Encryption and KDMs
Most festival DCPs are unencrypted and don’t require KDMs. Encrypted DCPs are more common for commercial theatrical releases where piracy protection is required. If you need encryption, contact us to discuss your distribution requirements.
2K vs 4K: Which Do You Need?
For the vast majority of independent filmmakers and festival submissions, 2K is the right choice. Here’s why:
- Most festivals screen in 2K: The majority of festival venues use 2K digital cinema projectors. Submitting a 4K DCP doesn’t guarantee a better-looking screening if the projector is 2K.
- 2K is significantly less expensive: At $5/min vs $8/min on 5-day turnaround, a 90-minute feature costs $450 in 2K vs $720 in 4K — a $270 difference.
- 4K makes sense when: Your source material was shot natively in 4K, you’re delivering to premium large-format venues, or your distributor specifically requires 4K.
How to Keep Your DCP Cost as Low as Possible
- Plan ahead and use 5-day turnaround: The standard 5-day rate is $5/min for 2K — the same quality DCP at less than half the rush rate. Most festival deadlines are known well in advance. Building in time saves money.
- Choose 2K unless you specifically need 4K: As covered above, 2K covers virtually all festival and independent theatrical needs.
- Use digital delivery: Cloud delivery is free and included with every order. Unless your venue specifically requires a physical drive, digital delivery saves you the cost of the drive.
- Deliver your film in the highest quality format you can: Starting from a ProRes or DNxHR master rather than a compressed MP4 means fewer potential encoding issues, reducing the chance of needing a re-encode.
FAQ
How much does a DCP cost for a short film?
Short films are subject to a $150 minimum charge. At the standard 2K 5-day rate of $5/minute, the minimum covers up to 30 minutes of runtime. A 10-minute short, a 20-minute short, and a 29-minute short all cost $150. A 45-minute short at 2K 5-day costs $225.
How much does a DCP cost for a feature film?
A 90-minute feature film costs $450 at 2K 5-day turnaround, $720 at 2K 3-day, and $1,080 at 2K rush (1-day). A 120-minute feature is $600 on 5-day, $960 on 3-day, and $1,440 on rush. These prices include digital cloud delivery and 6 months of storage.
Is digital delivery included in the DCP price?
Yes. Digital cloud delivery and 6 months of cloud storage are included in every Pure DCP order at no extra charge. You can download your completed DCP from anywhere in the world and re-download it for future screenings within the storage period.
Do I need to pay extra for a CRU hard drive?
Physical drive delivery is an additional cost on top of the base encoding price. Digital cloud delivery is free with every order. Many festivals and theaters now accept digital delivery, so check with your venue before ordering a physical drive. CRU DX115 drives are required by some larger venues and certain festivals.
Why is a DCP priced per minute?
DCP encoding is a compute-intensive process that scales directly with the length of the film. Longer films require more processing time, more storage, and larger file transfers. Per-minute pricing is the industry standard because it directly reflects the actual work involved.
How does Pure DCP pricing compare to other services?
Pure DCP’s rates are competitive with other professional DCP services. What sets us apart is that digital delivery and 6 months of cloud storage are included in the base price — many competitors charge separately for delivery and storage. Backed by Full Swing Media’s 25+ years of post-production experience, we also bring deep industry expertise to every order.
Ready to Order Your DCP?
Order online at puredcp.com/order-dcp — select your resolution and turnaround, upload your file, and we’ll handle the rest. Digital delivery included, 6 months cloud storage included.
Questions about pricing? Contact us at info@puredcp.com or call 818-843-1262.
