Translation Quote Calculator

When a translation memory (TM) contains previous translations that match new source text, translators do less work. Weighted words reflect this reduced effort by applying discount percentages to different match levels.

For example, a 100% exact match from the translation memory means the translator only needs to review — not retranslate — the segment. The industry standard is to charge 30% of the full word rate for exact matches, recognising the review effort still required.

The result is a fairer price for clients and a transparent breakdown for translators. CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tools generate these match statistics automatically during file analysis.

Fuzzy matches occur when the translation memory contains segments that are similar — but not identical — to the new source text. The match percentage indicates how close the TM segment is to the new content.

Higher fuzzy percentages (95-99%) mean the translator needs to make only minor edits, while lower percentages (50-74%) may require substantial reworking. The discount rate scales accordingly: high fuzzy matches receive larger discounts because less effort is needed.

Perfect matches (101% or “context matches”) go beyond exact matches by also matching the surrounding context. These segments can typically be accepted without changes, which is why the industry standard discount is 100% (i.e., no charge for the translation itself).