Instagram rates at 500K
| Deliverable | Walk-away | Fair | Opening quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reel | ₹1,26,200 | ₹1,48,500 | ₹1,78,200 |
| Carousel post | ₹1,19,900 | ₹1,41,100 | ₹1,69,300 |
| Feed post | ₹1,07,300 | ₹1,26,200 | ₹1,51,500 |
| Collab post | ₹1,45,200 | ₹1,70,800 | ₹2,04,900 |
| Story set (3 frames) | ₹56,800 | ₹66,800 | ₹80,200 |
| Live session | ₹1,51,500 | ₹1,78,200 | ₹2,13,800 |
The reel figure assumes about 3,00,000 views, at ₹0.55 a view. These are market priors, not closed-deal data: a defensible starting position, not a promise that any brand will pay it.
What 500K really means for your rate
Expect agencies between you and the brand, and remember that an agency margin sits on top of your fee, not inside it. Quote your own number. Paid usage and whitelisting can be a large part of the deal value at this size, because the brand is buying your credibility for its ad account, not just one post.
Your engagement will look low next to a small creator, and that is normal. Around 1.9% is typical for 2.5 lakh to 10 lakh followers. Anything far above the top of the band, about 4%, tends to draw questions about pods or giveaways, so be ready to explain a viral month.
If your 500K is on another platform
| Platform | Deliverable | Fair fee |
|---|---|---|
| Reel | ₹1,48,500 | |
| YouTube | Dedicated video | ₹2,25,000 |
| Post | ₹3,78,000 | |
| X | Post | ₹2,07,900 |
| Snapchat | Spotlight video | ₹60,800 |
| Post | ₹55,100 | |
| ShareChat / Moj | Moj video | ₹35,100 |
What to add on top
| Add-on | Term | Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Paid usage rights | 1 month | ₹29,700 |
| Paid usage rights | 3 months | ₹59,400 |
| Paid usage rights | 6 months | ₹96,500 |
| Paid usage rights | 12 months | ₹1,48,500 |
| Category exclusivity | 1 month | ₹22,300 |
| Category exclusivity | 3 months | ₹37,100 |
| Whitelisting | Per deal | ₹37,100 |
Tax at this size
TDS is commonly deducted once a brand's payments to you cross ₹50,000 in a year. At ₹1,48,500 a reel, a single reel from one brand already crosses that. GST registration generally starts at ₹20 lakh of turnover, about 14 reels a year at this fee. Details are in our TDS and GST guide, and a CA should confirm your own position.
A quote you can send
Hi [name], thanks for reaching out. For one Instagram reel: Base fee: ₹1,78,200 Paid usage, 3 months (optional): ₹71,300 GST at 18% is extra if applicable. Includes one round of edits. Goes live within 5 working days of your approval.
Open at the top of your range and leave room to land on the fair figure. For a fuller version, use the rate card maker.