Charging for guest posts can be a steady revenue stream for bloggers, but pricing it right takes care. The fee you set depends on your blog’s value – factors like your site’s authority, traffic, niche, and the quality of content you expect all matter. In general, more authority and traffic = higher price. Recent studies confirm this: domain authority (DA) and Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) correlate strongly with what sites charge. For example, Adsy’s 2025 analysis found that sites with DR 11–40 (roughly DA in that range) ask on average about $351–$390 per post, whereas DR 71–80 sites ask around $1,008. Importantly, Adsy notes that site authority drives price more than raw traffic – a smaller high-DA site often charges more than a low-DA site with similar traffic.
Key pricing factors
Domain Authority/Rating: Higher DA/DR means higher price. Low-authority blogs (DA~1–10) still fetch some fees – Adsy reports DR 1–10 sites with only 1K+ monthly visitors averaged about $212 per post. Once you reach DR 11–20, prices jump to roughly $283–$405 depending on traffic. Even modest DA 30–40 blogs average a few hundred dollars (Adsy found DR 31–40 sites averaged ~$341–$427 per post). In contrast, high-DA “premium” blogs (DR 61–70) averaged $640–$702. As one industry guide summarizes: “Low-end sites (DA 10–30): $30–$90; Mid-range (DA 30–60): $100–$200; High-end (DA 60+): $400–$1,000+”. While this is a rough rule of thumb, your actual fee should align with how valuable your site is (stronger metrics justifies higher pricing).
Traffic and Audience: A larger, engaged audience adds value. A site with only a few hundred visitors/day might only command ~$30–$50, whereas a 20K-visitors-per-month blog could reasonably charge $60–$120 for a single post of moderate length. Adsy’s data shows that increasing traffic from 1K to 5K can raise prices by ~17%, though gains level off beyond that. In practice, many owners benchmark their fees partly on monthly unique visitors. If your blog pulls in tens of thousands of readers, you can justify charging more. Conversely, small-blog owners often start in the low tens of dollars (or even free) to build portfolio or credibility.
Niche/Industry: Some topics pay more. Adsy’s survey shows generic or low-demand niches tend to earn less. For example, sites in “Public Service”, personal blogs, or places/travel averaged only $300–$350 per guest post. In contrast, hot markets (like web development, fashion/beauty, tech, finance) averaged $800–$1,100 per post. Thus, if your blog covers a highly competitive or lucrative niche (like software or finance), you can pitch higher fees. In more common niches (lifestyle, parenting, local news, etc.), expect the lower end of the range. Popular categories with lots of competition (sports, health, business) averaged mid-range prices (~$510–$638) in the Adsy data.
Content Quality & Length: The harder you make it on the guest author, the more you can charge. If you expect a highly polished, SEO-optimized article, it adds value for the advertiser. Short or simple posts cost less. For instance, a guest-post service lists a 500-word post on a DA30 site at $200 (about $0.40/word), implying longer posts could earn more. If you’re providing the writing/editing yourself, or requiring heavy research, factor those costs in. On the flip side, permitting the guest to contribute all content (just charging for placement) might warrant a lower fee. Remember: quality sells. BuzzStream’s 2025 study found that higher-quality placements average $609 (versus $220 for a basic post), and that cheap guest-post slots often mean low-quality content (Google devalues ~92% of the lowest-cost opportunities). Emphasize that you expect original, well-structured posts – that way you can justify charging a premium.
Suggested Pricing Tiers (ballpark): While every blog is different, you can use tiered pricing as a guide. Consider something like:
Small Blogs (DA < 20, Traffic < 5K/mo): Maybe $20–$100 per post. For example, one small blog owner with only a few hundred daily visitors charged about $30. Other guides suggest DA10-30 sites often charge in the $30–$90 range. Use the lower end of your market here.
Mid Blogs (DA 20–50, Traffic 5K–20K): Roughly $100–$300 or more. Many sites in this range ask a few hundred dollars. Adsy found DR 11-40 sites averaging $350–$400, and DR 41-50 about $477–$501. Likewise, some advice says DA30-60 blogs can charge $100–$200. You might start at the lower side of this range and adjust upward as you gain demand.
Established Blogs (DA 50+, Traffic 20K+): From $300 up into the mid-hundreds or beyond. At this level you can break $500 or more easily. Adsy’s data shows DR 51-70 sites averaging $553–$702. Community feedback agreed: one commenter felt a 20K-visitors site (with DR ~30) was worth $60–$120, implying even higher for stronger sites. If you allow extra perks (like social promotion or multiple backlinks), those justify premium pricing.
Keep in mind these are guidelines, not strict rules. The market varies: one site might get $100 for a post another would list for $300. It’s fine to start on the higher side and negotiate. As one blogger put it, if you haven’t been charging, try asking double what feels fair – you can always adjust if needed.
Other Tips
Be Transparent: Clearly state what’s included (word count, number of links, images, promo in newsletter/social, etc.). If you cover content creation, note that. If the guest writes everything, your fee is just the placement.
Disclose Paid Posts: Remember FTC rules – mark paid content appropriately. Honest disclosure (e.g. “Sponsored by…”) maintains trust and avoids penalties. Google is okay with genuine sponsored content as long as it’s high-quality and labeled, so focus on the value you give readers.
Assess Quality: Only accept content that meets your standards. Low-quality posts (or AI-written fluff) can hurt your SEO. As BuzzStream warns, sites offering the cheapest posts often produce poor content that Google filters out. Better to charge more for great content than give away cheap links.
Offer Packages: You might offer discounts for buying multiple slots or recurring posts. Or charge extra for faster turnaround or added exposure. This gives flexibility to buyers and can increase your earnings.
Bottom line: For most small-to-mid blogs, a reasonable guest-post fee will be in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars, scaling with authority and traffic. For example, expect roughly\ $30–$100 on the very low end up to $200–$400 for moderately strong sites, with premium blogs commanding more. Tailor your rates based on your metrics and the factors above. Cite your stats if needed (many buyers check a site’s DA/traffic), be open to negotiation, and always aim to deliver value. With clear guidelines and good content, you can confidently charge a fair price that reflects your blog’s worth.
Charging for guest posts isn’t just about putting a number on a blog post — it’s about recognizing and communicating the value of your platform. By understanding how authority, traffic, niche, and content quality influence pricing, you can set fair and profitable rates that align with industry benchmarks. Whether you’re just starting out or running a well-established site, your blog has value — and the right pricing strategy ensures you’re compensated accordingly. Stay transparent, maintain high standards, and don’t be afraid to adjust your rates as your site grows. Ultimately, a clear, quality-driven approach will attract better contributors and generate more meaningful income for your blog.
