The short answer: €15 per VHS cassette
Our VHS price is fixed at €15 a cassette, whether it holds 30 minutes or four hours recorded in long-play mode. No per-minute rate, no set-up fee, no extra charge per file. Once you tell us how many tapes you have, the maths is simple: quantity × €15, plus the delivery method you pick for the files.
Why not charge by the minute? Few people know how much footage their tapes really hold. Labels rarely match the contents, and plenty of wedding tapes carry half an old TV series after the ceremony. A per-cassette price means you know the total up front with no guesswork.
What the price covers
- Inspection of the shell, tape and rollers for mould or creases.
- Playback on a serviced deck with a time base corrector (TBC) that steadies a wobbling picture.
- Capture of the full length, not just the first recording on the tape.
- Review and trimming of long blank stretches at the end, with an audio sync check.
- One MP4 file per cassette, named after the label where there is one.
The only extras are file delivery (Google Drive link €7.90 or a USB stick from €12) and, where needed, fixing a damaged or mouldy cassette for €9. We always tell you before doing that, and never do it without your yes.
What decides how your footage will look
VHS was designed to be convenient rather than sharp: around 240 lines of horizontal resolution, so no transfer will turn it into Full HD. Still, the gap between a careless and a careful job is huge. The main factors are the condition of the player, whether a TBC is used, the recording speed (LP and EP tapes are noisier) and the age of the tape itself.
Tip: do not try an old home VCR “just to see what’s on it” if it has sat unused for years. A sticky mechanism can crumple the tape, and the repair may then cost more than the transfer.
Making sure it really is VHS
VHS is the biggest home video cassette, about as big as a thick paperback novel, 187 × 103 × 25 mm, with a window showing two spools and a hinged lid at the front. If yours is half that size, it is probably VHS-C or Video8. Better-quality tapes may say S-VHS; see our S-VHS article.
How to compare offers fairly
| Question | Why it matters | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| Per cassette or per minute? | Minute rates get expensive on long tapes | Per cassette |
| Is a TBC used? | Without it the picture shakes and drops out | Yes |
| Is the whole tape captured? | Recordings hide in the middle | Yes, end to end |
| What happens to a broken tape? | Some places just send it back | We fix it for €9 |
| How do I pay? | Matters for companies | Invoice to a person or a business |
Sending VHS tapes from Lithuania
Our lab is in Tallinn, Estonia, but you do not need to travel. An Omniva locker-to-locker parcel to Estonia starts at €7.49, LP Express is €8.99, and DPD Pickup works too. Ten VHS tapes fit in a shoebox-sized package: stand them upright, fill empty space with crumpled newspaper and slip in a slip of paper showing your name and e-mail. We send the Tallinn locker address with our reply. Mixed formats can travel together; the articles overview covers them all.
Ordering in three steps
- Write to usList the formats and how many cassettes. We answer with exact details, the price and shipping instructions.
- Drop the parcel at a lockerUse Omniva, LP Express or DPD in Lithuania; the receiving locker in Tallinn is in our reply.
- Get your recordings backTypical turnaround is 10–14 working days. Files arrive as MP4 in a cloud folder or on a stick; you settle an invoice afterwards.
VHS questions in brief
How much does it cost to digitize one VHS tape?
€15 per cassette regardless of length. From 21 tapes you get 10% off and a free 64 GB USB stick.
Can I get something other than MP4?
MP4 is standard because every device opens it. If you plan to edit in professional software, tell us and we will discuss another format.
What if the tape has snapped?
We splice it or move it to a new shell. Repair is €9 a cassette and only done with your consent.
Can you invoice a company?
Yes. Companies and individuals alike get an invoice, due once the job is finished.