When you need a translation, chances are you needed it done yesterday—sound familiar? But can you actually get it done by your desired deadline? Well… It depends. On what, exactly?

Factors That Affect Translation Turnaround Time: It's Not Just About Size

1. Word Count & Complexity: Translating a one-page letter? Easy-peasy, might be done by tomorrow. But try tackling a 100-page technical manual, and you’ve got yourself an epic saga—grab some popcorn, this might take a while!
2. Type of Document: A marketing brochure, a legal contract, or a medical file each come with their own set of challenges—and by challenges, we mean specialized expertise, which translates to more time.
3. Formatting: Whether you’re dealing with Word files, PDF, InDesign, Excel Sheets, a picture taken with the phone, a handwritten text scanned. Most of the time you want the translation to look as close to the original as possible. We can duplicate the formatting of any file, but it adds time to the turnaround of your project.
4. Language Pair: Some language pairs—like English to Spanish or French—are more widely spoken, and are considered quick to process as it’s easy to find a qualified translator for these languages. But what if you need to translate a document written in a language of lesser diffusion—like Gaelic, Navajo, Tigrinya, or Hausa—in that case it might take a bit longer to find the right translator to get the job done. Just think of it as an adventure—the translation treasure hunt! 
   
   

No matter the size, style, language, or type of project, at Montana Language Services, we treat every client and document as unique. That’s why we always review your materials first—to give you an accurate timeline you can count on.

We get it—you need an answer now (that’s probably why you’re reading this). While timelines can vary based on factors like notarization or specialization, here’s a general rule of thumb for turnaround times based on length alone:

• Small Projects (1–5 pages): Often completed within 24–72 hours.
• Medium Projects (5–50 pages): Typically take 3–7 business days.
• Large or Specialized Projects: May take 2 weeks or more.
  
  

Need an exact timeline? Do not hesitate and contact us:

1. Send us your documents through https://www.mtlanguageservices.com/translate-a-document
2. We’ll revise them.
3. We’ll send you a free quote and an estimate of how long it will take for you to get your files back!