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Freelancer Rate Calculator

Calculate your hourly, daily and project rate based on income goals, expenses and billable hours.

Hourly rate
$120
Your hourly rate
$120
Break-even: $105/hr
Day rate (8h)
$962
Weekly rate
$4,812
Billable hours/year
1248
Revenue needed
$150,139

Project rates

  • 1 week$4,812
  • 2 weeks$9,624
  • 1 month$19,249
  • 3 months$62,558
  • 100% private

    All math runs in your browser. Nothing leaves your device.

  • Formula-verified

    Each calculator is unit-tested against authoritative sources.

  • Instant results

    Static-rendered pages. Sub-second loads on any device.

  • Works offline

    Visit once and it keeps working without an internet connection.

How to use the Freelancer Rate Calculator

  1. 1

    Enter your inputs

    Fill in the required fields at the top of the freelancer rate calculator. Each input shows a default placeholder so you can see the expected format and units before you type.

  2. 2

    Adjust assumptions and options

    Use the toggles, sliders and dropdowns to tailor the calculation to your situation — currency, country, time period, advanced options and any optional fields all change the result in real time.

  3. 3

    Review the result

    The result card updates instantly as you type. Read the headline number, then check the breakdown, chart and any per-period schedule to understand how the inputs combined to produce the answer.

  4. 4

    Compare scenarios

    Change one input at a time to see how sensitive the result is to that variable. This is how you build intuition: small changes that move the answer a lot are the levers that matter.

  5. 5

    Share or save your result

    Copy the shareable link to send the exact scenario to someone else, or use your browser to print or save the page. The URL preserves every input so the recipient sees the same answer you do.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Sum desired net income + self-employment tax + business expenses + benefits. Divide by billable hours per year (e.g., 40 hrs × 50 weeks × 70% billable ratio = 1,400 hrs). Add profit margin.
  • Most freelancers actually bill only 50-70% of working hours. The rest goes to admin, marketing, sales, learning and breaks. Plan for 60-70% as a healthy target.
  • Software subscriptions, hardware, home office, professional insurance, accounting, legal, professional development, marketing and travel. A common rule: budget 10-15% of revenue for business expenses.
  • In the US, ~15.3% SE tax + income tax (~10-30% effective). Most freelancers reserve 25-30% of revenue for taxes. UK freelancers should consider Class 2/4 NI plus income tax.
  • Hourly is best for open-ended or maintenance work. Project pricing is best for well-defined deliverables — it rewards efficiency. Most experienced freelancers prefer project or value-based pricing.
  • Hourly × estimated hours, plus a buffer for revisions and complexity (typical 20-30%). Add value-based premium if the deliverable creates significant client value.
  • Price based on the value created for the client (e.g., a website that brings in $100K should cost more than a hobby site), not your time. Best for high-impact work where outcomes can be quantified.
  • A small discount (10-15%) for guaranteed monthly retainers is reasonable — it trades a bit of revenue for predictability and reduced sales effort.
  • Review annually. Raise rates 10-15% per year as your skills, portfolio and demand grow. Tell existing clients with 30-60 days notice.
  • If 80%+ of prospects accept without negotiation, you're too cheap. A 50-70% close rate suggests your rate is well-positioned. Quality clients value expertise and pay accordingly.