Freelance Rate Calculator
Find the lowest rate that still pays you what you want to earn. Start from your desired take-home income, add taxes and business expenses, subtract holidays and sick days, and allow for the hours spent on sales, admin and learning that nobody pays for. The calculator turns this into a minimum hourly and day rate and the weekly and monthly revenue you need to hit.
- Runs in your browser
- No sign-up
- Free to use
Software, equipment, insurance, accounting, coworking…
Holidays, sick days and public holidays.
The rest goes to sales, admin and learning.
This is the minimum to reach your income; market rates for your skills may be higher.
How to use Freelance Rate Calculator
- Enter your target income and expenses.
- Add your tax rate and weeks off.
- Set working hours and the billable share.
- Compare the result with market rates.
Freelance Rate Calculator features
Income-based
From what you need to earn.
Non-billable time
Sales, admin and learning.
Time off
Holidays and sick days.
Revenue targets
Weekly and monthly.
Formula shown
Every result explains how it was calculated.
Any currency
Choose from 30+ currencies; amounts are formatted for it.
When to use Freelance Rate Calculator
- Setting rates when going freelance.
- Reviewing rates once a year.
- Converting a salary to a freelance rate.
- Preparing a quote.
Freelance Rate Calculator FAQ
Why is the rate so much higher than my old hourly wage?
As a freelancer you pay your own taxes, equipment, holidays and pension, and only part of your time is billable.
What billable share is realistic?
50–70% is common. New freelancers often spend more time finding work.
Should I charge exactly this rate?
It is the minimum. Charge what the value and the market support.
Does it handle project pricing?
Use the Freelance Project Calculator to price a project from task estimates.
How many billable hours are realistic?
Many freelancers bill 50–70% of their working time. The rest goes to finding clients, admin and learning.
Why freelance rates look high
An employee is paid for holidays, sick days and admin time, and the employer pays equipment and part of the taxes. A freelancer pays all of that from billable hours, so the hourly rate has to cover much more than the time spent on client work.
The profit buffer is there for slow months, late payments and investment in the business.
Example: if you need 60,000 a year before tax to cover your income, expenses and taxes, and can bill 25 hours a week for 46 working weeks (1,150 hours), your minimum rate is about 52 per hour (60,000 ÷ 1,150).
Billable hours are always fewer than working hours – admin, sales and learning take time – and holidays and sick days reduce them further. Treat the result as your floor; your market rate may be higher. Tax figures are estimates based on what you enter.