Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Most freelancers undercharge because they forget tax, expenses, unpaid admin time and holidays. Enter your goals and this calculator works out the rate you actually need to charge.
How the freelance rate is calculated
Gross revenue needed = (take-home income + business expenses) ÷ (1 − tax rate). Billable hours per year = billable hours per week × (52 − weeks off). Your minimum hourly rate is gross revenue divided by billable hours. The recommended rate adds a 20% buffer for slow months, unpaid proposals and price negotiation.
Why billable hours are lower than working hours
Marketing, admin, invoicing, calls and learning time are unpaid. Many freelancers bill only 20-30 hours out of a 40-50 hour week, so pricing as if every hour were billable leaves you short.
Hourly, day rate or project pricing?
Use the hourly rate as your floor. For clients, day rates and fixed project prices often work better because they reward speed and expertise instead of time spent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?
Add your desired take-home income and business expenses, divide by one minus your tax rate to get gross revenue, then divide by the number of hours you can realistically bill in a year.
How many billable hours per week is realistic?
Most freelancers can bill 20-30 hours per week. The rest goes to sales, admin, communication and skill development.
Should I charge hourly or per project?
Hourly works for open-ended or ongoing work. Fixed project pricing is usually better for well-defined deliverables because it lets you earn more as you get faster.
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