Free tools / Freelance Rate Calculator
Work out what to charge as a freelancer
An hourly and day rate built from the income you need, your billable days and your costs.
Most freelancers bill far fewer hours than they work: admin, sales, and downtime aren’t billable. Budgeting ~25 billable hours a week, not 40, is what keeps the rate honest.
The full read
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The income you want plus expenses, divided by the hours you can actually bill.
Most freelancers set a rate by guessing, then wonder why they're short. Work backwards instead: enter the income you want, your costs, and the hours you can realistically bill, and get the hourly rate that actually adds up.
Hourly rate = (the income you want + your business expenses) ÷ the hours you can actually bill in a year. Both halves matter, and most people get the hours wrong.
You can't bill 40 hours a week. Admin, sales, invoicing, and downtime aren't billable, so real billable time is often closer to 25 hours. Budgeting for 40 is why so many freelancers undercharge.
Add your real expenses too: software, equipment, taxes, time off, and a pension all come out of the rate. A rate that only covers your salary quietly leaves you worse off than a job.
Want proof it’s not made up? See real ideas run through this tool: the buyer, the spots, and the opener actually sent.
Questions
3 answeredHow do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?
Add the income you want to your annual business expenses, then divide by the hours you can realistically bill in a year. Enter those above for your hourly and day rate. The honest part is the billable hours, usually far fewer than the hours you actually work.
How many hours can a freelancer actually bill?
Far fewer than 40 a week. Admin, sales, invoicing, learning, and downtime aren't billable, so real billable time is often around 25 hours a week. Budgeting for 40 is the most common reason freelancers undercharge and burn out.
Should my freelance rate just cover my salary?
No. It has to cover expenses too: software, equipment, taxes, time off, and retirement all come out of the rate. A rate that only matches a salary leaves you worse off than employment once those costs are counted.
The guide behind this tool
How to set your freelance rate
Set your freelance rate from the income you need, your business costs, and the hours you can genuinely bill. Most freelancers undercharge by assuming 40.
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