Freelance Rate Calculator
Work out the hourly and day rate you need to charge to hit your target income — factoring in unpaid time off, business costs, and the hours that are actually billable.
Estimate only. Set your target income as the pre-tax amount you want to earn. Self-employed taxes, VAT/GST and deductions vary by country and situation — not financial advice. Read our disclaimer.
How the Freelance Rate Calculator works
Enter the annual income you want to earn, your business expenses, and a profit buffer. The tool divides that target by the hours you can actually bill — your working days minus holidays and leave, multiplied by the productive hours in each day — to give you the hourly and day rate you need to charge. It is the same math a financially healthy freelance business uses, made instant.
Why your rate must be higher than a salary
A common mistake is to divide a target salary by 2,080 hours, quote that as an hourly rate, and then quietly go broke. As a freelancer you are not paid for holidays, sick days, admin, sales, or the gaps between clients, and you cover your own taxes, software, hardware, and insurance. A sustainable freelance rate sits well above the hourly equivalent of a salaried job — this tool builds those realities in so your rate actually covers your life.
Tips for setting your rate
- Be honest about how many hours you can truly bill — 60–70% utilisation is realistic for most freelancers.
- Include every business cost, not just the obvious ones.
- Add a buffer for risk, growth, and the occasional unpaid invoice.
- Review your rate at least once a year, and raise it as your skills grow.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge hourly or a day rate?
Both are shown. Many clients prefer a day rate for longer engagements, while hourly suits smaller tasks. Fixed-project pricing usually starts from your hourly rate as a baseline.
Does it work for any country?
Yes — pick your country from the bar at the top and the currency updates. Compare the real value of your rate across countries with the Cost of Living Comparison tool.
How is this different from a salary?
See what an equivalent employed salary would take home with the Salary Calculator — then remember a freelance rate must also cover the benefits and downtime an employer would otherwise pay for.