Free calculator
Calculate your ideal hourly, daily, and project rate based on your expenses, income goals, and available hours.
What you want to deposit into your personal account after taxes and expenses.
Software, insurance, co-working, equipment, subscriptions, etc.
25-30% is typical for US freelancers.
Most freelancers bill 25-30 of 40 working hours.
Vacation, sick days, holidays.
One of the hardest decisions for any freelancer is setting the right rate. Charge too little and you burn out working unsustainable hours. Charge too much without the positioning to back it up and you lose clients to competitors.
The right rate isn’t a guess — it’s a calculation. Your rate needs to cover your business expenses, taxes, non-billable time (admin, marketing, learning), health insurance, retirement savings, and still leave you with the take-home income you want.
This calculator works backwards from your target annual income and actual costs to give you the minimum viable rate — the floor below which you’re losing money.
The calculator divides your total annual costs (target income + expenses + tax burden) by your actual billable hours per year. Most freelancers overestimate their billable hours — after accounting for vacation, sick days, admin time, and marketing, a typical freelancer bills 60–70% of their working hours.
The result gives you three rates: hourly (your base unit), daily (hourly × 8, useful for day-rate contracts), and a 40-hour project rate (useful for fixed-bid proposals).
Most freelancers bill 25–30 hours per week, not 40. The rest goes to invoicing, client communication, marketing, professional development, and admin. This calculator accounts for that by asking your actual billable hours.
Project-based pricing is generally more profitable because you capture the value of working efficiently. However, hourly rates are simpler for ongoing retainers and time-and-materials work. Use your hourly rate as the floor for estimating project fees.
Self-employment tax is approximately 15.3% of net income (Social Security + Medicare), plus your income tax bracket. A common rule of thumb is to set aside 25–30% of gross income for taxes. This calculator includes a tax rate input.
If the calculated rate is higher than what clients will pay, you have three options: reduce expenses, accept lower take-home pay, or increase the value you deliver to justify higher rates. Don’t solve it by working more hours — that’s a path to burnout.
Your calculated rate is your floor. Many freelancers charge different rates based on project complexity, client size, urgency, and scope. The floor ensures you never take work that costs you money.
At least annually, or whenever your expenses change significantly (new insurance, moved to a higher cost-of-living area, added tools/subscriptions). Most freelancers undercharge because they set a rate once and never revisit it.
This tool provides general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.
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