Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Calculate the hourly and day rate you need to hit your income target after business costs.
- Day rate
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- Billable hours per year
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A planning figure only; your market and clients also shape what you can charge.
What is the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator?
This calculator tells a freelancer or consultant the hourly and day rate needed to reach a target monthly income after business costs. It accounts for the fact that only some of your working hours are billable and that you take weeks off.
How it works
Yearly target equals monthly income plus monthly business costs, times twelve. Billable hours per year equal billable hours per week times weeks worked. Hourly rate equals the yearly target divided by billable hours. Day rate equals the hourly rate times the hours in a working day.
How to use it
- Enter the monthly income you want to take home.
- Enter your monthly business costs.
- Enter billable hours per week and weeks worked per year.
- Read the hourly and day rate.
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator — FAQ
What counts as billable hours?
Only the hours you can charge to clients. Time spent on admin, marketing and finding work is not billable, so it should not be counted here.
Does this include tax?
No. Treat the target income as the figure you want before any tax, or add your tax set-aside to the income you type in.
How many weeks should I use?
Subtract holidays, sick days and gaps between projects from fifty-two. Many freelancers plan for fewer than fifty weeks of paid work.