Freelance rate calculator
Enter the income you want to take home and your costs. The calculator shows the hourly, daily and monthly rate you need to charge.
Your numbers
Software, equipment, insurance, accounting, co-working.
Hourly rate to charge
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
- Gross income needed
- Working days a year
- Billable hours a year
Where the money goes
- Take-home (%)
- Taxes (%)
- Expenses (%)
Your rate against typical ranges
Rough hourly ranges for remote consulting work. They are a guide, not survey data.
Your rate is in this range
The dark marker is your calculated hourly rate.
Questions
How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?
Add your target take-home income and business expenses, divide by (1 minus your tax rate) to get gross income, then divide by your billable hours per year. The calculator above does this for you.
What are typical billable hours for freelancers?
Most freelancers bill 5–7 hours a day. The rest goes to admin, finding clients, learning and breaks. The calculator starts at 6 hours, which is realistic for consulting work you can keep up.
Should I charge hourly or daily rates?
Consulting clients often prefer daily or project rates. They cut time-tracking overhead and tie fees to outcomes. Use your hourly rate as a floor, then quote daily or project fees.
How much should I budget for taxes as a freelancer?
In many countries freelancers set aside 25–35% of gross income for income tax and self-employment tax. Check your exact situation with a local accountant.
What expenses should I include?
Software subscriptions, equipment, co-working space, insurance, training, accounting fees, internet and any other cost of running your freelance business.