Hourly rate
Useful when the scope is uncertain or the client is buying flexible access to your time.
Free pricing calculator
Free Freelance Rate Calculator
Estimate the hourly and day rate your freelance business needs based on target income, operating costs, financial reserves, and realistic billable time.
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Income and costs
Available billable time
Planning note
This calculator provides an estimate, not tax, legal, accounting, or pricing advice. Adjust the inputs to match your actual availability and costs.
A sustainable freelance rate must cover more than the hours spent producing client work. It also needs to support non-billable time, operating costs, financial reserves, and business risk.
Use realistic billable capacity
Start with the income you need
Use a realistic annual personal-income target before adding business expenses and reserves.
Count all operating costs
Include software, equipment, marketing, professional services, insurance, payment fees, and workspace costs.
Reduce available hours
Estimate the hours you can actually invoice after administration, sales, meetings, and time away.
Add a risk buffer
Allow room for slow periods, scope uncertainty, late payment, rework, and future investment.
Project pricing
Use the rate as an internal cost basis, then price the complete outcome, complexity, and risk.
Frequently asked questions
How is the suggested freelance rate calculated?
The calculator adds your target annual income and business expenses, adjusts for your reserve and profit buffer, then divides the required revenue by your estimated billable hours.
Why are billable hours lower than working hours?
Freelancers also spend time on sales, administration, learning, communication, accounting, and unpaid revisions, so not every working hour can be invoiced.
Does this calculate my taxes?
No. The reserve field is a planning allowance only. Tax rules vary, so use professional advice for your actual obligations.
Should I charge the exact suggested rate?
Use it as a planning baseline. Market demand, value, risk, urgency, specialization, and project complexity may justify a different price.
Can I calculate in currencies other than U.S. dollars?
Yes. Choose a supported currency and the results will be formatted accordingly.