Home/Finance Tools/Freelancer Rate Calculator

Freelancer Rate Calculator

Freelancing full-time? Work out the hourly and daily rate you need to charge to earn the income you want, after covering your business expenses.

Freelancer Rate Calculator

Your ideal hourly and daily rate, based on income and expenses.

Your hourly rate
–per hour
Daily rate (8 hours)–
Weekly income–
Total to earn per year–

Charge at least this much to hit your income goal.

Need another tool?

Browse all ten finance calculators — loans, savings, tax and more.

All finance calculators

How to use this calculator

Enter the annual income you want to earn, add your annual business expenses, then set how many billable hours you work each week and how many weeks you work each year. Press Calculate and you will see the hourly rate you need to charge.

Formula

Hourly rate = (income + expenses) ÷ (hours × weeks)

Where hours is the number of billable hours per week and weeks is the number of working weeks per year after holidays. Daily rate = hourly rate × 8, and weekly income = hourly rate × billable hours per week.

Frequently asked questions

Why do expenses increase my rate?

As a freelancer you pay your own business costs — software, insurance, equipment and more. Your rate must cover these on top of the income you want to take home.

Why use billable hours, not total hours?

Not every working hour is paid for. Admin, marketing and searching for clients take time too, so only count the hours you can actually charge clients for.

Should I charge more than this rate?

This is your minimum rate to hit your income goal. Many freelancers charge more to cover quieter periods, slow payers and time off — and because their skills are worth it.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only and is not financial advice. Check your figures with a qualified financial adviser before you commit.
Scroll to Top