Freelance Rate Calculator

What do you actually need to charge?

Factor in your taxes, expenses, and real working hours — see your minimum and recommended rate instantly.

After tax — the money that hits your account.

Used to estimate your tax rate — this is an approximation, not tax advice.

% estimated tax rate

Optional — if you don't have these costs, leave them at zero.

/mo
/mo
/mo

Software, equipment, insurance, marketing

/mo

Gas, mileage, supplies, raw materials

15%

Breathing room for slow months, late invoices, and surprise costs. 10–20% is typical.

48

That's 4 weeks off — 20 days of rest per year.

6

Most freelancers bill 5–7 hours — admin, travel, quotes, and marketing eat the rest.

Your recommended rate
Enter your desired take-home income above to see your rates.
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per billable hour ?Changing your billable hours per day affects this hourly rate, but not your daily, weekly, monthly, or annual totals. Those represent what you need to earn in each period regardless of how many hours you work.
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Day rate
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Weekly
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Monthly
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Annual
Adjust the inputs to see your rate breakdown.
Gross income needed —
Estimated tax —
Weeks working —
Billable hours / year —
Take-home —
Project pricing estimates
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1-week project
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1-month project
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3-month project

These are estimates to help you set a starting rate. Actual tax varies by income level, filing status, and location — consult a tax professional.

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How it works

Enter the take-home pay you want after taxes — daily, weekly, monthly, or annual. Add any monthly costs your rate needs to cover: health insurance, retirement savings, business expenses, and travel or materials. The calculator totals everything up, adds estimated taxes for your country, then divides by your working hours to show two rates: a minimum (break-even) rate and a recommended rate with a comfort buffer for slow months and unexpected costs. Whether you're setting freelance rates, planning trading targets, or projecting business revenue — the math is the same.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?

Start with the annual income you want to keep after taxes. Add your business costs — health insurance, retirement, software, equipment, travel. The calculator totals everything, adds estimated taxes, and divides by your realistic billable hours to give you a rate that actually covers your life, not just your salary.

Should I charge more to cover taxes?

Yes. As a freelancer you're responsible for your own income tax (and often self-employment tax). If you price your work based on take-home pay alone, you'll come up short at tax time. Always build taxes into your rate.

What are billable hours and why do they matter?

Billable hours are the hours you can actually charge a client for. Admin, marketing, invoicing, and travel are all unpaid time. Most freelancers bill 5 to 7 hours in an 8-hour day, so your rate needs to cover the full day on fewer paid hours.

What business costs should I include?

Think about everything you pay for to do your work: health insurance premiums, retirement contributions (no employer match when you're self-employed), software subscriptions, equipment, liability insurance, accounting fees, marketing, gas or mileage, and raw materials or supplies. Even a rough estimate helps — the goal is to make sure your rate covers your real costs, not just your salary.

What's the difference between minimum and recommended rate?

The minimum rate is your break-even number — it covers your take-home pay, expenses, and taxes with nothing left over. The recommended rate adds a comfort buffer (typically 10–20%) for slow months, late-paying clients, surprise expenses, and business growth. Think of the minimum as survival and the recommended as sustainable.

Is this only for freelancers?

No. Anyone who works for themselves can use this — entrepreneurs, day traders, contractors, gig workers, or side hustlers. If you need to know "how much do I have to earn per day to hit my monthly target after taxes," this tool answers that question.

What hourly rate should a freelancer charge?

It depends on your target take-home pay, tax rate, business expenses, and how many hours you can actually bill. A common mistake is dividing your salary goal by 2,080 hours — that ignores taxes, benefits, overhead, time off, and unbillable work. Use this calculator to enter your real numbers and get a rate that actually covers your costs.

Why does my calculated rate feel too high?

Because you're comparing it to employee salaries — but employees don't see the full cost. An employer paying someone $75,000 typically spends $100,000+ on that person when you include benefits, retirement matching, payroll taxes, equipment, and office space. As a self-employed person, your rate has to cover all of that yourself. You're not overcharging — you're just seeing the real number for the first time. Undercharging is far more common than overcharging, and lower rates tend to attract more difficult clients.

How do I raise my rates without losing clients?

Start with new clients — charge your updated rate from the first conversation. For existing clients, give 30 to 60 days notice and explain that your rates are increasing. A 10–15% increase per year is standard and most clients expect it. Never raise rates mid-project. If a client leaves over a reasonable increase, they were likely undervaluing your work — and the clients who stay will be better to work with.