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Freelance Rate Calculator

Calculate your ideal hourly or project rate as a freelancer. Factor in expenses, taxes, and desired income to set competitive rates.

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Fill in the fields above and click Calculate to see your results.

How to use

Calculate your ideal hourly or project rate as a freelancer. Factor in expenses, taxes, and desired income to set competitive rates.

How it's calculated

Minimum Hourly Rate

(annual_income_goal + annual_expenses) / (1 - tax_rate / 100) / (billable_hours_per_week * weeks_per_year)

The minimum you should charge per hour to meet your goals

Total Billable Hours / Year

billable_hours_per_week * weeks_per_year

Total hours you can bill clients each year

Gross Revenue Needed

(annual_income_goal + annual_expenses) / (1 - tax_rate / 100)

Total revenue needed before taxes and expenses

Examples

Mid-level developer freelancer

  • Tax Rate:20
  • Working Weeks Per Year:48
  • Annual Business Expenses:20,000,000
  • Desired Annual Income:120,000,000
  • Billable Hours Per Week:30

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I set my freelance rate?

Start with your desired income, add business expenses and taxes, then divide by your billable hours. Always add a buffer for non-billable time like admin, marketing, and client communication.

What counts as billable hours?

Billable hours are time spent directly on client work. Non-billable time includes admin tasks, networking, learning, and business development — typically 30-40% of your total working time.