Freelance Rate Calculator

How to set a freelance rate

1. Enter the income you want after tax, your yearly business costs and your tax rate.
2. Enter the hours a week you can bill and the weeks you work in a year.
3. See the hourly rate and day rate you need.

Frequently asked questions

Why use billable hours, not working hours?

Time spent on admin, sales and learning is not paid by clients. Many freelancers can bill only 20 to 30 hours of a 40-hour week.

What should business costs include?

Everything an employer would normally pay for: software, equipment, insurance, accounting, workspace and training.

Why does my tax rate change the hourly rate?

The rate has to cover your income tax as well as the take-home income you want, so a higher tax rate needs a higher hourly rate.