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Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

The problem: You set your rate by copying what others charge, then wonder why a “good” salary leaves you broke — holidays, sick days, tax and expenses were never in the number.

How to use — quick guide

Enter the yearly income you actually want to take home into this freelance hourly rate calculator, then add your working weeks, realistic billable hours, business expenses and tax rate. It works out the minimum hourly rate that truly delivers that income — your floor, not your ceiling. Free, no signup, instant results.

How to use it

  1. Enter the yearly income you actually want to take home.
  2. Add your working weeks and billable hours per week (be honest — admin time is not billable).
  3. Add yearly business expenses and your tax rate. The calculator returns the minimum hourly rate that really delivers that income.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my needed rate higher than a salary ÷ hours?

Employees get paid holidays, sick leave and employer-covered costs. As a freelancer you fund all of that from your rate.

What counts as billable hours?

Only hours a client pays for. Most freelancers bill 50–70% of their working time; the rest is admin, marketing and revisions.

Should I charge exactly this rate?

Treat it as your floor, not your price. Charge for the value and expertise on top of it.

Read the how-to guides for all 30 tools →

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