Quick answer: Freelance Rate Calculator
The Freelance Rate Calculator helps you set a sustainable hourly rate by accounting for your income goal, taxes, business overhead, and non-billable time. It shows the minimum rate required to stay profitable, so you can price confidently and stop accepting projects that quietly underpay your actual workload.
Use the calculator
Freelance Rate Calculator
Calculate the hourly freelance rate you need based on your target income, monthly expenses, and billable hours.
Pricing Inputs
Results
Total Needed per Month
$4000.00
Recommended Hourly Rate
$50.00
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Understanding your results
Your rate output shows what you need to charge to hit income goals while accounting for the reality of utilization and overhead.
How to use this calculator
- Set your income target and annual business expenses.
- Estimate realistic billable hours, not total work hours.
- Use the calculated rate as your minimum sustainable baseline.
Formula
Target Hourly Rate = (Income Goal + Expenses + Taxes) ÷ Billable Hours
Freelancers are often underpaid because they divide by total hours instead of true billable capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many billable hours should freelancers plan for?
Many freelancers plan around 20 to 30 billable hours per week after admin, sales, and revisions.
Should freelancers include taxes in their rate?
Yes. Taxes are a real cost and should be built into your pricing model.
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