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Freelance Rate Calculator

Stop guessing what to charge. Calculate your minimum hourly rate based on your income goals, expenses, and realistic billable hours.

Income-based

Start with what you want to earn, work backwards.

Reality-checked

Factors in actual billable hours, not 40-hour weeks.

Buffer included

Suggested rates include margin for slow months.

Your inputs

Set your take-home goal, add your business expenses, and estimate your real billable hours.

$

What you want to take home after expenses (before personal taxes)

$

Software, tools, insurance, subscriptions, etc.

Your capacity

Be realistic - most freelancers bill 20-30 hours/week

Include sick days, holidays, slow periods

Your rates

We calculate a minimum rate (break-even) and add buffers for suggested and premium positioning.

Enter your numbers to see your rate.

Click Calculate to get your minimum, suggested, and premium hourly rates.

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Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on the inputs you provide. Actual rates depend on your market, skills, experience, and demand. Consider researching rates in your specific industry and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?▼
Start with your desired annual income, add business expenses (taxes, insurance, software), then divide by realistic billable hours (typically 1,000-1,500/year). Add 20-30% buffer for slow months.
How many billable hours do freelancers actually work?▼
Most freelancers bill 50-70% of their working hours. Expect 20-28 billable hours from a 40-hour week—the rest goes to admin, marketing, and finding clients.
Should I charge the same rate for all clients?▼
Not necessarily. Consider higher rates for rush work, complex projects, or enterprise clients with bigger budgets. Many freelancers have tiered pricing.
What expenses should I factor into my rate?▼
Include self-employment tax (15.3%), health insurance, retirement, software, equipment, and a buffer for slow months. These can add 30-50% to base living expenses.

Related Resources

Managing Irregular Income

Strategies for budgeting when your income varies month to month.

Read guide

Income Variability Calculator

Measure how stable your freelance income is over time.

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Know your rate? Now plan when you'll actually get paid with a full cash flow forecast.

Try Cash Flow Forecaster Free