Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Work out the freelance rate you need to charge to hit your income goal.
Pricing your own time
Setting a freelance rate is more than picking a number — it has to cover your target income, your costs, and the reality that not every hour is billable. This works out the rate you need from your income goal and working assumptions, so you charge enough to actually make a living rather than undercharging by accident.
Enter your income goal and working details to see the rate.
Why a freelance rate isn't a salary divided by hours
The most common freelance mistake is taking a desired salary, dividing by working hours, and charging that — which leaves you badly short. A freelancer must cover business costs an employer would pay, gets no paid holiday or sick leave, and spends a large share of time on unbillable work like admin, marketing and finding clients, so only a fraction of hours are actually billed. All of that has to be built into the rate, which is why a sustainable freelance rate is much higher than the equivalent salaried hourly figure. Working it out properly, rather than guessing, is what stops the slow burnout of being busy but underpaid.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I just divide my target salary by my hours?
Because freelancers cover their own costs, get no paid leave, and spend much time on unbillable admin and marketing — so the rate must be well above a salaried hourly figure.
What should the rate account for?
Your income goal, business costs, taxes, time off, and the fact that only a fraction of your hours are billable.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The calculation happens in your browser.