Free Freelance Rate Calculator
Calculate what to charge per hour based on your income goals, expenses, and billable hours. Updates instantly.
Your hourly rate
$88.00 / hour
Day rate
$704.00
Project rate (40hr)
$3,520.00
Monthly target
$8,800.00
This rate covers your income target plus expenses plus a 20% profit margin. Most freelancers undercharge by 20–40% — this is the floor, not the ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
How is my freelance rate calculated?+
We add your annual income target and business expenses, then apply your profit margin percentage to get total revenue needed. That number is divided by your annual billable hours (weeks worked × hours per week) to produce your hourly rate. Day and project rates are derived from that hourly figure.
Why include a profit margin?+
A rate without profit margin only covers costs — it pays you a salary but leaves nothing for growth, taxes beyond basics, or slow months. A margin buffer turns your rate into a sustainable business floor instead of break-even math.
How many billable hours per week is realistic?+
Most full-time freelancers bill 20–30 hours per week. The rest goes to sales, admin, email, and learning. If you bill 40+ hours consistently, you are either undercounting non-billable work or heading for burnout.
Should I charge hourly or by project?+
Hourly is fine when scope is uncertain. Once you can estimate reliably, project pricing usually pays better because clients buy outcomes, not hours — and you keep efficiency gains.
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