Start with the income you need
Enter the annual personal income you want the business to support. This is separate from business expenses, software, insurance, contractors, and other operating costs.
Freelance hourly pricing
Hourly rate calculator for freelancers
Use this calculator to turn your income goal, expenses, taxes, unpaid time, and realistic billable hours into a minimum hourly rate.
Guide
How to calculate your freelance hourly rate
Use realistic billable hours
Most freelancers cannot invoice 40 hours every week. Sales calls, admin, revisions, holidays, sick time, and gaps between clients reduce the hours that can carry your revenue target.
Treat the result as a floor
The output is the minimum hourly rate needed by the business. Your quoted rate can be higher when the work is strategic, urgent, specialized, or risky.
Blog
Read more practical money notes
The blog expands on pricing, cash flow, runway, and balance-sheet thinking without tying this page to unrelated calculators.
Next step
Check the personal balance sheet behind your rate
The calculator gives you a pricing floor. The 12-month workbook helps you see assets, debts, obligations, net worth, runway, and cash flow before you make bigger pricing decisions.
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FAQ
Common questions for hourly rate calculator for freelancers
Is this a finished price or a floor?
The calculator gives you a floor. You can quote higher when the work is urgent, specialized, strategic, or likely to involve extra coordination.
Why do taxes and weeks off matter?
Freelance work has fewer billable hours than a normal salary job, and the tax burden sits on the business side. The inputs make that difference visible before you commit to a rate.
Can I use this for project, day, or retainer pricing?
Yes. Start with the hourly floor, then translate it into a fixed fee, day rate, or retainer after you estimate the number of hours, access, and scope involved.
Is this tax or legal advice?
No. It is a planning tool. Confirm tax, legal, and financial decisions with a qualified professional if the numbers will affect formal filings or contracts.