Find a sustainable hourly rate from your income goal, costs, taxes, and realistic billable time.
Recommended hourly rate
Based on the values entered · USD
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How to use it
A good freelance rate pays for far more than the hours on a client call. It also covers taxes, software, sales time, leave, and the gaps between projects.
Use realistic values from your own work and records.
Read the supporting breakdown, not only the headline.
Test a conservative and an optimistic scenario.
Methodology
The calculator estimates the revenue needed to cover your take-home target, taxes, and business expenses, then divides it by realistic billable hours after time off, utilization, and optional public holidays.
Practical example
A freelancer targeting 75,000 in take-home income, with 12,000 in expenses and 25% estimated tax, needs a higher revenue target than salary alone suggests. Reducing available time to realistic billable hours produces a sustainable hourly rate.
Formula
Total Annual Revenue Needed = Desired Income + Expenses + Tax Buffer + Profit Buffer. This is a planning method, not tax, legal, or financial advice.
Common mistakes
Better inputs
Spreadsheet version
Download the free freelance rate calculator spreadsheet to plan income, expenses, time off, billable hours, and project pricing assumptions offline.
Download the free spreadsheetLearn the context
A step-by-step method for turning income goals, expenses, tax planning, vacation time, and billable hours into a practical freelance hourly rate.
Learn how taxes, business expenses, unpaid time, and time off change the freelance hourly rate you need to charge.
Common questions
Yes. It is free to use, requires no account, and your entries stay in your browser.
The result is a planning estimate based on the values you provide. Taxes, local rules, and individual circumstances can change the real outcome.
No. This calculator runs in your browser and does not send your entries to a server.
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