Start with the take-home pay you want. We add taxes, business costs and the hours you can’t bill for, then tell you the minimum rate that gets you there.
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How this freelance rate calculator works
Your rate has to cover four things that an employer used to pay for silently:
Taxes. Freelancers pay both halves of payroll-style taxes on top of income tax. In the US, self-employment tax alone is about 15.3% of most of your profit. Enter your best estimate of your total effective rate.
Business expenses. Software, hardware, insurance, health cover, accounting, co-working, marketing.
Time off. No one pays you for vacation, public holidays or sick days. Six weeks a year is a realistic minimum.
Non-billable hours. Sales calls, proposals, invoicing, email and learning. Most freelancers can bill only 50–70% of the hours they work.
Clients often prefer day rates, weekly rates or fixed project prices. Once you know your floor, use the project pricing calculator to turn hours into a quote with a sensible risk buffer.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good hourly rate for a beginner freelancer?
Start from your costs, not from what others charge: use this calculator to find your floor, then compare it with market rates for your skill and location. If the market pays less than your floor, you need a cheaper cost base, more billable hours or a higher-value niche.
Why is my freelance rate so much higher than my old salary per hour?
Because a salary covers 2,080 paid hours a year including holidays, plus benefits and the employer's share of taxes. As a freelancer you might bill only 1,100–1,400 hours and pay all of those costs yourself.
Should I charge hourly or per project?
Hourly is safer when scope is unclear. Fixed pricing rewards you for being fast and is easier for clients to approve. Many freelancers use their hourly floor to calculate a fixed project price.
What tax rate should I enter?
Use your total effective rate across all taxes. If you don't know it, 25–35% is a reasonable planning range for many US, UK, Canadian and Australian freelancers with moderate incomes, but check with an accountant.
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