Freelance Rate Calculator
Your real hourly price: target salary + costs + vacation + non-billable time + margin.
Freelance Rate
Your fair hourly rate — costs, vacation and margin included.
What you want to earn as a salary per year.
Coworking, software, internet, insurance, training, accountant.
Real billable hours — not counting admin/prospecting.
Cushion over costs. 20% is healthy, 30%+ premium.
Your hourly rate
$61/h
Day rate (8h)
$491
Monthly break-even
$4,350
to cover cost
Billable hours/yr
1,020
Scenarios
$52/h
$4,437 / mo
- Day (8h)
- $418
- Week
- $1,109
- Project min
- $2,088
$61/h
$5,220 / mo
- Day (8h)
- $491
- Week
- $1,305
- Project min
- $2,456
$77/h
$6,525 / mo
- Day (8h)
- $614
- Week
- $1,631
- Project min
- $3,071
Assumptions
- • Billable weeks: 48 weeks (4 off)
- • Non-billable time: 15%
- • Margin applied: 20%
- • Lean = 85% of target rate. Premium = 125% (premium client, urgency or senior experience).
Reference figure. Adjust by market, country and perceived value.
How your rate is computed
Yearly target = (salary + fixed costs) × (1 + margin).
Working weeks = 52 − vacation weeks.
Billable hours/yr = hours/week × weeks × (1 − non-billable%).
Hourly = yearly target / billable hours.
Break-even = (salary + costs) / 12 — the minimum to avoid losing.
FAQ
- Why is my rate higher than what others charge?
- When you subtract vacation, fixed costs, non-billable time and margin, the number grows. Charging less means subsidizing your business with your pocket. This calculator gives you a healthy floor, not a ceiling.
- What goes into fixed costs?
- Coworking, software, internet, self-paid health insurance, retirement, accountant, ongoing training. Anything an employee 'gets for free' but you pay.
- How much non-billable time is normal?
- 15–30% if you have pipeline. Heavy prospecting and proposals easily push to 35–45%. Juniors often over 50%.
- Should I raise my rate every year?
- Yes. At least inflation + an experience bump. The 'premium' rate is the sensible ceiling once you have portfolio and demand.