Freelance Rate Calculator
Calculate your ideal freelance hourly rate
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Find your ideal freelance hourly rate with this free calculator. Many freelancers and consultants undercharge because they don't account for taxes, overhead costs, and non-billable time. Enter your desired net income, working hours, and overhead percentage to get a realistic minimum and recommended hourly rate.
How It Works
- Enter your desired annual net income
- Set weeks worked per year (default: 46, accounting for vacation and holidays)
- Enter billable hours per week (not all working hours are billable)
- Set overhead percentage (taxes, software, expenses) and profit margin
- Get your minimum and recommended rate in real time
Frequently Asked Questions
What is overhead in freelance rate calculation?
Overhead includes all non-billable expenses: taxes, software, hardware, training, marketing, and administration. A 25-35% overhead rate is typical for most freelancers.
Why use 46 weeks instead of 52?
46 weeks accounts for vacations, public holidays, and sick days. Using 52 weeks leads to undercharging because it assumes you work all year without breaks.
Why are billable hours less than worked hours?
Not all working hours are billable: emails, proposals, administration, and finding new clients are necessary but not directly chargeable. On average, only 60-70% of working hours are billable.