Start from capacity
A freelancer cannot normally bill every working hour. Sales, proposals, administration, learning, support, and unpaid gaps reduce billable capacity. Estimate that share before setting the rate.
Free freelance rate calculator
Calculate an hourly freelance rate from your income goal.
Estimate a sustainable freelance hourly rate from target income, business expenses, taxes, billable hours, and paid time off.
How the calculation works
Use consistent inputs and keep the result in context.
Separate income and revenue
Your revenue must cover business expenses and reserves before it becomes personal income. This calculator grosses up the desired take-home amount using the allowance you enter.
Use a floor, not a promise
The calculated rate is a planning floor. Project risk, urgency, specialization, revisions, intellectual property, payment terms, and market fit may justify a different quote.
Continue planning
Connect the number to the operating decision.
Use the result as a starting estimate, document the assumptions, and replace them with actual records as the business operates.