Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Work out the hourly rate you need to charge to hit your target take-home income after taxes, business costs, and time off. Stop undercharging — the numbers don't lie.
After-tax income you want to keep each year.
Software, insurance, equipment, accountant, coworking, etc.
Vacation, holidays, sick days. 6 is realistic.
Only hours you invoice to clients. Usually 20-30, rarely 40.
Combined income + self-employment / social tax you pay on profit.
How the rate calculator works
Not a guess — a working model of your year.
Start with what you want to keep
Take-home income is what lands in your bank account after tax. Be honest — this is the number your life actually needs.
Add your costs and realities
Business costs, tax rate, and weeks off are the parts that quietly eat your day rate. Include them so your rate survives reality.
Charge accordingly
Your required hourly rate is revenue ÷ total billable hours. Round up, not down — admin time, unpaid proposals, and downtime aren't in the count.
Why use this calculator
Instant results
Every change recalculates live — no loading, no wait. Run scenarios in seconds.
Runs in your browser
Nothing is sent to our servers. Your numbers stay on your device.
12 languages
Use it in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, or Arabic.
Accurate and transparent
Clean math with clear breakdowns so you understand every figure — not a black box.
Want to go further than a calculator?
Create a free KipBill account to invoice clients, track payments, manage taxes, and send reminders automatically.
Open free accountHourly Rate Calculator — FAQ
Why is my required rate higher than I expected?+
Because freelancers aren't paid for 40 hours a week. You have admin, sales, downtime, holidays, and sick days. A 40-hour employee equivalent realistically bills 20-30 hours. Spread your target income over that smaller base and the rate goes up.
Should I quote hourly, daily, or by project?+
Most experienced freelancers move away from hourly because it caps your earnings. Use the hourly rate as your internal benchmark, then quote day rates or project fees that reflect value — not time. The calculator's hourly output is a floor.
What should I put in business costs?+
Software subscriptions, insurance, accountant fees, equipment depreciation, coworking or home-office cost, training, travel to clients, bank fees, and any marketing spend. Don't forget pension/retirement contributions.
What tax rate should I use?+
Use your effective combined rate including income tax and self-employment / social security. For rough planning: US solo LLC ~28-35%, UK sole trader ~25-35%, Germany Freiberufler ~40-50%, France micro-entrepreneur ~22% (special regime). Check with your accountant.
Is 25 billable hours per week realistic?+
For established freelancers, yes — and often generous once you account for proposals, admin, and learning. New freelancers who market heavily may bill less. Pull your last 3 months of tracked hours to check your own number.
How often should I review my rate?+
At least annually, and whenever your costs, tax bracket, or skill level change. Many freelancers underprice by running last year's math on this year's life. A 10-15% annual raise barely keeps up with inflation + growing expertise.