Online selling & marketing
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Freelancers often undercharge because they forget taxes, benefits and unbillable time. Enter the take-home income you want, your tax rate, business expenses, insurance and retirement savings, and how much of your time you can actually bill. Get your minimum hourly and day rate.
How to use the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
- Enter the take-home income you want.
- Enter your total tax rate including self-employment tax.
- Add business expenses, insurance and retirement.
- Set working weeks, hours and billable share.
Formula
Example
To take home $80,000 with 28% tax, $15,000 of costs, 46 weeks and 65% billable time, you need about $105 an hour.
Moving beyond hourly
Once you know your floor rate, consider project or value-based pricing. Clients pay for results, and faster work should not earn you less.
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Frequently asked questions
What billable share is realistic?
50-70% for most freelancers.
Should I add a profit margin?
Yes - 10-20% for slow months and growth.
How much do I set aside for tax?
Many US freelancers set aside 25-35% of profit.
Should my rate differ by client?
Many freelancers charge more for rush work and smaller projects.
Results are estimates for planning, not financial advice. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional. Your inputs stay in your browser and are not sent to Soft2Cloud.
Last updated: November 2026