Freelancer Hourly Rate Calculator
Enter your target annual take-home income, business expenses, tax rate, and how many hours you actually bill each week to find the hourly rate you need to charge clients.
About this calculator
Determine the hourly rate you need to charge as a freelancer to hit your income goal after accounting for taxes, expenses, and unbillable hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my required hourly rate so much higher than my take-home goal implies?
Because it accounts for taxes, business expenses, and the fact that you likely won't bill 40 hours every week due to admin work, marketing, and time off, so fewer billable hours must cover your full income needs.
How many hours should I count as billable per week?
Most freelancers can only bill 50-70% of a standard work week after accounting for client acquisition, invoicing, and other unbillable tasks, so be realistic rather than assuming a full 40 hours.
Should I include health insurance in business expenses?
Yes, self-employed individuals should include health insurance, retirement contributions, software, and any other business costs in the expenses field to get an accurate required rate.