Finance

Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Free freelance rate calculator — find the sustainable hourly rate that covers your target take-home, business expenses, taxes, and realistic billable hours.

Short answer: Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator — Find the hourly rate you actually need to charge. Free freelance rate calculator — find the sustainable hourly rate that covers your target take-home, business expenses, taxes, and realistic billable hours. It answers “freelance hourly rate calculator with taxes and costs”. Who it is for: Freelancers setting a rate for the first time; Contractors moving from salary to day rate; Consultants pricing a project from an income target. It runs entirely in your browser — no sign-up, no account, no email and no upload — and every result can be exported as a dated PDF report.

✔ Price: free, unlimited use, no rate limits
✔ Sign-up: not required
✔ Privacy: all math runs client-side, nothing is uploaded
✔ Export: one-click PDF report (2026 rates)

Desired take-homeBusiness expenses / yearTax rate (%)Billable hours / weekWeeks worked / year

Required revenue

$88000.00

Pre-tax

Billable hours / year

1,200

Your hourly rate

$73.33

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Who is this tool for?

✔ Freelancers setting a rate for the first time
✔ Contractors moving from salary to day rate
✔ Consultants pricing a project from an income target
✔ Anyone whose current rate does not cover taxes and time off
✔ New freelancers in Canada, Australia, the UK or beyond

How to use Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Enter desired annual take-home.
Add business expenses and tax rate.
Set billable hours per week and working weeks.
Get your target hourly rate.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my freelance rate higher than an employee's hourly?

Freelancers cover benefits, taxes, downtime, tools, and unbillable admin. Rates 2–3× the employee-equivalent are normal and sustainable.

How many hours per week can I really bill?

20–25 billable hours per week is realistic for solo freelancers — the rest is admin, sales, and learning.

Should I raise my freelance rate?

If you are booked 3+ months out or turning down work, raise it 10–20%. Underpricing burns you out faster than any deadline.

Who is this freelance rate calculator for?

Freelancers and contractors setting a rate from an income target, including people moving from salary to contract work in Canada, Australia, the UK or beyond.

Why is my freelance rate higher than my old salary's hourly rate?

Because a freelancer pays their own taxes, expenses, holidays, sick days and non-billable time. A rate built only from salary divided by hours under-prices the work — this calculator adds those costs back in.

Freelance hourly rate calculator with taxes and costs?

Use the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator above: Find the hourly rate you actually need to charge. Free freelance rate calculator — find the sustainable hourly rate that covers your target take-home, business expenses, taxes, and realistic billable hours.