Freelance Rate Calculator - What to Charge Per Hour

Freelance Rate Calculator: What Should You Actually Charge?

Most freelancers undercharge. Not because they lack confidence — because they never did the math. Your freelance rate has to cover your salary target, taxes, business expenses, vacation, sick days, benefits you no longer get from an employer, and the reality that not every hour is billable. This calculator does that math for you.

🧾

Freelance Rate Calculator

Calculate the minimum hourly rate to hit your income target as a freelancer.

Desired Annual Take-Home Pay ($)

Estimated Tax Rate (%)

Monthly Business Expenses ($)

Billable Hours Per Week

Weeks Vacation / Off Per Year

Utilization Rate (%)

Minimum Rate

–

Break-even floor

Recommended Rate

–

Includes 20% buffer

Billable Hours/Year

–

Utilization rate is the percentage of your available hours that are actually billed. 100% is impossible — you spend time on sales, admin, learning, and client communication. Starting freelancers often run 50-60%. Experienced, referral-heavy freelancers can reach 80-90%. Build your rate around realistic utilization, not optimistic estimates.