Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Work out what to charge. Enter your income target, expenses, tax rate and billable hours, and get a recommended hourly rate, day rate, half-day rate and project price — with the full breakdown shown, so you can see exactly how the rate is built up.
Your numbers
All amounts are in the currency you choose. The currency switch changes the symbol only — no currency conversion is applied, so enter your amounts in that currency.
Your recommended rate (estimates)
Billable hours per year: — · Total revenue you need to bill per year: —
How your rate is built up
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1. Desired annual income (your take-home target) | — |
| 2. Plus business expenses for the year | — |
| 3. Subtotal (income + expenses) | — |
| 4. Plus non-billable time allowance (10%) | — |
| 5. Amount needed before tax | — |
| 6. Plus tax gross-up (20% — so that after tax you keep the amount in step 5) | — |
| Total revenue to bill per year | — |
| 7. Divided by billable hours per year (1,100) | = hourly rate |
Hourly rate = [ (income + expenses) × (1 + buffer%) ÷ (1 − tax%) ] ÷ (billable hours per week × weeks per year)
Day rate = hourly rate × hours in a working day · Half-day rate = day rate ÷ 2
Project price estimator
Enter the hours a project will take to see the price at your recommended rate.
What happens if you charge less?
Same hours, same expenses — a lower rate means less money at the end of the year. This is why undercharging is expensive.
| Rate | Hourly rate | Revenue per year | Shortfall vs target | Monthly revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended rate | — | — | — | — |
| 10% below | — | — | — | — |
| 20% below | — | — | — | — |
Monthly income projection (estimates, at your recommended rate)
| Monthly figure | Amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Gross revenue billed | — | Revenue ÷ 12 |
| Set aside for tax | — | Gross × your tax rate — keep this separate |
| Business expenses | — | Annual expenses ÷ 12 |
| Left for your income target + buffer | — | Your take-home target ÷ 12, plus the buffer |
Monthly revenue at 10% below your rate: — · at 20% below: —. The projection assumes you bill the same hours every month; real months vary, so treat this as a planning average, not a promise.
How to use your rate
- Quote the day rate for full-day work and the hourly rate for small jobs — clients understand both, and the day rate rewards you for committing a whole day.
- Never quote below the 10%-below figure without knowing what it costs you: the table above shows the exact annual shortfall.
- Raise your rate when your costs, tax or experience rise — rerun the calculator with the new numbers instead of guessing.
- Keep tax money in a separate account the moment a client pays you, so the monthly tax set-aside above is always covered.
- VAT / GST / sales tax is charged on top of your rate where it applies — it is not part of this calculation.
Frequently asked questions — freelancers around the world
One entry per country group, explaining how freelancers there use the same rate maths. Tax rules change often and differ by personal situation — check your local rules or ask a qualified accountant.
United Kingdom & Ireland — how do freelancers here use this calculator?
Enter your target take-home income, your business expenses (software, insurance, home office, travel), your billable hours per week and weeks worked per year, and your combined effective tax rate (Income Tax plus National Insurance in the UK, or Income Tax plus PRSI in Ireland). The calculator adds your expenses and a buffer for holidays, sick days and gaps between clients, then grosses the total up for tax and divides by your billable hours. VAT is charged on top of your rate where applicable and is not part of this calculation — check the current registration rules. All figures are estimates for general education only.
United States & Canada — how do freelancers here use this calculator?
Use the same maths: income target plus expenses, plus a buffer for unpaid time, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. In the USA, set the tax rate to your combined effective rate including federal and state income tax and self-employment tax, and remember to set money aside for quarterly estimated tax payments. In Canada, include federal and provincial income tax plus Canada Pension Plan contributions in your effective rate. Business expenses such as software, home office costs and insurance reduce the income you need to cover. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Germany, Austria & Switzerland (DACH) — how do freelancers calculate their Stundensatz?
The German Stundensatz (hourly rate) uses exactly this maths: desired annual income plus business expenses, plus a buffer (Puffer) for holidays, illness and non-billable admin time, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours per year. Your day rate is the Tagessatz — the hourly rate times eight. Enter your combined effective tax rate, including income tax and social contributions such as health insurance and pension, and remember that VAT (Umsatzsteuer / Mehrwertsteuer) is added on top of your rate where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
France — how do freelancers find their taux journalier moyen (TJM)?
In France, freelancers usually quote a taux journalier moyen (TJM), or average day rate. Use this calculator to find your hourly rate first, then multiply by eight for your TJM. Enter your combined effective rate covering income tax and charges sociales (social contributions), and include expenses such as software, insurance and coworking. The buffer covers holidays, sick days and time spent finding clients. VAT (TVA) is charged on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Spain — how do freelancers (autónomos) calculate their tarifa por hora?
Spanish autónomos use the same rate maths: annual income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays and unpaid admin time, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate covering IRPF (income tax) and your monthly cuota de autónomos social security payments, expressed as a percentage of your income. Your day rate is your hourly rate times eight, and IVA (VAT) is added on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Italy — how do freelancers calculate their tariffa oraria?
Italian freelancers with a partita IVA use the same formula: income target plus expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, illness and non-billable work, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate including income tax and social security contributions (gestione separata or your professional fund). Remember that IVA (VAT) is added on top of your rate where applicable, and that your effective rate changes with your income. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Netherlands & Belgium — how do freelancers calculate their uurtarief / tarif horaire?
In the Netherlands, freelancers (zzp’ers) quote an uurtarief; in Belgium, a tarif horaire. The maths is the same: income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, sick days and acquiring clients, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate including income tax and social contributions, and check the current self-employed allowances and VAT (btw / TVA) rules, which change from year to year. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Poland & Czech Republic — how do freelancers calculate their stawka godzinowa / hodinová sazba?
In Poland, freelancers quote a stawka godzinowa; in the Czech Republic, a hodinová sazba. Use the same formula: annual income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays and non-billable time, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate including income tax and social and health insurance contributions, which are a significant part of the total for self-employed workers in both countries. VAT is added on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark & Finland (Nordics) — how do freelancers calculate their rate?
Nordic freelancers — timpris in Sweden, timesats in Norway, timepris in Denmark, tuntihinta in Finland — use the same rate maths, but should set a realistic effective tax rate, because income tax plus social contributions are high. Enter your income target, business expenses, and a buffer for holidays, sick days and unpaid admin time, then gross up for your combined effective rate and divide by billable hours. Your day rate is the hourly rate times eight. VAT (moms / mva / alv) is added on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Portugal — how do freelancers calculate their taxa horária?
Portuguese freelancers working on recibos verdes use the same formula: income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays and gaps between clients, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate covering IRS (income tax) and Segurança Social contributions. Your day rate is your hourly rate times eight, and IVA (VAT) is added on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Greece — how do freelancers calculate their hourly rate (ωριαία χρέωση)?
Greek freelancers use the same rate maths: annual income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, illness and non-billable work, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate including income tax and EFKA social insurance contributions. Your day rate is your hourly rate times eight, and VAT (ΦΠΑ) is added on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Australia & New Zealand — how do freelancers use this calculator?
In Australia, enter your combined effective rate including income tax and, if you are a sole trader, money you set aside for superannuation, since no employer pays it for you. GST is charged on top of your rate once you are registered, and is not part of this calculation. In New Zealand, include income tax and ACC levies in your effective rate, and GST is charged on top where applicable. In both countries, add a buffer for holidays, sick days and time spent finding work. All figures are estimates for general education only.
India & Pakistan — how do freelancers use this calculator?
Freelancers in India and Pakistan use the same maths: income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, illness and unpaid time between clients, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. In India, enter your effective income tax rate and remember GST is charged on top where applicable. In Pakistan, enter your effective income tax rate, including any withholding tax on freelance payments. The currency switch (₹ or Rs) changes the symbol only — enter your amounts in your own currency, as no currency conversion is applied. All figures are estimates for general education only.
UAE — how do freelancers use this calculator?
Freelancers in the UAE use the same formula — income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays and gaps between clients, divided by billable hours — even though there is generally no personal income tax, so many set the tax rate to 0% and focus on expenses such as licences, visas, coworking and software. VAT is charged on top where applicable, and corporate tax rules for freelancers change, so check the current rules. All figures are estimates for general education only.
South Africa — how do freelancers use this calculator?
South African freelancers use the same maths: income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, illness and non-billable admin time, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective income tax rate, and remember provisional tax means setting money aside during the year rather than paying it all at year end. VAT is charged on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Japan — how do freelancers calculate their hourly rate (時間単価)?
Japanese freelancers use the same formula to find their 時間単価 (hourly rate): income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, illness and non-billable work, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate including income tax, residence tax, national pension and national health insurance contributions. Consumption tax is charged on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Brazil & Mexico — how do freelancers calculate their valor por hora / tarifa por hora?
In Brazil, freelancers quote a valor por hora; in Mexico, a tarifa por hora. The maths is the same: income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays and non-billable time, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. Enter your combined effective rate — in Brazil, income tax plus social security contributions under your tax regime; in Mexico, ISR (income tax) plus IVA considerations. Your day rate is your hourly rate times eight. All figures are estimates for general education only.
Singapore & Malaysia — how do freelancers use this calculator?
Freelancers in Singapore and Malaysia use the same formula: income target plus business expenses, plus a buffer for holidays, illness and gaps between clients, grossed up for tax and divided by billable hours. In Singapore, enter your effective income tax rate and set aside money for MediSave contributions as a self-employed person. In Malaysia, enter your effective income tax rate and consider voluntary EPF and SOCSO contributions. GST (Singapore) or SST (Malaysia) is charged on top where applicable. All figures are estimates for general education only.