Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Calculate your freelance hourly rate based on desired income, billable hours, and expenses. All calculations run in your browser — no signup, no tracking, no cookies.
Inputs
Adjust your desired income and working hours.
Results
Live estimate based on your inputs.
How the math works
Required annual revenue = (desired income + expenses) / (1 - tax rate). Billable hours/year = billable hours/week × (52 - weeks off). Minimum hourly rate = required revenue / billable hours. After-tax income = required revenue × (1 - tax rate) - expenses. This is a simplified model — actual rates depend on your skills, market demand, and client negotiation.
Common scenarios
$50k income, 20 billable hrs/week, 4 weeks off, $5k expenses, 25% tax
Required revenue: $73,333. Hourly rate: $76.39. After-tax income: $55,000. This is a realistic benchmark for a part-time freelancer.
$100k income, 30 billable hrs/week, 2 weeks off, $10k expenses, 30% tax
Required revenue: $157,143. Hourly rate: $105.43. After-tax income: $110,000. Higher income and more hours require higher rates.
FAQ
Do I have to sign up to use this?
No. The calculator is fully client-side. No login, no account, no email capture.
How accurate is this estimate?
It's a model, not a guarantee. Actual rates depend on your skills, market demand, and client negotiation. Use the calculator for scenario planning.