Freelancer & Business
Freelance rate calculator
Start from the monthly income you want to take home. We work backwards through tax, costs, time off and unbillable hours to the rate you should charge.
- Free, no sign-up
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing uploaded
Income you want
Only changes the symbol and number style. No conversion.
What you want in your account after tax and costs.
Software, internet, co-working, equipment, insurance.
Your own estimate of the share of profit that goes in tax. Not tax advice.
Your time
Holidays, leave, sick days, gaps between clients.
The rest goes on admin, finding clients, invoices and learning. 50 to 70 is common for solo work.
Extra margin for slow months and late payers.
Price a project
For revisions and surprises.
Reality check (optional)
See what your current rate actually leaves you with.
You should charge about
-/ hour
- Day rate
- Week
- Revenue needed per month
- Revenue needed per year
- Billable hours per year
- Billable hours per month
- Project price (before GST)
- Project invoice with GST
Priced the job? Keep the project organised
Set the scope, tasks, files and deadlines in BeginRooms so the hours you quoted are the hours you spend. The 11-day trial needs no card, and this calculator stays free.
How the rate is worked out
Your rate has to cover four things: what you take home, tax, your costs, and the hours you cannot bill.
Revenue needed = take-home x 12 / (1 - tax) + costs x 12
Revenue with buffer = revenue needed x (1 + buffer)
Billable hours = (52 - weeks off) x days a week x hours a day x billable share
Hourly rate = revenue with buffer / billable hours
Day rate = revenue with buffer / working days
Costs are deducted before tax, so tax applies only to the profit. Most freelancers bill well under all the hours they work, which is why the billable share matters more than any other input. The project price is estimated hours times your hourly rate, plus the scope buffer.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours can a freelancer really bill?
It depends on the work. Many solo freelancers bill roughly half to two-thirds of the hours they work, because finding clients, admin and invoicing also take time. Track your own week for a month and use that number.
Should I use my salary to work out my hourly rate?
Dividing a salary by 2,080 hours undercharges, because a salary includes paid leave and no business costs. This calculator adds time off, costs, tax and unbillable hours instead.
What tax rate should I enter?
Use your own estimate of the share of profit you pay in tax. A CA can give you a figure for your situation. The tool does not know your tax slab.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser.