Last updated: January 2026
Freelance Rate Calculator is a free, browser-based tool that helps independent professionals determine the hourly rate they need to charge to hit their income goals.
Most freelancers calculate their rate by taking their old salary and dividing it by 2,080 hours. This method is dangerously wrong. It ignores self-employment tax, business expenses, non-billable time, and the simple fact that freelancers don't get paid vacation.
We built this tool to fix that. It accounts for the real costs of freelancing — the 15.3% self-employment tax, the 40% of your week that isn't billable, and the weeks you take off — so you can set a rate that actually works.
The calculator uses a four-step formula:
1. Billable Hours = Hours per Week × Weeks per Year × Billable Ratio
2. Required Revenue = Target Income + Expenses + Self-Employment Tax
3. Minimum Rate = Required Revenue ÷ Billable Hours
4. Recommended Rate = Minimum Rate × 1.20
All calculations run in your browser. No data is sent to a server. No signup is required.
This tool is designed for freelancers, consultants, contractors, designers, developers, writers, and anyone else who bills by the hour. If you're transitioning from a salaried job to freelancing, this calculator will show you what you actually need to charge.
Have feedback or found a bug? Email us at astl02r@gmail.com.