Set a freelance rate that covers taxes, time off, and profit.
Most freelancers price from gut feel. That is why solid work still turns into thin margins. This guide helps you work backward from the income you want, then pressure-test the number against real market ranges.
What it does
Turns a take-home target into an hourly, day, and weekly rate.
What it includes
Tax estimates, unpaid vacation, overhead, and a profit cushion.
Who it is for
Independent developers, designers, writers, marketers, and consultants.
Before you quote a client
Know your floor first.
Your floor rate is the minimum number that still leaves room for taxes, admin time, software, insurance, and missed weeks. If you skip that math, you end up subsidizing the project yourself.
- Start with the calculator to get a realistic baseline.
- Use the benchmark guides to see whether your market supports that number.
- Adjust your scope, positioning, or client mix if the gap is too wide.
Use the freelance hourly rate calculator
Enter the income you want to take home, your expected billable hours, time off, and annual business costs. The calculator gives you a minimum viable hourly rate plus a healthier recommended rate with margin built in.
Calculate Your Freelance Rate
Most freelancers bill 25-35 hours per week after admin and sales time.
Software, insurance, hardware, accounting, coworking, etc.
These rates are estimates. Always consult a qualified accountant for your specific tax situation.
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Why $50/hr take-home requires ~$100/hr billing
Every dollar you want to take home costs roughly two dollars in billing. Taxes, unpaid leave, and business costs are invisible until you do the math.
Why your take-home rate is not your client rate
If you want to earn $50 an hour personally, you cannot bill $50 an hour. Freelancers pay their own taxes. They also absorb unpaid vacation, lead generation, software, accounting, and downtime between projects.
For many solo businesses, the number a client sees needs to be 1.7x to 2x the number you want to keep. That sounds aggressive until you price a slow month. Then it sounds necessary.
The exact multiplier changes by country and workload. The principle does not. Price the business, not just the hours. If you want the full process, the rate-setting guide walks through it.
Benchmark your quote against the market
The calculator gives you your floor. Market data tells you whether that floor is realistic for the work you sell. Start with the sample developer table below, then open the profession-specific guides for full breakdowns and FAQs.
Sample benchmark: freelance developer rates in the US
| Experience | US (USD/hr) |
|---|---|
| Junior | $45–$75 |
| Mid | $75–$125 |
| Senior | $125–$200 |
Freelance developer rates
Use real hourly ranges for web, app, and specialist development work before you send a quote.
Open guideFreelance designer rates
See pricing for graphic, brand, and UI/UX work so you stop guessing what to charge.
Open guideFreelance writer rates
Compare hourly, per-project, and per-word pricing for common writing engagements.
Open guideFreelance marketer rates
Check benchmarks for SEO, paid media, email, and content marketing retainers.
Open guideNeed country-specific pricing context?
A good number in New York can still be wrong in London, Toronto, or Melbourne. Local taxes, legal rules, and client expectations matter. Use the geo guides below if you bill in GBP, CAD, or AUD.
UK rates
GBP pricing, IR35 notes, and a faster way to sanity-check contractor quotes.
See local benchmarksCanada rates
CAD ranges with GST/HST and self-employment tax context built in.
See local benchmarksAustralia rates
AUD benchmarks with super and GST reminders for solo operators.
See local benchmarks