Business
Instant, private, and free
Freelance Rate Calculator.
Determine your ideal hourly rate based on salary goals and expenses
Set your values
Results update as you type.
Financial Goals
Your target take-home pay after taxes and expenses.
Software, hardware, office, marketing, etc.
Average percentage of income you pay in taxes.
Working Hours
Weeks per year you won't be working (vacation, sick, holidays).
Standard total working hours per week.
Percentage of time spent on paid client work vs. admin.
Ideal Hourly Rate
Based on your goals, you should charge at least this amount per hour.
FAQs
How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?
Take your desired annual take-home pay, add your business expenses, and adjust for taxes. Divide this total by the number of billable hours you plan to work in a year.
What is a "billable percentage"?
It is the portion of your total working hours that you actually charge to clients. Most freelancers find that 60-75% of their time is billable, with the rest spent on admin, marketing, and learning.
Why should I include vacation time in my rate?
As a freelancer, you don't get paid time off. To maintain your desired annual income while taking breaks, your hourly rate must be high enough to cover the weeks you aren't working.
Cite this calculator
Canonical URL: https://mathify.one/en/business/freelance-rate
Cite as: Mathify. (2026). Freelance Rate Calculator. https://mathify.one/en/business/freelance-rate
Use Cases
Set your freelance pricing
Determine a baseline hourly rate that covers your salary, expenses, and taxes, so you can quote confidently.
Example: If you want $80,000 salary, $10,000 expenses, 25% tax, 4 weeks vacation, 40 hrs/week, 80% billable, your rate is about $68/hr.
Evaluate a project or retainer
Use the rate to check if a project fee or monthly retainer aligns with your income goals.
Example: A 10-hour project should be priced at 10 × your calculated rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the freelance rate calculator work?
- It adds your desired annual salary and business expenses, then adjusts for your tax rate to find the gross income needed. It divides this by your billable hours (hours per week × weeks worked × billable percentage) to give your hourly rate.
- What is billable percentage and why does it matter?
- Billable percentage is the portion of your working hours you can charge clients. Not all hours are billable (admin, marketing, etc.). A lower percentage means fewer billable hours, so you need a higher hourly rate to meet your income goal.
- Should I include vacation weeks in the calculation?
- Yes. Vacation weeks reduce the number of weeks you work per year, which lowers your total billable hours. Including them ensures your rate covers your income needs even with time off.
Tips & Common Mistakes
Tips
- Be realistic about your billable percentage – many freelancers bill 60-80% of their working hours.
- Include all business expenses, such as software, insurance, and marketing, in the expenses field.
- Consider your tax rate based on your location and income bracket – it can significantly affect your rate.
- Revisit your rate annually or when your expenses, salary goals, or work hours change.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to include taxes in the calculation, leading to a rate that doesn't cover your tax liability.
- Overestimating billable hours by ignoring non-billable tasks like admin and marketing.
- Not accounting for vacation or time off, which reduces your actual working weeks.
Last updated: August 13, 2026