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Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Work backwards from what you want to take home, and see the hourly rate that actually gets you there.

Updated September 2026
No sign-up. Runs in your browser.

Freelance rate Pink cells are yours to edit
B12=B11/B10
ABC
Your numbers
Software, equipment, fees
Rough share for taxes
Holidays, sick days, slow weeks
Paid client time only
Results
Working weeks46
Billable hours per year690
Revenue you need$42,666.67
Minimum hourly rate$61.84
Half-day rate (4 hrs)$247.34
Monthly revenue target$3,555.56
Freelance rate+ Freelance Client & Invoice Sheet

Estimates for planning and education only, not financial or tax advice. Always check current platform fees and your own numbers.

Why your freelance rate is higher than a salary rate

As a freelancer you pay your own taxes and business costs, and not every hour is billable. Emails, admin and finding clients take time too. This calculator counts only paid client hours and weeks you actually work.

Using the result

The minimum hourly rate is a floor, not a target. Many freelancers quote project prices or monthly retainers built from this number, which is easier for clients to say yes to.

The formulas behind it

Every result cell is a plain spreadsheet formula, so you can check the math or rebuild it yourself.

CellResultFormula
B9Working weeks=52-B5
B10Billable hours per year=B9*B6
B11Revenue you need=(B2+B3)/(1-B4%)
B12Minimum hourly rate=B11/B10
B13Half-day rate (4 hrs)=B12*4
B14Monthly revenue target=B11/12

Questions people ask

How many billable hours should I plan for?

Plan for fewer than you think. Part-time freelancers with a job often bill 10 to 20 hours a week. Full-time freelancers commonly bill 20 to 30 hours, since the rest goes to admin and sales.

How much should I set aside for taxes?

It depends on where you live and your total income. Many US freelancers set aside 25% to 30% as a starting point. Our self-employed tax calculator gives a closer estimate.