Freelance Project Rate Calculator
Enter your income target, billable hours and expenses.
Hourly rate to charge
β
Enter values above
Project price
β
Required annual revenue
β
Billable hours per year
β
Hourly rate with no buffer
β
Buffer per hour
β
Worked example
With the default inputs shown below, this calculator returns the following results:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Target annual income ($) | 90000 |
| Billable hours per week | 25 |
| Weeks worked per year | 46 |
| Annual business expenses ($) | 12000 |
| Estimated project hours | 40 |
| Profit buffer (%) | 15 |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate to charge | $102.00 |
| Project price | $4,080.00 |
| Required annual revenue | $102,000 |
| Billable hours per year | 1,150 |
| Hourly rate with no buffer | $88.70 |
| Buffer per hour | $13.30 |
Values shown are produced by this page in your browser; change any input to update them.
How to use the Freelance Project Rate Calculator
- Target annual income ($) β default 90000
- Billable hours per week β default 25
- Weeks worked per year β default 46
- Annual business expenses ($) β default 12000
- Estimated project hours β default 40
- Profit buffer (%) β default 15
- Press Calculate to update the results instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Because freelancers only bill 25β30 hours a week and get no paid holiday, sick leave, pension or employer tax contribution. The rate has to cover all of it.
Ten to twenty percent covers scope creep, revision rounds and the occasional client who never pays. It is not padding β it is the risk premium of freelance work.
Multiply the hourly rate by your honest hour estimate, then add the buffer. If the client pushes back, reduce scope rather than the rate.