Freelance hourly rate calculator

Work backwards from the income you want to keep. Enter your numbers and see the lowest hourly rate that covers them, plus a suggested rate with a buffer. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is sent or saved.

1. Your numbers

Use the same currency for every amount. Billable hours are hours you can charge a client for, not admin or sales time.








How it’s calculated

  1. Pre-tax income = take-home income ÷ (1 − tax rate)
  2. Yearly revenue needed = pre-tax income + yearly expenses + (AI tool spend per month × 12)
  3. Billable hours per year = billable hours per week × (52 − weeks off)
  4. Minimum hourly rate = yearly revenue needed ÷ billable hours per year
  5. Suggested rate = minimum rate × (1 + profit buffer)
  6. Day rate = suggested rate × (billable hours per week ÷ 5)
  7. Monthly revenue needed = yearly revenue needed ÷ 12

This is a simple estimate, not tax or financial advice. Real tax depends on where you live, your deductions and brackets, so a single flat rate is an approximation. Use your own numbers or ask an accountant.

Not sure what your AI tools add up to? Use the AI tool cost calculator and put the monthly total in the AI spend field. Still choosing tools? Try the tool finder.

Frequently asked questions

Why do billable hours matter so much?

Your rate has to cover the whole year with only the hours you can bill. Admin, sales and learning time are not billed, so fewer billable hours means a higher rate for the same income.

Why add a profit buffer?

The minimum rate only breaks even on your targets. A buffer leaves room for slow months, late payments, unexpected costs and saving. 15% is just a starting point you can change.

Does this tell me what the market pays?

No. It only shows the rate your own numbers require. It does not use any market data. Compare the result with what clients in your field actually pay before you set your price.