.calculator-container {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 30px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
color: #333;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.input-group label {
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #555;
}
.input-group input {
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.input-group input:focus {
border-color: #0073aa;
outline: none;
}
.calc-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #d63384;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
cursor: pointer;
font-weight: bold;
transition: background 0.3s;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #b02a6b;
}
.results-section {
margin-top: 30px;
background-color: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 6px;
border-left: 5px solid #d63384;
display: none;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 15px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
}
.result-label {
color: #666;
font-size: 16px;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 18px;
color: #333;
}
.highlight-result {
color: #d63384;
font-size: 24px;
}
.article-content {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 40px auto;
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.article-content h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.article-content p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.article-content li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.row-2-col {
display: flex;
gap: 20px;
}
.row-2-col .input-group {
flex: 1;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.row-2-col {
flex-direction: column;
gap: 0;
}
}
function calculateDesignRate() {
// Retrieve inputs
var salary = document.getElementById('desiredSalary').value;
var overhead = document.getElementById('monthlyOverhead').value;
var hoursPerWeek = document.getElementById('billableHours').value;
var weeksOff = document.getElementById('weeksOff').value;
var taxRate = document.getElementById('taxRate').value;
// Validation
if (salary === " || overhead === " || hoursPerWeek === " || weeksOff === " || taxRate === ") {
alert('Please fill in all fields to calculate your rate.');
return;
}
// Parse values
var salaryNum = parseFloat(salary);
var overheadMonthly = parseFloat(overhead);
var hoursNum = parseFloat(hoursPerWeek);
var weeksOffNum = parseFloat(weeksOff);
var taxNum = parseFloat(taxRate);
if (hoursNum = 1) {
alert('Tax rate cannot be 100% or more.');
return;
}
var grossRevenueGoal = totalFinancialNeed / (1 – taxDecimal);
// 3. Calculate Total Billable Hours
var workingWeeks = 52 – weeksOffNum;
var totalBillableHours = workingWeeks * hoursNum;
if (totalBillableHours <= 0) {
alert('Total billable hours result is 0 or less. Check weeks off and hours per week.');
return;
}
// 4. Calculate Rates
var hourlyRate = grossRevenueGoal / totalBillableHours;
var dayRate = hourlyRate * 8; // Standard 8 hour day assumption
// Display Results
document.getElementById('hourlyRateResult').innerText = '$' + hourlyRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('dayRateResult').innerText = '$' + dayRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('annualGrossResult').innerText = '$' + grossRevenueGoal.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('totalHoursResult').innerText = totalBillableHours.toFixed(0) + ' hrs';
// Show result section
document.getElementById('resultSection').style.display = 'block';
}
How to Price Your Freelance Graphic Design Services
Determining the right price for your graphic design services is one of the most challenging aspects of freelancing. Charging too little can lead to burnout and financial strain, while charging too much without the portfolio to back it up can lose you clients. This Freelance Graphic Design Rate Calculator helps you find a sustainable hourly rate based on your real-life financial needs, not just guesswork.
Why You Cannot Just "Pick a Number"
Many new designers make the mistake of simply copying the hourly rate of a friend or a random figure they saw online. This is dangerous because it ignores your unique overhead costs. Unlike a salaried employee, a freelancer must cover:
- Hardware & Software: Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions, font licenses, stock photo memberships, and high-end computers.
- Self-Employment Taxes: You are responsible for both the employer and employee portion of taxes in many jurisdictions.
- Unbillable Time: You only get paid when you are designing. Time spent invoicing, marketing, and emailing is "unpaid," so your hourly rate must be higher to compensate for these hours.
Understanding the Inputs
To get an accurate result from the calculator above, it is important to understand what each field represents:
1. Target Annual Net Income
This is the "take-home" pay you want to have in your pocket after all business expenses and taxes are paid. Think of this as the salary you would earn at a full-time job.
2. Billable Hours vs. Actual Hours
A standard work week is 40 hours, but a freelancer rarely bills 40 hours. Between finding clients, administrative work, and education, most successful freelance designers only bill between 20 to 25 hours per week. If you input 40 hours here, you will likely calculate a rate that is too low to sustain your business.
3. The "Tax Buffer"
Taxes can destroy a freelance business if not planned for. Depending on your location, you should aim to set aside 25% to 35% of your gross revenue. This calculator grosses up your revenue requirement so that after you pay the government, you still hit your target income.
Hourly vs. Project-Based Pricing
While this calculator outputs an hourly rate, many graphic designers prefer project-based pricing (flat fees). However, knowing your hourly baseline is critical for flat pricing. To quote a logo project, estimate how many hours it will take, multiply by your calculated hourly rate, and add a buffer for revisions. This ensures your project fee is profitable.