Rate per Word Calculator

.rpw-calculator-container {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 25px;
border: 1px solid #e1e1e1;
border-radius: 12px;
background-color: #ffffff;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
color: #333;
}
.rpw-calculator-container h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
font-size: 28px;
}
.rpw-input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.rpw-input-group label {
display: block;
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #444;
}
.rpw-input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 6px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.rpw-input-group input:focus {
outline: none;
border-color: #3498db;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(52,152,219,0.2);
}
.rpw-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #27ae60;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 6px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
}
.rpw-btn:hover {
background-color: #219150;
}
.rpw-result {
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border-radius: 8px;
border-left: 5px solid #27ae60;
}
.rpw-result-item {
margin-bottom: 10px;
font-size: 18px;
}
.rpw-result-item span {
font-weight: bold;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.rpw-article {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #444;
}
.rpw-article h3 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.rpw-article table {
width: 100%;
border-collapse: collapse;
margin: 20px 0;
}
.rpw-article table th, .rpw-article table td {
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
text-align: left;
}
.rpw-article table th {
background-color: #f2f2f2;
}

Rate Per Word Calculator

Understanding Rate Per Word (RPW)

The rate per word is the most common pricing model in the freelance writing, editing, and translation industries. It ensures that writers are compensated directly for the volume of work produced, while clients have a predictable budget based on the length of the content.

How to Use This Calculator

This tool helps freelancers and clients determine the fair value of a project. To calculate your total project cost, simply enter the expected Word Count and the Rate Per Word. If you want to know if your writing speed is profitable, enter the Time Taken to see your effective hourly rate.

Standard Industry Writing Rates (2024 Estimates)

Level	Rate Per Word (USD)	Typical Projects
Entry Level	$0.03 – $0.07	General blog posts, basic web content
Intermediate	$0.08 – $0.15	B2B content, specialized articles, SEO writing
Expert / Technical	$0.20 – $0.50+	White papers, medical writing, case studies

Real-World Calculation Examples

• The 1,000 Word Blog Post: At a rate of $0.10 per word, the total cost is $100.00. If it takes you 2 hours to write, your hourly rate is $50/hour.
• The 3,500 Word White Paper: At a premium rate of $0.30 per word, the total cost is $1,050.00.
• Short Social Media Copy: 50 words at $1.00 per word (common for high-converting ad copy) equals $50.00.

Why Calculate Your Hourly Rate?

While charging per word is standard, professional writers must track their time. If a 1,000-word article pays $0.05/word ($50 total) but takes 10 hours to research and write, you are earning only $5/hour—which is below minimum wage in many regions. Use the optional “Time Taken” field in our calculator to ensure your word rate aligns with your financial goals.

function calculateWritingRates() {
var words = document.getElementById(‘wordCount’).value;
var rate = document.getElementById(‘ratePerWord’).value;
var hours = document.getElementById(‘hoursWorked’).value;
var resBox = document.getElementById(‘rpw-result-box’);
var resTotal = document.getElementById(‘resTotalPrice’);
var resHourly = document.getElementById(‘resHourlyRate’);
var hourlyRow = document.getElementById(‘hourlyRateRow’);
// Reset display
resBox.style.display = ‘none’;
hourlyRow.style.display = ‘none’;
// Validation
if (words === ” || rate === ” || words <= 0 || rate 0) {
var hourlyRate = totalCost / numHours;
resHourly.innerHTML = ‘$’ + hourlyRate.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + ‘ / hour’;
hourlyRow.style.display = ‘block’;
}
resBox.style.display = ‘block’;
}