#freelance-rate-calculator-tool {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .calc-box {
background: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool h2 {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 25px;
font-weight: 700;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .input-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .input-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .form-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 0.95rem;
color: #495057;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool input[type="number"] {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1rem;
transition: border-color 0.15s ease-in-out;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool input[type="number"]:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: 0;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(0,123,255,0.25);
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .calc-btn {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #007bff;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 1.1rem;
font-weight: 700;
cursor: pointer;
margin-top: 20px;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #0056b3;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .results-area {
background: #fff;
border: 2px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 6px;
padding: 25px;
margin-top: 30px;
display: none; /* Hidden by default */
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .result-label {
font-weight: 600;
color: #6c757d;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .result-value {
font-weight: 800;
font-size: 1.25rem;
color: #28a745;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .result-value.large {
font-size: 2rem;
color: #007bff;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool .content-section {
padding: 20px 0;
border-top: 1px solid #eee;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool h3 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 30px;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool p, #freelance-rate-calculator-tool li {
font-size: 1.05rem;
color: #555;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
#freelance-rate-calculator-tool ul {
padding-left: 20px;
}
function calculateFreelanceRate() {
// Get Input Values
var targetNet = parseFloat(document.getElementById('targetNetIncome').value);
var monthlyExp = parseFloat(document.getElementById('monthlyExpenses').value);
var taxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('taxRate').value);
var hoursPerDay = parseFloat(document.getElementById('billableHoursPerDay').value);
var daysPerWeek = parseFloat(document.getElementById('daysPerWeek').value);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(document.getElementById('weeksOff').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(targetNet) || isNaN(monthlyExp) || isNaN(taxRate) || isNaN(hoursPerDay) || isNaN(daysPerWeek) || isNaN(weeksOff)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
return;
}
if (taxRate >= 100 || taxRate This is complex because expenses are usually pre-tax deductible.
// Simplified Logic:
// Gross Revenue = (Target Net + (Annual Expenses * (1 – TaxRate))) … No.
// Let's assume Expenses are deductible.
// Taxable Income = Gross Revenue – Annual Expenses.
// Taxes = Taxable Income * (TaxRate/100).
// Net Income = Gross Revenue – Annual Expenses – Taxes.
// Net Income = (Gross – Expenses) – ((Gross – Expenses) * Rate)
// Net Income = (Gross – Expenses) * (1 – Rate)
// Net / (1 – Rate) = Gross – Expenses
// Gross = (Net / (1 – Rate/100)) + Expenses
var taxDecimal = taxRate / 100;
var grossRevenueNeeded = (targetNet / (1.0 – taxDecimal)) + annualExpenses;
// 3. Calculate Billable Time
var totalWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
var totalBillableDays = totalWeeks * daysPerWeek;
var totalBillableHours = totalBillableDays * hoursPerDay;
// Edge case: 0 working time
if (totalBillableHours <= 0) {
alert("You must work at least one hour per year.");
return;
}
// 4. Calculate Rates
var hourlyRate = grossRevenueNeeded / totalBillableHours;
var dailyRate = hourlyRate * hoursPerDay;
var weeklyRate = dailyRate * daysPerWeek;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('hourlyRateResult').innerText = formatCurrency(hourlyRate);
document.getElementById('dailyRateResult').innerText = formatCurrency(dailyRate);
document.getElementById('weeklyRateResult').innerText = formatCurrency(weeklyRate);
document.getElementById('grossRevenueResult').innerText = formatCurrency(grossRevenueNeeded);
// Show results div
document.getElementById('resultsResult').style.display = 'block';
}
function formatCurrency(num) {
return '$' + num.toFixed(2).replace(/\d(?=(\d{3})+\.)/g, '$&,');
}
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Minimum Hourly Rate
$0.00
Daily Rate
$0.00
Weekly Rate
$0.00
Gross Revenue Needed
$0.00
How to Calculate Your Ideal Freelance Hourly Rate
Setting the right hourly rate is one of the most challenging aspects of freelancing. Unlike a salaried employee, your rate must cover not just your desired take-home pay, but also your business expenses, taxes, and unbillable time. This Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator uses a reverse-engineering approach to ensure your pricing meets your financial goals.
Why "Billable Hours" Matter
A common mistake new freelancers make is dividing their desired annual salary by 2,080 hours (a standard 40-hour work week). This calculation is flawed because it assumes you will be billing clients 100% of the time. In reality, you have:
- Admin tasks: Invoicing, email, and project management.
- Marketing: Finding new clients and updating portfolios.
- Time off: Sick days, holidays, and vacations (which are unpaid).
Most successful freelancers only bill for 50% to 75% of their working hours. Our calculator adjusts for this by asking for your billable hours per day.
Understanding the Formula
This tool calculates your rate using the following steps:
- Total Revenue Goal: We take your desired net income and "gross it up" to account for taxes. Then we add your annual business overhead (software subscriptions, equipment, insurance).
- Total Billable Capacity: We calculate exactly how many hours you can sell in a year, subtracting your planned weeks off for vacation and holidays.
- The Rate: We divide your Total Revenue Goal by your Total Billable Capacity to find the minimum hourly rate required to sustain your lifestyle.
Factors That Should Influence Your Rate
While this calculator gives you a mathematical baseline, market factors also play a role. You may need to adjust your rate based on:
- Experience Level: Senior experts can command higher rates due to efficiency and specialized knowledge.
- Project Complexity: Difficult projects requiring niche skills should be billed at a premium.
- Client Value: Consider the ROI you provide to the client. If your work generates $100k for them, a higher rate is justified.
Use this tool regularly to audit your pricing strategy. If your expenses increase or you want more time off, you'll need to adjust your hourly rate accordingly to maintain your target income.