.calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
background: #ffffff;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.calc-header h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
font-size: 28px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.calc-body {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
gap: 20px;
}
.input-section {
flex: 1;
min-width: 300px;
background: #f9f9f9;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.result-section {
flex: 1;
min-width: 300px;
background: #eef7ff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
justify-content: center;
}
.form-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.form-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #444;
font-size: 14px;
}
.form-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.calc-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
background-color: #2ecc71;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background 0.3s;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #27ae60;
}
.result-box {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-bottom: 20px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #d0e1f0;
}
.result-box:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
font-size: 14px;
color: #555;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
.result-value {
font-size: 36px;
color: #2980b9;
font-weight: 800;
margin: 5px 0;
}
.result-sub {
font-size: 13px;
color: #7f8c8d;
}
.seo-content {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.seo-content h3 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.seo-content ul {
padding-left: 20px;
}
.seo-content li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.calc-body {
flex-direction: column;
}
}
function calculateFreelanceRate() {
// Get inputs by ID
var targetIncomeInput = document.getElementById("targetIncome").value;
var monthlyExpensesInput = document.getElementById("monthlyExpenses").value;
var billableHoursInput = document.getElementById("billableHours").value;
var weeksOffInput = document.getElementById("weeksOff").value;
var taxRateInput = document.getElementById("taxRate").value;
// Validate inputs
if (targetIncomeInput === "" || billableHoursInput === "") {
alert("Please enter at least your Target Income and Billable Hours.");
return;
}
// Parse values
var targetNet = parseFloat(targetIncomeInput);
var monthlyExpenses = parseFloat(monthlyExpensesInput) || 0;
var billableHoursPerWeek = parseFloat(billableHoursInput);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(weeksOffInput) || 0;
var taxRate = parseFloat(taxRateInput) || 0;
// Logic Calculations
// 1. Calculate Total Annual Expenses
var annualExpenses = monthlyExpenses * 12;
// 2. Calculate Gross Revenue Needed
// Formula: (TargetNet + Expenses) / (1 – TaxRate)
// Note: If TaxRate is 0, divisor is 1. If TaxRate is 25%, divisor is 0.75.
var taxDecimal = taxRate / 100;
if (taxDecimal >= 1) {
taxDecimal = 0.99; // Prevent division by zero or negative
}
// The math here assumes we need enough Gross such that:
// Gross – Expenses – (Gross * TaxRate) = Net
// This is a simplified view where tax is on Gross.
// More accurately for freelancers: Tax is usually on (Gross – Expenses).
// Let's use the Profit based Tax formula:
// (Gross – Expenses) * (1 – TaxDecimal) = TargetNet
// Gross – Expenses = TargetNet / (1 – TaxDecimal)
// Gross = (TargetNet / (1 – TaxDecimal)) + Expenses
var grossRevenueNeeded = (targetNet / (1 – taxDecimal)) + annualExpenses;
// 3. Calculate Total Billable Hours per Year
var workingWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
if (workingWeeks 0) {
hourlyRate = grossRevenueNeeded / totalBillableHours;
}
// 5. Calculate Weekly Target (Average over working weeks)
var weeklyTarget = 0;
if (workingWeeks > 0) {
weeklyTarget = grossRevenueNeeded / workingWeeks;
}
// Update UI with Results
document.getElementById("resultRate").innerHTML = "$" + hourlyRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resultGross").innerHTML = "$" + grossRevenueNeeded.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById("resultWeekly").innerHTML = "$" + weeklyTarget.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
}
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Determine exactly what you need to charge to meet your annual income goals while covering taxes and overhead.
Required Hourly Rate
$0.00
To meet your goals
Gross Annual Revenue
$0.00
Total needed before tax/expenses
Weekly Target
$0.00
Invoiced amount per week
How to Calculate Your Freelance Hourly Rate
One of the most common mistakes new freelancers make is attempting to match their previous full-time hourly wage. This approach inevitably leads to financial strain because it ignores the hidden costs of running a business that an employer previously covered. To set a sustainable rate, you must account for non-billable time, taxes, and overhead expenses.
Key Factors in the Calculation
- Billable vs. Non-Billable Hours: You cannot bill for 40 hours a week. Administrative tasks, marketing, accounting, and client acquisition are unpaid work. A healthy freelance week often consists of only 20-30 billable hours.
- The Tax Burden: Unlike a W-2 employee, you are responsible for the full self-employment tax. It is crucial to factor in at least 25-30% for taxes to ensure your Net Income (take-home pay) meets your lifestyle needs.
- Time Off: Freelancers do not get paid vacation or sick leave. If you plan to take 4 weeks off per year, you must earn your entire annual revenue in the remaining 48 weeks.
- Overhead: Software subscriptions, hardware upgrades, health insurance, and internet costs are now your responsibility. These must be added to your revenue targets, not subtracted from your salary.
Using the Formula
This calculator uses a reverse-engineering approach. We start with your desired take-home pay, add your business expenses, and adjust for taxes to find the Total Gross Revenue needed. We then divide that revenue by the actual number of billable hours available in your working year (excluding vacation weeks) to arrive at your minimum hourly rate.