.calculator-wrapper-freelance {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.calc-container {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.calc-title {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 25px;
font-size: 28px;
font-weight: 700;
}
.input-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.input-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 14px;
color: #495057;
}
.input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
transition: border-color 0.2s;
}
.input-group input:focus {
border-color: #4dabf7;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px rgba(77, 171, 247, 0.2);
}
.input-hint {
font-size: 12px;
color: #868e96;
margin-top: 4px;
}
.calc-btn {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #228be6;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: 700;
cursor: pointer;
margin-top: 20px;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #1c7ed6;
}
.results-box {
background-color: #fff;
border: 1px solid #dee2e6;
border-radius: 6px;
padding: 25px;
margin-top: 25px;
display: none;
}
.results-header {
text-align: center;
font-size: 20px;
color: #495057;
margin-bottom: 20px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #f1f3f5;
padding-bottom: 10px;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
margin-bottom: 15px;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #f8f9fa;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
font-weight: 500;
color: #495057;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: 700;
color: #212529;
font-size: 18px;
}
.highlight-result {
background-color: #e7f5ff;
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 6px;
color: #1864ab;
}
.highlight-result .result-value {
color: #1864ab;
font-size: 24px;
}
.article-content h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
margin-top: 30px;
font-size: 24px;
}
.article-content h3 {
color: #34495e;
font-size: 20px;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.article-content p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: #495057;
}
.article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.article-content li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
color: #495057;
}
function calculateFreelanceRate() {
// Get input values
var netIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fr_income').value);
var monthlyExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fr_expenses').value);
var taxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fr_tax').value);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fr_weeks_off').value);
var billableHours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('fr_hours').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(netIncome) || isNaN(monthlyExpenses) || isNaN(taxRate) || isNaN(weeksOff) || isNaN(billableHours)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
return;
}
if (weeksOff >= 52) {
alert("Weeks off must be less than 52.");
return;
}
if (taxRate >= 100) {
alert("Tax rate must be less than 100%.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var annualExpenses = monthlyExpenses * 12;
var targetNet = netIncome + annualExpenses;
// Formula to calculate Gross needed to support Net after taxes
// Gross – (Gross * TaxRate) = TargetNet
// Gross * (1 – TaxRate) = TargetNet
// Gross = TargetNet / (1 – TaxRate)
var taxDecimal = taxRate / 100;
var grossRevenue = targetNet / (1 – taxDecimal);
var taxAmount = grossRevenue – targetNet;
var workingWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
var totalBillableHours = workingWeeks * billableHours;
var hourlyRate = grossRevenue / totalBillableHours;
var weeklyTarget = hourlyRate * billableHours;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('res_hourly').innerHTML = "$" + hourlyRate.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('res_gross').innerHTML = "$" + grossRevenue.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('res_hours').innerHTML = totalBillableHours.toFixed(0);
document.getElementById('res_tax').innerHTML = "$" + taxAmount.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('res_weekly').innerHTML = "$" + weeklyTarget.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
// Show result box
document.getElementById('fr_results').style.display = "block";
}
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Your take-home pay goal.
Software, insurance, internet, etc.
Self-employment + income tax buffer.
Vacation, sick days, and holidays.
Hours actually billed to clients.
Your Target Rate Breakdown
Minimum Hourly Rate:
$0.00
Gross Revenue Needed:
$0.00
Total Billable Hours/Year:
0
Estimated Tax Liability:
$0.00
Weekly Revenue Target:
$0.00
Why You Need a Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
One of the biggest mistakes new freelancers make is attempting to match their hourly rate to their previous salaried wage. This calculation is fundamentally flawed because it ignores the hidden costs of running a business. As an employee, your employer covers payroll taxes, health insurance, software licenses, and pays you even during non-productive hours.
As a freelancer, you are responsible for 100% of these costs. Furthermore, you cannot bill for every hour you work. Administrative tasks, marketing, accounting, and client acquisition are all "non-billable" hours that your billable rate must subsidize.
Key Factors in Setting Your Rate
This calculator takes into account the five critical components of a sustainable freelance business:
- Desired Net Income: The actual amount of money you want to take home after all business costs and taxes are paid.
- Overhead Expenses: Monthly costs like subscriptions, co-working space fees, hardware upgrades, and professional insurance.
- Tax Buffer: Freelancers often pay higher effective tax rates due to self-employment tax. A buffer of 25-30% is standard for many regions.
- Billable Efficiency: Most full-time freelancers can only bill 20-30 hours per week reliably. The rest is spent on business management.
- Unpaid Time Off: Unlike traditional employment, you don't get paid vacation or sick leave. Your hourly rate must be high enough to cover these gaps in income.
Gross Revenue vs. Net Income
It is vital to distinguish between your Gross Revenue (the total amount you invoice clients) and your Net Income (what lands in your personal bank account). If you aim to take home $75,000, you may need to invoice over $100,000 to cover taxes and expenses. This calculator reverses the math to find exactly what your top-line revenue needs to be to hit your bottom-line goals.
How to Raise Your Rates
If the calculated hourly rate seems higher than the market average, consider niche specialization. Generalists often compete on price, while specialists compete on value. By solving expensive problems for specific clients, you can justify the higher rates necessary to maintain a healthy work-life balance and financial stability.