Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Work out the hourly rate a freelancer or consultant must charge to cover desired income, expenses, taxes, benefits, vacation and non-billable time.
Your numbers
- Revenue needed
- $152,778
- Billable hours / year
- 1,104
- Day rate (8 hours)
- $1,107
- Take-home$90,000
- Expenses$8,000
- Benefits$12,000
- Taxes$42,778
How the freelance hourly rate calculator works
Required revenue = (desired pay + business expenses + benefits) ÷ (1 − tax rate). Rate = revenue ÷ billable hours, where billable hours reflect weeks worked and utilization.
Example
Using the default inputs (Desired annual take-home: $90,000; Business expenses / yr: $8,000; Health insurance & retirement / yr: $12,000; Tax rate (income + SE): 28%; Weeks worked per year: 46; …), the calculator returns hourly rate to charge of $138. Change any field above to see your own result and charts update instantly.
Good for these goals
Frequently asked questions
Why is my rate so much higher than a salaried hourly wage?
You cover self-employment tax, benefits, unpaid admin time and gaps between projects.
What utilization is realistic?
Most freelancers bill 50%–70% of working hours.
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Estimates are for educational purposes only and are not financial, tax or legal advice. Results depend on your inputs and simplified assumptions; tax figures reflect 2026 federal rules and may differ from your situation. See our disclaimer. © 2026 FinanzCalc.