Most rate advice starts with what other people charge. This starts with what your life costs, then shows you the market rate beside it.
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Your profile
Experience
Where your clients are
Your hourly floor
— / hr
—Day rate
—Typical project
—Market rate for this profile
Want the pricing cheat sheet behind these numbers?
How this works
The floor is your target take-home multiplied by 1.3 — a
practical allowance for tax, software, equipment and admin — divided by
46 working weeks at the billable hours you set. It is
rounded to the nearest 5 dollars and never falls below a sensible
minimum.
The market rate beside it is the midpoint of the published band for your profession and
experience, adjusted for where your clients are. 2026 market ranges · public surveys, marketplace data, and 54+ client projects · reviewed July 2026. The full table
is on the benchmarks page, and the
methodology page explains exactly what it is and is not.
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Quick answers
How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?
Start from the income you need, not from what others charge. Gross that figure up for tax, software and unbilled time, then divide by the hours you actually bill in a year — not the hours you work. That gives you a floor. Everything above it is positioning.
Why does the calculator add 30% to my income goal?
Because a freelance rate has to cover more than take-home pay: tax, software, insurance, equipment, admin, and the hours you spend pitching rather than billing. Skipping that step is the single most common reason freelancers price below cost.
How many billable hours are in a freelance year?
Fewer than people expect. This calculator assumes 46 working weeks, and asks you for billable hours per week rather than hours worked. Most full-time freelancers bill 20–30 of a 40-hour week; the rest goes on pitching, admin and unpaid revisions.
Should my rate match the benchmark?
Not necessarily. The benchmark is what the middle of the market charges for that profile. Your floor is what your life costs. If the floor is well under the benchmark you have room to raise; if it is well over, you need positioning that justifies it rather than a discount.