Freelance RateFreelance rate calculator: what should you charge?
Enter the income you want, your costs and how much of your week you can bill. Get your floor rate by the hour, day and month. Nothing you type leaves your device.
How it works, with an example
The example below is made up. A freelancer wants to take home ₹6,00,000 a year, has ₹60,000 of yearly costs, and puts 15% of profit into tax and 10% into savings. She takes 6 weeks off and works 40 hours a week, of which 55% can be billed.
| Take-home wanted | ₹6,00,000 |
| Business costs | ₹60,000 |
| Profit needed before tax and savings (15% + 10%) | ₹8,00,000 |
| Income to bill in the year | ₹8,60,000 |
| Billable hours (46 weeks, 40 hours, 55% billed) | 1,012 |
| Hourly floor | ₹850 |
| Day rate floor | ₹6,798 |
The profit needed before tax and savings is the take-home divided by (1 minus 25%); costs are added on top. Dividing the income to bill by the billable hours gives the floor. It is much higher than the salary-style figure of income divided by all working hours, which would be ₹467 an hour.
What to do with the result
- Compare the floor with what clients in your field pay. If they pay less, look again at costs, billable share and time off.
- Turn the hourly rate into a project price with a buffer.
- Check how a raise changes the number of clients you need.
- For a monthly package, use the retainer calculator.
Common questions
What does the freelance rate calculator work out?
The lowest hourly, day and monthly rate that gives you the take-home income you want after your costs, tax, savings, time off and unbillable hours. We call it your floor.
Why is my hourly rate so much higher than a salary equivalent?
An employee is paid for every hour at work and for holidays, and an employer pays some costs and contributions. A freelancer is paid only for billed hours, so the same yearly income needs a higher hourly figure.
Does it include tax rules for my country?
No. You type the share of profit that goes to tax and other contributions. The country pages name the official place to find your rules.
Is my data stored?
No. The sums run in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Learn more
- How to set your rateSix steps from income goal to price
- Billable hoursMeasure your real share
- Pricing modelsHourly, fixed, retainer or value
- Forgotten costsA checklist for your yearly costs
This calculator for your country or work
Example figures on this site are made up to show the working. They are not market rates or averages. Tax, social-insurance, sales-tax and holiday rules differ by country and change, so this site does not state them: ask the tax authority of your country or an accountant. Checked 14 November 2026.