Freelance RateSetting a freelance rate in Canada
A checklist of the things that change a freelancer's rate in Canada, with a calculator that starts with example figures.
Canadian self-employed people carry both the employee and employer sides of some contributions, file a return after the year ends and may pay instalments. Provinces add their own taxes, so the right percentage depends on where you live.
What to include in your rate
- Taxes: federal and provincial income tax are charged on profit, and self-employed workers also pay pension contributions on it. Put the combined share into the tax box and confirm it on the Canada Revenue Agency website.
- Sales tax: GST or HST registration depends on your revenue and where your clients are. Check CRA guidance before you add it to a quote.
- Leave and holidays: statutory holidays differ by province and you are not paid for them, so count them as weeks off.
- Health and insurance: public health cover is provincial, but dental, disability and income protection are your own cost.
- Currency: clients in the United States may pay in US dollars, so decide the currency of your quote and who bears the exchange risk.
Try it with example figures
The form below starts with example numbers in canadian dollar. They are made up: replace each one with your own.
A worked example
| Take-home wanted | CA$75,000 |
| Business costs | CA$6,000 |
| Profit needed before tax and savings (27% + 10%) | CA$119,048 |
| Income to bill in the year | CA$125,048 |
| Billable hours (46 weeks, 40 hours, 55% billed) | 1,012 |
| Hourly floor | CA$124 |
| Day rate floor | CA$989 |
That is a floor of CA$124 an hour. With 3 more weeks off the floor would be CA$132.
Common questions
Which weeks off should a freelancer in Canada count?
Count the public holidays in the place where you live, your own leave and a few sick days. This example uses 6 weeks; use your own number and be cautious, because most freelancers take more time off than they plan.
Where do I check the tax rules?
Ask the Canada Revenue Agency, or a qualified accountant in Canada. This site does not state rates because they change; type your own percentage into the form.
Keep going
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.