Freelance RateRetainer price calculator
Set a monthly price for an agreed number of hours, and plan for the clients who use more than they paid for.
What to write in a retainer agreement
- The number of hours or the list of work included each month.
- What happens to unused hours.
- The rate for extra hours, usually a little above the retainer rate so the client has a reason to plan.
- The response time you promise. A retainer that buys instant answers should cost more.
- How to end it: for example 30 days notice by either side.
Why a small discount is fair
A retainer gives you steady income, fewer proposals and less time finding work. Sharing a small part of that saving with the client is fair. A discount of 5 to 15 percent is common; more than that, and the effective hourly rate may drop below your floor.
Watch the creep
The risk of a retainer is that the client slowly uses more than they pay for. Track hours, send a short monthly summary and bring up extra hours when they pass 10 percent over. The rush fees and revisions page has a polite wording for it.
Common questions
What is a retainer?
A retainer is a fixed monthly payment for an agreed number of hours or a defined set of work. The client gets reliable access and you get steady income.
What if the client does not use all the hours?
Decide before you start. Many freelancers let unused hours lapse at month end, others carry them forward for one month. Write the rule in the agreement.
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.