Freelance Day Rate Calculator

Set an indicative daily freelance rate from an income goal, operating costs, tax reserve, and billable days.

Enter your details

Target amount after expenses and the reserve percentage.
Recurring business costs.
Editable planning assumption, not a country-specific tax calculation.
Exclude non-billable administration, sales, and time off.

Estimated result

Enter your values

Complete the fields to see the estimate.

Results are estimates based on the assumptions and values you provide.

How the Freelance Day Rate Calculator Works

The monthly target and operating costs are grossed up using the reserve percentage. The required monthly revenue is then divided by the billable days you expect to work.

Formula and method

Required monthly revenue = monthly expenses + (desired monthly take-home income ÷ (1 − reserve rate)). Day rate = required monthly revenue ÷ billable days per month.

Practical tips

Use billable days rather than total weekdays. Account for preparation, travel, proposals, cancellations, and unpaid gaps when choosing the monthly number.

Important limitations

The tax reserve is only a user-entered percentage. Actual taxes, employment status, insurance, pensions, local rules, and client-specific pricing are not determined by this estimate.

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Freelance Hourly Rate · Day Rate · Project Quote