Free Freelancer Calculator — Your Complete Freelance Business Toolkit
Our freelancer calculator helps you answer the most critical questions every freelancer faces: How much should I charge per hour? How do I price a project? What time is the client meeting in my timezone? Whether you're a developer, designer, writer, or consultant, this tool gives you data-driven answers instead of guesswork.
How to Calculate Your Freelance Hourly Rate
Most freelancers undercharge because they base their rate on their previous salary. But as a freelancer, you need to cover taxes, health insurance, retirement savings, software, marketing, and unpaid time (admin, client calls, learning). Our calculator accounts for all of this.
| Factor | Why It Matters | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Desired Annual Income | Your take-home pay goal | $40K–$200K+ |
| Business Expenses | Software, tools, coworking, insurance | $500–$5,000/mo |
| Tax Rate | Self-employment tax is higher than W-2 | 20–40% |
| Billable Hours % | Only 50-65% of your time is billable | 50–70% |
| Vacation / Sick Days | You need time off to avoid burnout | 2–6 weeks/year |
How to Price Freelance Projects
Fixed-price projects are riskier but clients prefer them. Always add a 15-25% complexity buffer for scope creep, revisions, and unexpected complications. Our Project Pricing Calculator helps you quote confidently by multiplying your hourly rate × estimated hours × buffer × profit margin.
- Break the project into deliverables and estimate hours for each
- Add 20% buffer for scope creep and communication overhead
- Include a profit margin on top of your costs (10-25%)
- Never share your hourly rate when quoting fixed-price — quote the total
- Define exactly what's included and what costs extra in your proposal
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a freelancer charge per hour?▼
It depends on your skills, industry, location, and expenses. A web developer might charge $50–$150/hr, a graphic designer $40–$100/hr, and a consultant $75–$300/hr. Use our calculator to find your exact number based on your income goal and expenses.
What percentage of time is billable?▼
Most freelancers can only bill 50-65% of their total working hours. The remaining time goes to admin tasks (invoicing, emails), marketing, client meetings, proposals, learning, and breaks. Our calculator defaults to 65% which is an optimistic but achievable target.
How do I handle different time zones with clients?▼
Use our Time Zone Checker tab to instantly convert meeting times between your client's timezone and yours. It auto-detects your timezone and warns you if the meeting falls outside typical work hours.
Is my data saved anywhere?▼
No. All calculations run 100% in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server. Your income tracking data resets when you refresh the page — we recommend copying important numbers to your own records.