Freelance Rate Calculator
Determine your ideal hourly rate to ensure you're profitable and not undercharging.
Stop Guessing Your Rate. Price Your Code Profitably.
As a freelance developer, your rate isn't just your salary—it's your business's revenue. It needs to cover your salary, taxes, business expenses (software, hardware, hosting), and the non-billable hours you spend on sales, marketing, and admin. This calculator moves you from guessing to a data-driven hourly rate, ensuring your freelance business is profitable and sustainable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Freelance Developers
Q: How do I convert my hourly rate to a fixed project fee?
A: Break the project down into the smallest possible tasks and estimate the hours for each. Sum the hours, multiply by your target hourly rate from this calculator, and then add a 20-30% contingency buffer. This buffer is crucial—it covers scope creep, unexpected bugs, and client revisions. The final number is your project fee.
Q: What are common business expenses for developers?
A: Remember to account for all your costs: high-end computer hardware, IDEs and software subscriptions (e.g., GitHub Copilot, project management tools), cloud service costs (AWS, Vercel), expenses for continuous learning (courses, books, conferences), and a portion of home office utilities.
Q: My rate feels high compared to platforms like Upwork. Is that okay?
A: Yes. Freelance platforms often create a "race to the bottom" on pricing. A higher rate positions you as a premium expert, attracting better clients who value quality over the lowest price. Use this calculator to determine the rate *you* need, not what platforms dictate.