Use our free freelance hourly rate calculator + time tracker to set rates that cover expenses, taxes, and growth — confidently.
Stop undercharging. Get a data-backed hourly rate, downloadable pricing report, and built-in timers to turn work into predictable income.
Results show a minimum, recommended, and premium rate based on your inputs.
Estimated revenue if you meet your selected billable hours.
Setting the right freelance rate combines market benchmarks, your costs, and your income goals. Freelancer Tracker uses proven formulas and localized adjustments to recommend hourly, day, and project rates tailored to your role and client market.
Whether you're pricing freelance design, development, writing, or marketing work, this calculator gives you a practical starting point plus clear next steps: save a PDF report, create a proposal, or start tracking billable time.
Experience, portfolio strength, and measurable outcomes are the strongest drivers of higher fees.
Technical or high-stakes projects justify premium rates and retainers.
Clients in the US, UK, Australia, and major EU markets typically pay higher rates than smaller regional markets.
Adjust prices for client location — Freelancer Tracker helps you apply regional multipliers automatically.
Specialized skills (e.g., AI, blockchain, healthcare copy) earn meaningful rate premiums.
Use role-specific benchmarks to validate your price and avoid leaving money on the table.
Ready for a clear pricing strategy? Use the calculator to get a personalized hourly rate, convert to project pricing, and download a client-ready rate report.
Common questions freelancers ask about pricing, rate strategy, and turning hours into sustainable income.
Calculate your target annual income, add yearly business expenses and a tax buffer, then divide the total by your expected billable hours per year. Freelancer Tracker automates this formula and shows minimum, recommended, and premium rates so you can choose a strategy that fits your goals.
Rates vary widely by role and region. As a rule of thumb: entry-level designers often start around $20–$40/hour, experienced designers $60–$100+/hour. Developers typically start higher: $30–$60/hour at entry-level and $80–$150+/hour for senior or specialized work. Use local benchmarks and your portfolio to refine these ranges.
Platform work often runs slightly lower due to competition and fees. Price competitively to win initial jobs, but aim to increase rates as you build reputation and move clients off-platform. Always factor platform fees (5–20%) into your rate so you don't under-earn.
Writers range from $15–$30/hour at entry-level to $50–$100+/hour for experienced or technical copywriters. Many writers prefer per-project or per-word pricing—both approaches can be modeled from your hourly rate.
Raise rates gradually (10–25% increments), document results and case studies, and communicate changes to existing clients with notice. Focus on specialization, improve your sales materials, and use testimonials to justify higher fees to new clients.
Alice is starting as a freelance designer. Her goals:
Calculation:
($40,000 + $3,000) ÷ 1,300 = $33/hour
Alice rounds up to $35/hour to cover taxes, unpaid time, and pricing simplicity.
Bob is a senior developer with strong specialization. He aims for:
Calculation:
($100,000 + $7,000 + 20% tax buffer) ÷ 1,200 ≈ $100/hour
Senior developers often position between $100–$150+/hour depending on niche and market.
"I used this calculator before quoting a new client and realized I had been undercharging by 20%. I now charge $65/hr."
"Seeing the breakdown made me confident enough to raise my video editing rates. Clients didn't blink."
"The calculator helped me go from charging $30/hour to $50/hour. It changed my mindset completely."
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Quick benchmarks for common freelance roles. Use these ranges as a starting point, then personalize with your expenses and goals.
| Role | Entry-Level | Experienced |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $20–$40/hour | $60–$100+/hour |
| Web Developer | $30–$60/hour | $80–$120+/hour |
| Content Writer | $15–$30/hour | $50–$100/hour |
| Marketing Consultant | $30–$50/hour | $80–$150/hour |
| Virtual Assistant | $10–$25/hour | $30–$50/hour |
| Game Developer | $40–$70/hour | $100–$150/hour |
Most freelancers bill only 50%–70% of their working hours. Include admin, outreach, and learning time when calculating your hourly rate.
Start with gross target income, add taxes, healthcare, retirement, and business costs. These factors raise the true hourly rate you must charge.
Check job boards, industry reports, and ask peers to validate your rate. Benchmarks help you stay competitive while avoiding underpricing.
Specialization, case studies, and measurable outcomes let you command higher rates and justify price increases to clients.
Whenever possible, price based on the value you deliver rather than hours alone. If a change you make will increase revenue or reduce costs for a client, capture a portion of that value in your fee.
Design tiered packages and retainer plans to stabilize income and reduce time spent re-quoting. Packages also make buying easier for clients and increase your lifetime value per client.