Why freelance rates look high
As an employee, your employer pays for vacation, equipment, part of your taxes and benefits. As a freelancer you pay all of that yourself — and not every hour is billable. Admin, sales and invoicing can easily take 30–40% of your week, which is why 20–30 billable hours is a realistic default.
Example
You want $60,000 take-home, have $6,000 of expenses and set aside 25% for taxes: you need $88,000 in revenue. With 46 working weeks × 25 billable hours = 1,150 hours, your minimum rate is about $76.52 per hour.
Freelance Rate Calculator FAQs
Should I charge hourly or per project?
Many freelancers estimate the hours, multiply by their rate, then quote a project price. That rewards working efficiently.
Is this my final price?
It is your floor. Check what others in your field and city charge and price up for specialist skills.
Is my information saved or sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent to a server.