chargewhat.app
Freelancer Rate Calculator
What should you
charge as a freelancer?
Enter your goals and expenses — get a minimum hourly rate that actually covers taxes, benefits, and slow months.
Your income goals
Target annual take-home pay
The net income you want after taxes and expenses — not your gross revenue target.
$
US State (income tax)
Time & availability
Weeks off per year
Vacation, sick days, public holidays, and slow periods. Most freelancers take 4–6 weeks.
4 wks
Billable hours per day
Not all 8 hours are billable. Admin, emails, and client calls eat into your day. 5–6 hours is realistic.
6 hrs
Monthly expenses
Business expenses
Software, equipment, home office, professional development — anything you spend to run your freelance business.
$
Health insurance
Your full monthly premium — freelancers pay 100% themselves. Average is $400–600/mo for an individual.
$
Profit buffer & savings
Extra margin for slow months, retirement savings, and unexpected costs. 15–25% recommended.
20%
What if you raised your rate?
Your rate
Minimum hourly rate
—/hr
calculating…
—
Recommended
(with buffer)
(with buffer)
—
Day rate
equivalent
equivalent
—
Billable hrs
per year
per year
—
SE tax
estimate
estimate
Where your rate goes
Self-employment tax is 15.3% on 92.35% of net profit — both the employer and employee halves. This is the #1 cost new freelancers forget to account for.
About this calculator: Results are estimates based on 2026 federal tax rates (SE tax: 15.3% on 92.35% of net income) and the state income tax rate you select. This calculator does not account for deductions, credits, filing status, or additional Medicare tax above $200k. This is not tax advice. Consult a CPA before making business structure or financial decisions. ChargeWhat.app — free freelancer tools.