On this page
- Estimate minimum and buffered hourly rates
- Account for non-billable time, taxes and expenses
- No income values sent to the server
Freelancer Hourly Rate Calculator
Turn income goals, taxes, expenses and billable time into a sustainable hourly rate.
Excel
Download Excel
Track real project rates in Excel
The workbook adds a project sheet where hours and revenue show your effective hourly rate.
In the Excel version
- Keep the calculator for future planning
- Track clients, projects, hours and revenue
- See effective hourly rate per project
- Compare planned rate with actual results
- Currency selector (USD, EUR, RUB, GBP) without exchange-rate conversion
What is a freelance rate calculator?
A sustainable freelance rate must cover more than salary. This calculator accounts for annual business expenses, taxes, time off and the share of working hours that can actually be billed to clients.
How to use it
- Enter the annual take-home income you want.
- Estimate taxes and yearly business expenses.
- Enter weeks off and normal working hours.
- Estimate what percentage of working time is billable.
- Add a pricing buffer if you want room for risk or negotiation.
Why use it
- Avoid dividing salary by all calendar working hours and underpricing yourself.
- Make non-billable work visible.
- Separate minimum sustainable rate from a buffered quote.
- Track actual project economics in Excel.
How the calculation works
The calculator estimates yearly billable hours, grosses up desired income plus expenses for taxes, divides the required revenue by billable hours, then applies your chosen pricing buffer.
FAQ
Is my data uploaded?
No. Calculator values stay in your browser. Analytics sends only the tool name, language and a fixed event type.
Does the Excel file contain macros?
No. The workbook uses normal cells, formulas and formatting only.
Can I use the Excel file offline?
Yes. Download it once and keep using it without this website.
Can I change the currency?
Yes. Select USD, EUR, RUB, or GBP on the page or in the Excel workbook. Changing the currency only changes the unit label, not the amounts or exchange rate.