Project Rate Calculator for Freelancers

A project rate is your hourly rate multiplied by a realistic estimate of the hours a project takes. Enter your cost inputs and an average project length — the calculator shows both numbers and every step of the math. For when to prefer fixed vs hourly, see the pricing guide.

Your numbers

Everything runs in your browser. Adjust any field and the rate updates instantly.

Target yearly income (take-home)What you want to keep after tax, per yearYearly business expensesSoftware, equipment, insurance, workspaceTax rate (%)A formula input only — not tax adviceBillable hours per weekHours you can actually bill clientsWorking weeks per yearUsually 46-52Unpaid time off (weeks)Vacation, sick days, slow monthsAverage project hoursEnter 0 to skip the project rate

Pad the estimate, not the client

Projects rarely take the best-case number of hours. If a typical build usually runs 30 hours but sometimes runs 50, quoting an average-project figure near the upper end keeps the fixed rate honest on both sides. The formula stays the same — only the hours estimate changes.