Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
Back out the hourly rate required to reach your target take-home, after taxes, business expenses, and unpaid time.
Why your rate is higher than a salary ÷ 2080
Freelancers lose ~25–40% of the year to non-billable work (sales, admin, breaks) and must self-fund taxes, software, insurance, and time off. This calculator inflates your target take-home by expenses and a tax set-aside, then spreads it only across genuinely billable hours — which is why a sustainable freelance rate is typically 1.5–2× the equivalent W-2 hourly wage.
Frequently asked questions
What tax set-aside should I use?
Many US freelancers reserve 25–30% for combined self-employment + income tax. Use the self-employment and quarterly tax calculators for a precise figure.