Freelance Fee Calculator
Calculate the freelance fee to charge per hour, day, or project after tax and business costs.
Clients ask for your fee — not your salary. A freelance fee must cover self-employment tax, insurance, software, and unpaid admin time. This page models a $75k take-home target with realistic US tax and expense assumptions.
Market reference
| Metric | Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fee vs rate | same math | different wording |
| Minimum fee uplift | +25% vs W-2 | rough floor |
| Project fee | hours × rate + buffer | scope risk |
| Rush fee | +25–50% | short deadline |
Interactive example — freelance fee calculator
Defaults match this page's scenario. Adjust numbers to see your rate update instantly.
- Minimum hourly
- $100
- Day rate (8h)
- $804
- Typical project
- $4,821
- Monthly retainer
- $10,438
Recommended next step
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Once you know your rate, invoice clients and track payments in one place.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a freelance fee?
The amount you charge clients — usually expressed as hourly, daily, or fixed project price before their expenses.
How do I set my first freelance fee?
Start from desired take-home, add tax and business costs, divide by billable hours — never copy a former employee hourly wage.
Should I include revisions in my fee?
Define revision rounds in the contract; extra rounds should be a separate fee or higher project buffer.