Freelance Day Rate Calculator
Start from what you want to earn in a year, add your business costs, and take off holidays and the time you cannot bill. You get the day rate and hourly rate you need to charge.
Day rate to charge
€280
- Hourly rate
- €39.93
- Working days
- 230
- Billable days
- 161
- Income plus costs
- €45,000
Before tax. If you are VAT registered, VAT goes on top of this rate for your clients.
How it works
- 1Working days = (52 weeks − weeks off) × days you work each week.
- 2Billable days = working days × the share of your time you can bill. Admin, sales, travel and quiet spells are not billable.
- 3Day rate = (the yearly income you want + yearly business costs) ÷ billable days.
- 4Hourly rate = day rate ÷ the hours you bill in a day.
- 5This is before income tax and social security. Use the income you want before tax, and talk to an accountant about what you will owe.
Questions
How do I work out my freelance rate?
Start from the income you need in a year before tax, add every business cost (software, equipment, insurance, accountant, transport), then divide by the days you can really bill. Most freelancers cannot bill every working day, because finding clients and admin take time too.
Should I charge per day, per hour or per project?
Day and hourly rates are easy to explain. Project prices reward you for working efficiently and suit clients who want a fixed cost. Many freelancers know their day rate and use it to build project quotes.
Is this before or after tax?
Before tax. The rate covers the income you want before income tax and social security, plus your costs. An accountant can tell you what you will owe on that income.
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