How much should I charge as a freelancer?
It's the question every freelancer wrestles with, and guessing usually means undercharging. The good news: your rate isn't a mystery number you pluck from the air — it's the output of a few inputs you already know. Here's the simple method, and a free calculator that does the math for you.
Start from your floor, not the market
Before you look at what others charge, find the rate below which your business simply doesn't work — your floor. Take the income you want to earn in a year, add your business costs, and divide by the hours you can realistically bill. That last part is where most people go wrong: you don't bill 40 hours a week. After sales, admin, email and breaks, most solo freelancers bill 20–25 hours. Use the honest number and your floor jumps — correctly.
Add a margin — you're a business, not a salary
Your floor keeps the lights on; it doesn't fund taxes, slow months, new equipment, or growth. Add a margin on top — 15–30% is healthy — so your recommended rate sits comfortably above break-even. This buffer is the difference between surviving and building something.
Then price the project, not the hour
Clients don't buy hours; they buy outcomes. Once you know your recommended hourly rate, use it to estimate a fixed project price — hours × rate, with a bump for rush or complexity — and quote that. Fixed pricing rewards you for getting faster, where hourly billing quietly punishes it. Take a deposit before you start, always.
Do the math in one minute (free)
Raise it as the proof stacks up
Your first rate isn't your forever rate. As your portfolio and results grow, raise it — for new clients first, then existing ones with notice. Track which projects actually pay well and lean into that work. Rates are a decision you revisit, not a nervous one-time guess.
Find your floor, add a margin, price the outcome, and revisit as you grow. Do that and "how much should I charge?" stops being a source of anxiety and becomes a number you can defend.