Hourly rate calculator for contractors and freelancers
The minimum hourly rate to charge so you take home the income you want, after expenses and taxes. Free, no sign-up.
Most independent pros set their prices by looking at what others charge. The outcome is familiar: a full schedule and a bank account that does not keep up, because the hours spent driving, quoting and doing paperwork are billed to nobody.
The math works backward. Start from what you want to earn, add your expenses, account for taxes, then divide by the hours you ACTUALLY bill in a year. That last number is the one almost everyone overestimates.
Nothing is uploaded: everything runs in your browser.
Your numbers
Minimum hourly rate
$69.74 / h before sales tax
- That is, per day
- $418
- Yearly revenue needed
- $98,333
- Billable hours per year
- 1,410 h
Frequently asked questions
How many billable hours should I count per day?
Rarely more than five or six in an eight to ten hour day. Driving, picking up materials, quotes, follow-ups and bookkeeping take the rest. Assuming eight billable hours gives a rate about a third too low.
What tax rate should I enter?
The share of your revenue that goes to taxes. As a sole proprietor in the United States, self-employment tax alone is 15.3%, and federal and state income tax come on top of it. Ask your accountant for your overall effective rate. The default value is a starting point, not tax advice.
Should I add a margin to the calculated rate?
Yes. The result is a floor: it covers your income and expenses if everything goes to plan. A 10 to 20% margin absorbs slow months, unpaid invoices and equipment that needs replacing.
Are my numbers stored anywhere?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser; nothing is sent or kept.
With Standin
The rest of the work, handled
Standin reads your customers' messages while you work, fills in their record, and drafts your replies and estimates. You review, you send. Free to start, no credit card.