The 2026 Freelance Rate Calculator: Know Your Worth

Stop Under-Charging. Start Earning What You're Worth.

For freelancers, "how much should I charge?" is the hardest question. We often pick a number from a forum thread or guess based on competitors, leaving thousands on the table. This calculator removes the emotion and guesswork. It's a simple tool designed to help you... find the minimum viable rate you *must* charge to cover your expenses, pay your taxes, and meet your personal salary goals. This is your baseline for negotiation.

How This Calculator Works

Most rate calculators forget the most important factors: business expenses and taxes. Your rate isn't just your "salary"—it's your salary, plus your software costs (e.g., Adobe, Zoho), hardware, marketing, and the "freelancer tax".

1. Enter Your Desired Profit: What "pocket money" do you want to have each month after all costs?
2. Add Your Expenses: Input your monthly business costs (software, co-working) and personal costs (rent, food).
3. Factor in Taxes: Add your estimated effective tax rate (typically 20-30%).
4. Set Billable Hours: Be realistic. You can't bill 40 hours a week. A standard freelance week has 20-25 billable hours.

The tool calculates the hourly rate required to make this a sustainable career, not just a hobby.