Ir para o conteúdo principal

0 of 3 uses today · 3 remaining. Go Pro and remove the limit.

Upgrade

Hourly Rate Calculator

Desired salary → true hourly rate, accounting for time off, self-employment taxes, and overhead.

Processado no seu navegador

Desired income and costs

Availability

Set your desired income to calculate your hourly rate.

⚖️ Informational. Calculation is a reference model. Actual tax rates vary by jurisdiction, legal structure, and income. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation. Hourly rates also depend on market demand and positioning.
Sobre

How to calculate your freelance hourly rate?

Por Quorify EditorialAtualizado em

Quorify's Hourly Rate Calculator helps you estimate what to charge per hour as a freelancer or independent contractor, starting from monthly fixed costs, estimated taxes, working days, and desired profit margin. The calculation accounts for truly billable time (excluding vacations, holidays, prospecting, meetings, and admin work) — a detail often forgotten in simplified calculations that leads many freelancers to undercharge. The tool processes numbers in your browser and shows calculation steps: gross cost per hour, tax on revenue, and final suggested rate. Part of Quorify's financial toolkit: compare W-2 vs 1099 scenarios using the Net Salary Calculator and the Tax Calculator. Use the result as a starting reference in client negotiations; specific situations (tax structure, long-term contracts, withholdings) may require review with an accountant.

Casos

When to use

  1. Set your hourly rate when starting freelance for the first time, avoiding the classic mistake of charging based only on what 'feels fair.'

  2. Review rates annually: adjust for inflation, new fixed costs (health insurance, tools), and changes in demand volume.

  3. Compare fixed-price project proposals: discover if the offered amount truly covers your estimated hours plus desired margin.

  4. Evaluate W-2 → 1099 transition: combine with Quorify's Net Salary Calculator to understand how much you'd need to bill as a contractor to maintain the same standard.

  5. Price recurring services (monthly retainer): convert hourly rate into fixed package accounting for dedicated hours and discount for predictability.

Método

How the calculation works

First, monthly fixed costs are summed (office, health insurance, tools, accountant, marketing). Next, billable hours per month are defined — typically 60-70% of total worked time, excluding vacations, holidays, prospecting, internal meetings, and administrative tasks. Fixed costs are divided by billable hours to obtain minimum hourly cost. Desired profit margin is applied (markup on cost, not margin on revenue), and finally estimated tax on revenue is added (self-employment tax varies by jurisdiction and structure). The result is a reference rate — projects with higher risk, longer duration, or clients with late payment history typically justify a premium. For exact tax calculation in your jurisdiction, consult your local tax authority or advisor.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How many billable hours per month should I use?
Use 100–130 billable hours per month as an initial reference. The calculation starts from 160 working hours (8h × 20 days) and deducts 30–40% for prospecting, internal meetings, training, accounting, sick days, and proportional vacation. Raising this number makes the rate appear lower but doesn't reflect the reality of freelance work.
Should I charge more for urgency or difficult clients?
Yes. The calculated rate is the floor. Typical market premiums: 20–30% for urgent delivery (off-hours or deadlines under 48h), 15–25% for clients with late payment history, 10–20% for projects with high technical or reputational risk.
How do I account for taxes in the rate?
For self-employed individuals, effective tax rates vary widely by jurisdiction and structure (sole proprietor, LLC, S-Corp, etc.). The calculator adds tax on top of the charged amount — meaning the client pays you + the tax you remit to the government. Consult a tax advisor for your specific effective rate.
Is profit margin on cost or on revenue?
On cost. If your hourly cost is $50 and you want 40% margin, the pre-tax rate is $70 (not $83.33). Confusing the two is a common error that makes professionals think they're profiting more than they actually are.
Is it better to be W-2 or 1099 earning the same gross?
It depends. As 1099 you need to charge a higher net to cover benefits that W-2 employees receive automatically (health insurance, paid time off, employer portion of payroll taxes, unemployment insurance). Combine this calculator with Quorify's Net Salary Calculator for a direct side-by-side comparison.
Can I use this for fixed-price projects?
Yes, by multiplying the rate by estimated project hours and adding a 20–30% buffer for rework, alignment, and revisions. Fixed-price projects without a buffer tend to yield actual hourly rates below the estimate.
Fontes

Official sources

Tabelas, leis e referências consultadas para fundamentar esta ferramenta.

  1. Official tableCurrent as of 2026Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

    Individual Income Tax Table

    Progressive monthly and annual individual income tax table, rates, standard deductions, and dependent rules — reference for any income calculation in the U.S.

    Consultar fonte oficial
  2. Official tableCurrent as of 2026Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Social Security Administration

    Self-Employment Tax Table

    Progressive table by income brackets with contribution ceiling used for calculating Social Security and Medicare taxes for self-employed individuals.

    Consultar fonte oficial
  3. Official indicatorPeriodic FOMC updatesFederal Reserve

    Federal Funds Rate — Historical and Current

    Benchmark interest rate of the U.S. economy — reference for calculating minimum return, opportunity cost, and present value discounts in investments.

    Consultar fonte oficial
  4. Academic articleHBR 2016Harvard Business Review

    SaaS Metrics — Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

    Reference study on how to calculate and interpret customer acquisition cost and its relationship to lifetime value in recurring revenue models.

    Consultar fonte oficial
  5. Market reportAnnual editionBessemer Venture Partners

    Cloud 100 Benchmarks Report

    Analysis of financial health indicators in cloud software companies, including benchmarks for ROI, CAC payback, and customer lifetime.

    Consultar fonte oficial

Metodologia — esta ferramenta consulta as tabelas e legislação vigentes nas fontes acima. As regras são atualizadas conforme novas instruções normativas são publicadas pelos órgãos competentes.

Última verificação editorial: junho de 2026.

SponsoredQuorify · free plan
Quorify Pro

Use Quorify without limits

100 uses/day across all 125 tools · ad-free · extended history

Starting at$4.08/mo
See plans
Compartilhe
SponsoredQuorify · free plan
Quorify Pro

Use Quorify without limits

100 uses/day across all 125 tools · ad-free · extended history

Starting at$4.08/mo
See plans

Related

Related tools

toolLayout.related_description

Free

Secure Password Generator

Create impenetrable passwords instantly by mixing characters, numbers, and symbols with visual strength validation.

Free

QR Code Generator

Create custom QR codes free of charge for links, WiFi, texts and more.

Free

Whatsapp Link

Generate pre-filled Whatsapp URL for sales and customer service.

Pro

Barcode Generator

Create dozens of labels and codes (EAN/SKU) in bulk instantly. Ready for thermal printing!

Free

Giveaway Generator

Create fair and verifiable draws for your promotions from lists or numbers.

Pro

Amortization Simulator (SAC/PRICE)

Compare financing options and see the impact of interest rates.