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Calculate Your Real Freelance Hourly Rate

Most freelancers undercharge by 25% because they skip one step in the math. This calculator includes it. Free, no signup required.

Calculations run in your browser. Nothing is sent until you opt in.

Currency
Display symbol only — no exchange-rate conversion.
Annual Income Goal
What you want to take home after taxes.
Yearly Business Expenses
Software, hardware, accountant, etc.
Effective Tax Rate
Income tax + social security combined.
%
Profit Margin
Buffer for savings, emergencies, and growth.
%
Billable Hours per Year
Default: 30 hrs/week × 48 weeks.
hrs
What I Currently Charge (optional)
Leave blank to skip the comparison.
/ hr
Please use realistic values. Tax rate must be below 95% and billable hours above 10.
Your minimum hourly rate
0 € / hour
€0
Day rate (×8 hours)
€0
Monthly target revenue
€0
Annual gross income required

Enter your numbers to see your personalized minimum hourly rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because the income goal you typed is what you want to take home after taxes. To take home €80.000 at a 25% tax rate, you need to earn about €107.000 gross. Most freelance rate calculators skip this step, which is why their results undercharge by 25%+.
1.440 is a realistic working baseline: 30 billable hours per week × 48 weeks (4 weeks for holidays, sickness, admin). Don’t use 40 × 52 = 2.080 — that’s a salaried employee with paid leave, not a freelancer.
Use your effective tax rate including income tax, social security/self-employment tax, and VAT if you can’t reclaim it. For EU freelancers, 25–35% is a common range. For US freelancers, 25–30%. Your accountant has the exact number.
Either raise rates (gradually with existing clients, immediately with new ones), reduce business expenses, or accept that you’re subsidizing your clients. Most freelancers underprice for 2–3 years before they fix it. Earlier is cheaper.
The math is universal. Only the tax rate input changes by country. Currency is cosmetic — change it to USD or GBP if you prefer.
It’s a top-of-funnel lead magnet for Folio Supply’s paid products (the Financial Dashboard, Proposal Kit, and Business Command Center). The calculator and PDF are genuinely free — no email required to use the calculator. The email signup is opt-in, in exchange for the PDF report and occasional emails.

Tools to Run Your Freelance Business

Folio Business Command Center

€99 — one-time

Browser-based quote builder, time tracker, invoicing, and tax reserve in one tool. Privacy by design, no subscription.

Get it →

Financial Dashboard

€49 — one-time

Excel-based monthly tracker for the 6 numbers every freelancer should monitor. 5 tabs, 170+ formulas.

Get it →

Freelancer Proposal Kit

€39 — one-time

Three proposal templates, pricing calculator, follow-up email sequence. Everything to win projects.

Get it →

Client Onboarding System

€29 — one-time

Welcome emails, intake questionnaire, kickoff checklist, communication guidelines, and project timeline. Onboard new clients without forgetting the small things.

Get it →