Freelancer Day Rate Calculator
Work out the day rate you need to charge to hit your income goals. Calculate your rate based on desired income, expenses, billable days and profit buffer.
Calculate Your Day Rate
Enter your income goals and working pattern to get a realistic day rate and hourly rate to quote clients.
Rate Inputs
Enter your income goals and costs
Recommended Rate
Estimated day rate breakdown
Day Rate by Desired Income
Estimated day and hourly rates assuming £5,000 annual expenses, 25 holiday/sick days, 20% non-billable time, and a 15% buffer (188 billable days).
| Desired Annual Income | Est. Day Rate | Est. Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| £30,000 | £214 | £27 |
| £45,000 | £306 | £38 |
| £60,000 | £398 | £50 |
| £80,000 | £520 | £65 |
Day Rate FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about setting your freelance day rate.
Add your desired annual income to your annual business expenses, then divide by the number of billable days you realistically expect to work in a year. Many freelancers also add a buffer of 10-20% on top to cover quiet periods, pension contributions and unpaid time off.
Unlike employees, freelancers don’t receive paid holiday, sick pay, pension contributions or guaranteed work. A buffer built into your day rate helps cover gaps between contracts, unpaid leave, training time and unexpected costs, rather than eating directly into your target income.
Most freelancers can bill somewhere between 60% and 80% of their available working days once holidays, sick days, admin, marketing and time spent finding new clients are accounted for. Starting with a conservative estimate helps avoid underpricing your rate.
Yes. Costs like software subscriptions, insurance, equipment, accountancy fees and a home office allowance should be factored into your day rate calculation so your target income is not reduced by the cost of running your business.