FreeKit is a collection of free online tools for developers, SEO professionals, designers, students, content creators, and everyday users.

Are all tools completely free?

Yes. Every tool on FreeKit is free to use without subscriptions or hidden charges.

Do I need to create an account?

No. You can use all tools instantly without creating an account.

No. Most tools process data locally in your browser, and we do not permanently store your inputs.

Can I use FreeKit on mobile devices?

Yes. Every tool is fully responsive and works on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.

How often are new tools added?

We regularly add new tools and improve existing ones based on user feedback and industry needs.

Which browsers are supported?

FreeKit supports all modern browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and other Chromium-based browsers.

Can I share these tools with others?

Absolutely. You are welcome to share FreeKit with friends, colleagues, students, and your team.

How do I calculate my freelance hourly rate?

The formula is: Required Revenue = (Desired Salary + Business Expenses) / (1 - Tax Rate). Then divide Required Revenue by your total billable hours per year. Billable hours = (Working days per week × 52 weeks - vacation days - sick days) × billable hours per day. This calculator performs this entire calculation automatically.

What is a good freelance hourly rate?

Freelance rates vary widely by skill and industry. Software developers charge $75-$250/hr, designers $50-$150/hr, writers $30-$100/hr, consultants $100-$500/hr, marketers $50-$150/hr. Your rate should cover salary equivalent, business expenses, taxes, and provide a buffer for non-billable time. Most freelancers undercharge — calculate your true costs first and set rates accordingly.

Why is my calculated rate higher than I expected?

This is normal. Freelancers pay self-employment tax (15.3% in the US), fund their own benefits (health insurance, retirement), have business expenses (software, equipment, marketing), and lose productive time to non-billable work (admin, invoicing, marketing, sales). A $50,000 salary employee may need to charge $75-$100/hr as a freelancer to maintain the same standard of living.

How many billable hours should I expect per day?

Most freelancers can bill 4-6 hours per 8-hour workday. The remaining time goes to administrative tasks, email, project management, client communication, marketing, and professional development. Junior freelancers often bill only 3-4 hours; experienced freelancers with efficient systems may reach 6-7 hours. Be conservative in your estimate to avoid underpricing.

How does self-employment tax affect my rate?

In the US, self-employed individuals pay 15.3% in FICA taxes (7.65% employer + 7.65% employee equivalent). This is on top of income tax. Combined, a freelancer in a moderate-tax state might pay 30-40% total in taxes. This calculator includes the tax rate field so you can account for both income tax and self-employment tax. Use your effective total tax rate for accuracy.

What business expenses should freelancers budget for?

Common annual freelance business expenses include: health insurance ($4,000-$12,000), retirement contributions, professional liability insurance ($500-$2,000), software subscriptions ($500-$3,000), equipment and hardware ($500-$3,000), coworking space ($2,000-$12,000), accounting/bookkeeping ($500-$2,000), marketing/advertising ($1,000-$5,000), professional development ($500-$2,000), internet and phone ($1,000-$2,000), and office supplies. Total business expenses often range from $10,000-$40,000/year.

Should I charge by the hour or by the project?

Both have pros and cons. Hourly billing is transparent and ensures you are paid for scope changes, but caps your earnings as you get faster. Project-based (value-based) pricing rewards efficiency and can yield higher effective rates, but requires accurate scope estimation and strong contracts. Many experienced freelancers use a hybrid: quote a project price based on their hourly rate × estimated hours, with a clause for scope changes beyond the estimate.

How many vacation days should I plan for?

Plan for at least 2-3 weeks (10-15 business days) of vacation per year, plus 3-5 sick days. Unlike employees, freelancers do not get paid time off — your rate needs to cover the income you lose while not working. Many freelancers budget for 4+ weeks total time off. If you take only 1 week off, you risk burnout which costs more in the long run.

How do I raise my freelance rates?

Raise rates annually by 5-10% for existing clients (give 30-60 days notice). New clients always get your current rate. Justify increases with: expanded skills, portfolio growth, market demand, inflation. If clients resist, offer options: maintain old rate with reduced scope, or new rate with added value. Most clients expect and accept reasonable annual increases. The biggest mistake is not raising rates at all.

How does working days per week affect my rate?

Fewer working days per week means fewer billable hours, requiring a higher hourly rate to meet the same annual revenue target. For example, if you work 4 days/week instead of 5, you lose 20% of your capacity and need to increase your rate by ~25% to compensate (since fixed costs remain the same). Many part-time freelancers discover they need surprisingly high rates to replace full-time income.

Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Calculate your required hourly rate based on desired salary, expenses, taxes, and available work hours.

IntermediateFinance CalculatorsFreev1.0.0Updated Jul 22, 2025

Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Calculate the rate you need to charge based on your goals and availability

Desired Annual Salary

Annual Business Expenses

Total Tax Rate % (income + self-employment)

Include federal, state, and self-employment (FICA 15.3%) taxes. Typical total: 30-40%.

Vacation Days / Year

Sick Days / Year

Billable Hours Per Day: 5

Most freelancers bill 4-6 hours per 8-hour day. Remaining time is non-billable (admin, marketing, etc.).

Working Days Per Week: 5

100% Private — Runs in Your Browser

All calculations happen locally. Your financial data is never sent to any server.

How to Use the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Enter desired annual salary — The take-home amount you want after taxes and expenses.
Add business expenses — Software, equipment, insurance, coworking, and other annual costs.
Set tax rate — Include income tax plus self-employment tax (15.3% FICA in the US).
Enter time off and availability — Vacation days, sick days, billable hours per day, and work days per week.
Review your rate — See required hourly rate, daily rate, and a full calculation breakdown.

Features

Accounts for salary, expenses, and taxes
Adjustable billable hours slider (1-10 hours/day)
Working days per week slider (1-7)
Vacation and sick day inputs
Daily rate and weekly revenue calculation
Step-by-step calculation breakdown
Tax-inclusive revenue formula
Real-time results as you adjust sliders
100% client-side — no data leaves your browser

Tips for Using Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Include all business expenses like software subscriptions, equipment, and self-employment taxes.
Factor in non-billable hours — most freelancers can only bill 60-70% of their work time.
Calculate your take-home pay from that hourly rate using Salary After Tax Calculator.
Track your project costs and compare with Cost of Living Calculator to set realistic rates.
Plan for taxes and savings with Compound Interest Calculator for investment growth.
Understand your profit margins on projects using Profit Margin Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Faisal Hossain

Founder & Developer of FreeKit

I personally designed and built every tool on this website — including the one you just used. If these tools have been helpful, I can build custom tools, automation workflows, websites, and SEO solutions tailored to your business.

Services

SEO Audit, Technical SEO & On-Page SEO
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WooCommerce & E-commerce Management
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Availability

Remote: Available Now

United States & European company

USD $25/hour or USD $1,500/month

On-site: Open to Relocation

With work visa & travel support

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How to Use the Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Enter desired annual salary — The take-home amount you want after taxes and expenses.

Add business expenses — Software, equipment, insurance, coworking, and other annual costs.

Set tax rate — Include income tax plus self-employment tax (15.3% FICA in the US).

Enter time off and availability — Vacation days, sick days, billable hours per day, and work days per week.

Review your rate — See required hourly rate, daily rate, and a full calculation breakdown.

Features

Accounts for salary, expenses, and taxes

Adjustable billable hours slider (1-10 hours/day)

Working days per week slider (1-7)

Vacation and sick day inputs

Daily rate and weekly revenue calculation

Step-by-step calculation breakdown

Tax-inclusive revenue formula

Real-time results as you adjust sliders

100% client-side — no data leaves your browser

Tips for Using Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator

Include all business expenses like software subscriptions, equipment, and self-employment taxes.

Factor in non-billable hours — most freelancers can only bill 60-70% of their work time.

Calculate your take-home pay from that hourly rate using Salary After Tax Calculator.

Track your project costs and compare with Cost of Living Calculator to set realistic rates.

Plan for taxes and savings with Compound Interest Calculator for investment growth.

Understand your profit margins on projects using Profit Margin Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions