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Freelance day rate calculator

Most freelancers underprice because they divide by too many days. Enter your real numbers and see the day rate you actually need.

Income you want (per year)

Business costs (per year)

Billable days you can realistically work

days

Minimum day rate

£340

You need to bill £51,000

Roughly per hour (7.5h) £45

Per month (avg) £4,250

Why the naive maths ruins freelancers

The trap is dividing your target salary by 220 working days. You cannot bill five days a week, 52 weeks a year. Between admin, sales, holidays and gaps, a realistic figure is often 120 to 160 billable days. Divide by that, not by a calendar.

This is your floor, not your ceiling. Once you know it, quote fixed project prices based on the value you deliver, and use the day rate only to check you are not working at a loss. More in how to price freelance work.

Next steps

Copy a template

TemplateQuote templateQuote the work and set the terms TemplateStatement of workScope, deliverables and price, agreed up front

Read the guide

GuideHow to price freelance work (day rate vs value)How to set freelance rates that actually pay you properly, working out your day rate, when to price by value, and how to raise prices without losing clients.GuideHow to raise your freelance rates (without losing clients)How to tell if you're underpriced, raise your freelance rates with confidence, handle pushback and package your work so a rate rise actually sticks.

What the words mean

TermDay rateWhat you charge for a day of your time, which is not your salary divided by 260.TermRetainerA recurring fee a client pays for ongoing work or availability.TermOverheadThe ongoing costs of running your business that are not tied to a single sale.

Know your real numbers, per project.

tracks time against projects and shows the profit on every job, so your next quote is grounded in reality. Free to start.

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