A free calculator from CraftBook
What should you charge per day?
Most freelancers set a day rate by dividing a salary they have in mind by the working days in a year, and quietly undercharge, because nobody bills every day. This free calculator works the other way round: tell it the income you want and the time you cannot bill, and it shows the day rate that actually gets you there, along with the hourly, weekly and monthly equivalents, and the full workings so you can see exactly where the number comes from.
Day rate calculator
Work out a day rate from the income you want, allowing for the fact that nobody bills every working day.
These figures are before Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT, so set money aside for those. Treat the result as a floor to negotiate up from: what you can charge also depends on your field, your experience and the value you deliver.
- Free, with no sign-up
- Private: nothing you type leaves your browser
- Works on any device, even offline
Quick start
- Enter the income you want for yourself, which is your target for the year, before tax.
- Add your yearly business costs: software, insurance, an accountant, equipment, and the like.
- Set the time you cannot bill, meaning paid holiday, a few sick days, and the share of each week that goes on admin, marketing and quoting.
- Watch your day rate update as you type, with a clear breakdown showing how the number is worked out.
- Use full screen for a distraction-free view, then copy the share link to revisit or send your result. Treat the figure as a floor to negotiate up from, not a ceiling.
The figures are before Income Tax, National Insurance and VAT, and this is general guidance rather than financial advice. Set money aside for tax, and check your own circumstances.
Try it for yourself above