FRL·004Set your rate · Free · no account

Freelance day rate calculator

Start from the income you want: get the day rate that covers charges, time off and unbilled days.

Day rate to charge

$443

~$7,381 / month · ~$63 / hour (based on 7h)

Target annual net income: $60,000
Annual business expenses: + $2,000
Revenue to reach: $88,571
Billable days per year: ÷ 200
Day rate to charge: $443

(60,000 + 2,000) ÷ (1 − 30%) ÷ 200 days = $443

Indicative estimate only, not personalized tax advice. Your actual tax/contribution rate depends on your legal structure — see our upcoming guides.

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What to sort out before issuing e-invoices becomes mandatory in France, on 1 September 2027. Leave your email: the Forge Log (2 emails a month) flags every change to the checklist.

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What the tool does not do

It does not compute your exact contributions: the charges rate is an estimate you enter.
It does not account for your personal tax situation.

Build notes

Version

FRL·004 · v1.0

Checked on

2026-10-01

Sources

URSSAF — Micro-entrepreneur checked 2026-10-01

Tests

Cas de référence : 40 000 €, 200 j, 30 %, 2 000 € → 300 €/jour · CI test:outils
Bornes : charges plafonnées à 95 %, 0 jour sans résultat · CI test:outils

Role of AI

AI-assisted first draft of the code and copy, reviewed and corrected. Maths and formats checked by automated tests.

Known limits

It does not compute your exact contributions: the charges rate is an estimate you enter.
It does not account for your personal tax situation.

History

2026-10-09 · Reminders, quotes, day rate: guidance under each tool
2026-10-01 · Day rate, late-payment and reminder engines tested on every change
2026-09-23 · The day-rate calculator shows its result again

Forge log

Three steps, no sign-up.

Set your target.

The net income you want for the year, and your business costs: software, insurance, equipment, accountant.
Count your billable days.

Once time off, business development and admin are taken out, 180 to 220 days is common.
Estimate your charges.

Contributions and tax as a share of revenue: your day rate, plus its monthly and hourly equivalent.

A freelance day rate calculator, and how it works

The formula used

This freelance day rate calculator uses one simple formula: day rate = (target net income + annual expenses) ÷ (1 − tax and contributions rate) ÷ billable days.

You start from what you want to earn, add your expenses, scale up to the revenue needed to cover tax and contributions, then divide by the number of days you can really bill. The tool also shows the monthly and hourly equivalents.

A worked example

An example in euros, with the default values of the French version:

target net income: €40,000, annual expenses: €2,000, charges rate: 30%, billable days: 200;
(40,000 + 2,000) ÷ 0.70 = €60,000 of revenue to reach;
60,000 ÷ 200 = €300 per day.

Change one input and the result moves noticeably, which is the point. You see right away what a higher income target or one fewer billable month costs.

What the calculation does not tell you

The result is an estimate. The real charges rate depends on your status, and the tool gives no official contribution rate: enter the one that fits your situation. The calculation also ignores the market, your experience and the value the client gets from the work.

Be careful with billable days. Once holidays, prospecting and admin are taken out, you often end up with 180 to 220 days: a common rough range, not a rule. Start from your own calendar rather than 365 days minus weekends.

Use next

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate a freelance day rate?

Add your target net income and your annual expenses, divide by 1 minus your charges rate, then divide by your billable days. The tool does it for you and shows the monthly and hourly equivalents too.

How many billable days should I use?

Remove holidays, prospecting and admin from the year. You often end up with 180 to 220 days. That is a rough range: your own calendar is better.

Is the result a final rate?

No, it is an estimate and a starting point. The charges rate depends on your status, and your final price also reflects the market and the assignment. No account. Clairsmith keeps nothing you type.