Freelance project calculator
See what your project pays per hour after expenses.
Result
Your estimated hourly rate
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Enter your fee and time to see the result.
Replace your figures with the example?
Clear this estimate? You can undo afterwards.
Calculated with GetToWork.online — https://gettowork.online/tools/freelance-project-calculator
What does a £600 project actually pay?
A £600 fee for 12 hours of delivery work looks like £50 an hour. Add another five hours for preparation, calls, revisions and handover, plus £40 in project expenses, and the rate becomes £32.94 an hour before tax.
If your target is £35 an hour, you’d need to charge £635 for those 17 hours and expenses.
How the calculation works
The calculator takes your project expenses away from the fee, then divides what’s left by the total hours you enter.
Hourly rate = (project fee − project expenses) ÷ total project hours
This is an estimate before tax and general business overheads, not take-home pay.
Should I include calls and preparation?
Yes. Include the time you expect to spend on the project, even if it isn’t listed separately on the invoice. That might include briefing, setup, feedback, testing and handover. Use Break down time when you want to build that total from categories.
What if I’m not sure how long it’ll take?
Start with your best estimate. Then use ‘What if it takes longer?’ to check how extra time would change your hourly rate.
Does this include tax?
No. The calculator only subtracts the project expenses you enter. It doesn’t calculate income tax, VAT, social contributions or general business overheads.