Last updated 23 August 2026
Why "billable" hours, not total hours
A salaried job's hourly rate only has to cover the work itself. Freelancing has to cover admin, invoicing, finding clients, and business costs too — all from the hours actually billed. This calculator divides the income you want plus your expenses by only your billable hours, which is why the number comes out higher than a naive salary-to-hourly conversion would suggest.
Common questions
Why is my billable rate so much higher than a salaried equivalent?
Because not every hour is billable. Admin, marketing, invoicing and finding clients all take time that isn't directly paid for, and business expenses come out of the same pot — a salaried hourly rate doesn't have to absorb either of those.
What counts as billable hours per week?
Only the hours you can actually invoice a client for, not total hours worked. Most freelancers find their genuinely billable time is well under their total working hours once admin and business development are accounted for.
Why 48 weeks instead of 52?
Unlike a salaried role, time off for a freelancer is genuinely unpaid, so a more realistic default subtracts a few weeks for holidays and downtime. Adjust it to match your actual working year.