Find the minimum rate you need to charge to take home the income you want. The calculator allows for UK Income Tax and National Insurance, business costs, holidays and the time you can’t bill for.
- Free to use
- No sign-up needed
- Works on phone and desktop
Private by design: everything happens in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to our server.
Software, equipment, insurance, accountant, phone, training.
Holidays, bank holidays and sick days. 7 weeks is common.
Time spent on admin, sales and marketing isn’t billable.
Covers quiet months and late payers.
Tax estimate uses 2026/27 rates for a sole trader: Personal Allowance, Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance. It doesn’t include student loans or other income. Check your own position with HMRC or an accountant.
How to work out your freelance rate
- Enter the yearly take-home pay you want and your business costs.
- Choose where you pay tax.
- Set your weeks off, working days, hours and how much of your time is billable.
- Read your minimum hourly and day rate, plus the revenue you need each month.
Pricing tips for freelancers
- This is your floor, not your price. Charge for the value you deliver; use this to make sure you never go below break-even.
- Be realistic about billable time. Admin, sales, invoicing and learning take a big share of the week.
- Review yearly: update your rate when costs, tax rates or demand change.
- Think about VAT: if your turnover passes the VAT threshold you’ll need to register and add VAT.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax year does it use?
The 2026/27 UK rates for sole traders: Personal Allowance, Income Tax bands (including Scotland) and Class 4 National Insurance.
Does it work for limited companies?
It’s designed for sole traders. Company directors pay tax differently (salary, dividends and Corporation Tax), so treat the result as a rough guide.
Why is my day rate so much higher than my old salary?
As a freelancer you pay for your own holidays, sick days, pension, equipment and the time spent finding work. An employer used to cover those.