Hourly Rate Calculator
Calculate your freelancer hourly rate from target salary, actual work days and costs, with a fully transparent estimate. Runs in your browser, GDPR-compliant.
Your inputs are processed in your browser and are not transmitted to our servers. Note: third-party resources (e.g. advertising and analytics from Google/Cloudflare) and an optional PayPal donation link may transfer data when loading or when clicked. Browser extensions or plugins may be able to read content that is visible in the input fields.
The result will appear here …
Legal notice
Current as of: 11.08.2026.
The results reflect the legal and fiscal state as of the date stated above. They are provided for general information and initial guidance only. They are not individual financial, tax or legal advice, and no guarantee is given as to their accuracy, completeness or suitability for your circumstances. In particular, the results are not a substitute for an official or judicial assessment. Please check the information independently and seek qualified advice where appropriate, as you are solely responsible for any decision made in reliance on the result.
How to use this tool (video)
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Hourly Rate Calculator: a transparent rate for freelancers
The hourly rate calculator helps you derive a realistic hourly rate from your annual net target. It accounts for work days, vacation, holidays, sick days, running costs, taxes and a profit margin, giving you a solid base for quotes.
Current 2026 reference values for your deduction rate
What a realistic deduction rate looks like depends on your income and your provisions. As a guideline (as of 09/2026): the income-tax allowance is 12,348 € and the top marginal rate of 42 % starts at 69,879 €. Freelancers pay no trade tax, but cover health and long-term care insurance themselves (voluntary, around 14.6 % plus a surcharge in statutory health insurance) and possibly pension insurance. Overall, many freelancers sit between 25 % and 45 % in total deductions. Use your own tax plan or ask your tax adviser for your situation.
How it works
The tool computes your billable hours per year by subtracting vacation, holidays and sick days from your work days and multiplying by hours per day. It then derives the required pre-tax revenue from your net target plus overhead, and divides that by the billable hours and the profit margin.
Key factors
- Work and outage days directly affect your rate.
- Overhead such as office, software and insurance must be covered.
- Tax and social contributions reduce what you keep.
- A profit margin provides a buffer for risks and investments.
Limits
The result is an estimate, not tax or legal advice. Your actual deductions depend on your personal situation. The rate is understood as a net fee, before VAT.
Frequently asked questions
Is the rate gross or net?
The tool works from your net target and returns a net fee rate, before VAT.
Are my inputs stored?
No. The calculation runs entirely locally in your browser; no data is transmitted or stored.