Contractors and consultants often quote by the day. Enter the yearly income you want, your days off and how many of your working days you can actually bill, and this calculator shows the day rate you need.
| Billable days per year | – |
| Equivalent hourly rate | – |
| Income needed per month | – |
How it works
Working days = 52 × working days per week − days off. Billable days = working days × the share you can bill. Day rate = income you need ÷ billable days.
The income figure is what you need to bring in before tax. If you want to work back from take-home pay, use the freelance hourly rate calculator.
Worked example
You need 60,000 a year. With a 5-day week and 35 days off you have 225 working days. If you can bill 80% of them, that is 180 billable days, so the minimum day rate is 60,000 ÷ 180 = 333.
Tips
- Add costs and tax to your target before you use this. Our hourly rate calculator does it for you.
- Contract work often has gaps between projects. A lower billable share needs a higher day rate.
- Never quote below your minimum without a good reason, such as a long guaranteed contract.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an hourly rate to a day rate?
Multiply by the hours in your working day. A day rate is often slightly lower than eight times an hourly rate, but it depends on your agreement.
What share of days can a freelancer bill?
It varies. Between 60 and 85 percent is common, but use your own experience.
Should I include bank holidays?
Yes. Count any day you will not be paid as a day off.
More free tools: Hourly rate calculator · Project price calculator · All free tools
This calculator is for general guidance only. Check important figures yourself.