Freelance day rate calculator
Enter your day rate and how much you actually work. We’ll turn it into a yearly, monthly, weekly and hourly figure in real time.
These figures are your turnover (money in) before tax, National Insurance or self-employment tax, and business expenses. What you keep will be lower — check with an accountant or your local tax authority for your situation.
How to turn a day rate into a yearly figure
Converting a day rate into an annual income is simple multiplication — the only real question is how many days you actually work.
The formula
Day rate × days per week × weeks per year = yearly income
For example, $400 × 5 × 48 = $96,000 a year once you build in around a month of holidays and downtime, or $400 × 5 × 52 = $104,000 if you bill every single weekday.
There are around 260 weekdays in a year, but almost nobody bills all of them. Public holidays, sickness, admin days and the natural gaps between contracts mean most full-time freelancers invoice somewhere between 220 and 240 days a year. That is why it pays to enter a realistic number of weeks above rather than assuming all 52.
It is also worth remembering that a day rate is not the same as a salary. There is no paid holiday, sick pay, pension contribution or employer benefits baked in, and you cover your own tax and expenses. That is why freelancers usually charge a day rate that looks higher than an equivalent salary — it has to stretch further.
Common freelance day rates
See what a specific day rate works out to per year. Figures below assume every weekday (260 days) — tap any rate for the full monthly, weekly and hourly breakdown.
Day Rate Calculator FAQs
Everything freelancers and contractors ask about turning a day rate into an income
How do I use this freelance day rate calculator?
Enter your day rate, how many days a week and weeks a year you work, and your hours per day. The calculator instantly shows your income per year, month, week and hour. Change the currency if you don’t bill in dollars.
How do you convert a day rate to a yearly income?
Multiply your day rate by the days you work each week, then by the weeks you work each year. For example, $400 × 5 × 48 = $96,000 a year. Using fewer weeks accounts for holidays, sickness and gaps between contracts.
How many days a year does a freelancer actually work?
There are about 260 weekdays in a year (52 weeks × 5 days). After holidays, sick days and downtime between contracts, most full-time freelancers and contractors bill between 220 and 240 days.
Is a day rate the same as a salary?
No. A day rate does not include paid holiday, sick pay, a pension or other benefits, and you cover your own tax and expenses. Because of this, an annual figure from a day rate is worth less than the same amount paid as a salary.
Does the calculator show take-home pay?
No. It shows turnover, which is money in before tax and business expenses. Your take-home pay will be lower, so check with an accountant or your local tax authority for your situation.
What’s a good freelance day rate?
It depends on your field, experience and location. A useful method is to work backwards: decide the yearly income you need, then divide it by the number of days you realistically expect to bill to find the day rate that gets you there.
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