Use this free freelance rate calculator to work out the hourly rate you need as a part-time freelancer in Ireland, the UK or the US.
A planning estimate, not tax or business advice. Typical rates checked November 2026. Runs in your browser; nothing is stored or sent.
How this freelance rate calculator works
Most parents starting freelance work pick a price by looking at what others charge, or by guessing what feels fair. Both often end in the same place: working hard for less than the minimum wage. This freelance rate calculator works the other way round. You tell it how much you want to keep each month and how much time you really have, and it works out the hourly rate you need to charge.
Choose your country, enter your monthly goal and your available hours, and the result shows a minimum rate, a recommended rate with a safety buffer, and what that means per three-hour block and per week. It also compares your rate with typical prices for the kind of work you’ve chosen, so you can see whether it’s realistic.
The four things most new freelancers forget
1. Not every hour is paid
If you have 12 hours a week, you won’t bill all 12. Replying to emails, sending invoices, updating your website, learning new tools and looking for clients all take time. Most freelancers bill 60–75% of their working hours, and when you’re starting out it can be less than half. The freelance rate calculator uses 65% by default; change it if you know your own figure.
2. Parents have more weeks off
An employee gets paid holidays. A freelancer doesn’t. If you stop working during school holidays, mid-term breaks and when a child is sick, those weeks earn nothing. Many parents take 6 to 12 weeks a year. Spreading your income goal over fewer working weeks pushes your rate up, which is why this matters so much.
3. Tax comes out of your rate, not on top
As a freelancer, no one deducts tax for you. You need to set money aside from every payment. The calculator starts with a rough figure for each country: around 28% in Ireland for a modest side income (income tax at 20% plus USC and PRSI), 26% in the UK at basic rate (20% income tax plus 6% Class 4 National Insurance) and 28% in the US (15.3% self-employment tax plus federal income tax). Your real figure depends on your other income, so check it with our side income tax checker.
4. Costs and platform fees add up
Software subscriptions, a share of your broadband, insurance, training and an accountant all come out of your earnings. If you find clients through a marketplace, it takes a cut too: Upwork‘s freelancer fee now varies from 0% to 15% per contract, and Fiverr takes 20%. Working with your own clients avoids these fees, which is one reason experienced freelancers move off platforms over time.
Is my rate realistic?
After working out what you need, the calculator compares it with typical rates for virtual assistants, bookkeepers, proofreaders and tutors in your country. These ranges come from our guides and published sources such as the suggested minimum rates of professional bodies. If your rate is:
- Below typical rates: you could probably charge more, or work fewer hours for the same money.
- Within typical rates: your plan is realistic. Beginners usually start near the lower end and raise prices as reviews come in.
- Above typical rates: it may be hard to win clients straight away. Try a lower monthly goal at first, more hours, or fewer weeks off, and build towards your target.
The calculator also shows what you earn across every hour you work, including unpaid admin, and compares it with the minimum wage: €14.15 an hour in Ireland in 2026, £12.71 in the UK from April 2026 and the US federal minimum of $7.25. If freelancing pays less than a minimum-wage job once everything is counted, that’s worth knowing before you start.
Hourly, per project or monthly?
Your hourly rate is the foundation, but you don’t have to quote by the hour. Many freelancers price by the project (“€90 to proofread a 5,000-word report”) or offer a monthly package (“10 hours of VA support for €280”). Clients like knowing the cost up front, and if you work faster than expected, you keep the difference. Use your hourly rate to check that every quote covers your time.
When VAT comes in
Small freelancers usually don’t charge VAT at first. In Ireland you must register once your turnover from services passes €42,500 a year; in the UK the threshold is £90,000. The US has no VAT, and most services aren’t subject to sales tax. If you expect to get close, speak to an accountant early, because VAT changes what clients pay.
Freelance rate calculator FAQs
What should I charge as a beginner?
Start with the minimum rate this freelance rate calculator gives you, then compare it with the typical range for your work. If you’re new, charging near the lower end of that range is fine, but avoid going below your minimum. Very low prices attract difficult clients and are hard to raise later.
How many hours a week do I need?
That depends on your goal. Change the hours box and watch the rate move. If the rate needed is far above typical prices, you need more hours, or a smaller goal for now. Our school-hours planner shows how many hours you really have.
Should I enter my goal before or after tax?
Most people think in take-home money, so the calculator starts with “after tax”. If you already know your gross target, switch to “before tax” and the tax set-aside is ignored.
Does this work for employed part-time jobs?
No. If you’re an employee, your employer sets the pay and deducts tax for you. Use our take-home pay calculator instead.
Is my information saved anywhere?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored.