Freelance Project Pricing Calculator
Flat projects fail when scope and revisions are underestimated. This builds a price from hours, buffer, costs, and margin.
Last updated June 2, 2026
Use it before you send a quote, not after you are underwater.
When to use this calculator
- You quote a flat project fee and need price from hours and margin.
- You want effective hourly after revision buffer before sending a proposal.
- You compare flat fee vs hourly retainer on the same scope.
Inputs you need
- Estimated hours, target hourly rate, revision buffer percent.
- Project expenses, profit margin, tax reserve.
Expenses people forget
- Discovery calls before the quote.
- Revision rounds beyond buffer.
- Payment processing and unpaid invoice chase time.
Your numbers
Example values are shown so you can see how it works. Replace them with your own.
- Labor at target rate$1,500
- With revision buffer$1,800
- After margin$2,128
- Effective rate after reserve$68.83/hr
If the client pushes back, you know which lever to move: scope, buffer, or margin.
Estimates only, based on the numbers you enter. Nothing is saved to the page address. Tax figures are rough planning numbers, not filing advice.
Assumptions this calculator makes
- Revision buffer adds to hours, not a separate line item.
- Tax reserve is rough planning only.
This is an estimate, not advice
Every result here is a rough model based only on the numbers you enter. Sidequity is an informational tool and does not provide professional, tax, legal, investment, or financial advice, and it makes no income guarantees. Any tax set-aside is a planning placeholder, not a tax calculation.
How to interpret the result
A low effective rate after the quote means the scope is too big for the price.
What this calculator does not know
- Whether the client will respect scope limits.
- Rush fees for compressed deadlines.
Common mistakes
- Quoting without revision buffer.
- Forgetting expenses.
- Undercounting hours.
Suggested next steps
- Cap revisions in the contract.
- Read is freelance projects worth it before your next quote.
- Compare copywriting-income for project-heavy writing.
Estimates only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is this guaranteed income?
No. It is an estimate from your inputs. Real results vary.
What tax reserve should I use?
Many people start around 20 to 30 percent of profit as a planning set-aside. Confirm with a tax professional.
Why is net hourly low?
Fees, costs, and unpaid time all reduce what you keep per hour.
How do I improve the result?
Raise prices, cut costs, or work more efficiently before adding more hours.
Freelance Project Pricing Calculator last updated June 2, 2026. Back to all calculators.