How much should I charge per hour as a UK freelancer?
A common mistake is dividing your last salary by 1,920 hours and calling it a day. As a UK freelancer you're not paid for holidays, sick days, admin, marketing, training, or quiet weeks — and you'll lose roughly a third of your income to tax and NI. This freelancer rate calculator UK works backwards: tell it the take-home you want, and it shows the gross and hourly rate that get you there.
Realistic billable hours
Most full-time UK freelancers bill 25–35 hours a week, not 40. The rest is admin, sales, learning and breaks. Assume 46 working weeks (5 weeks off plus bank holidays) and you have a credible base — usually 1,150–1,610 billable hours a year.
Don't forget the hidden costs
- Pension contributions (10–15% of take-home is a common target).
- Software, hardware, insurance and accountancy fees.
- Sick days and parental leave — no employer to cover them.
- Time between contracts — build a buffer of 2–3 months.
Sponsored
Estimates only — uses sole trader / self-employed UK 2026/27 tax. Limited company contractors may price differently.