Day Rate Pay Calculator
Calculate your freelance day rate and what clients should pay per day after tax and expenses.
Day rate pay is standard for consultants, creatives, and contractors on short engagements. This example assumes 8-hour days, $80k target income, and 25 billable hours per week — typical for UK and US B2B contracts.
Market reference
| Metric | Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard day length | 8 hours | UK/US default |
| Consultant day rate (US) | $600–1,500 | varies by niche |
| Half-day | 50–60% of day | common discount |
| Travel day | 50–100% day rate | per contract |
Interactive example — day rate pay calculator
Defaults match this page's scenario. Adjust numbers to see your rate update instantly.
- Minimum hourly
- $101
- Day rate (8h)
- $810
- Typical project
- $4,857
- Monthly retainer
- $10,954
Turn your rate into paid invoices
Once you know your rate, invoice clients and track payments in one place.
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Use our free freelance rate calculator for unlimited scenarios. All calculations run in your browser — no signup, no data upload.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate day rate pay?
Divide your required annual gross by billable days per year, or multiply your minimum hourly rate by hours per day.
Is day rate pay the same as daily rate?
Yes — both mean a fixed fee per workday, usually 8 hours unless the contract says otherwise.
Should I quote day rate or hourly to clients?
Day rate simplifies invoicing for workshops and on-site work; hourly is better when scope is uncertain.