Freelance Designer Rate Calculator
Design rates need to cover more than screen time. Client calls, discovery, revisions, exports, design systems, licensing, and software all reduce the amount a designer actually keeps.
Designer rate floor
Designer hourly rate = target take-home plus taxes, tools, revisions, admin time, and unpaid weeks divided by realistic billable design hours.
Costs designers should include
CostExamples
SoftwareFigma, Adobe Creative Cloud, font libraries, mockup tools, stock assets.
Revision timeClient feedback, alternate directions, export fixes, presentation updates.
Unpaid workPortfolio updates, proposals, discovery calls, file organization, invoicing.
Hourly vs project pricing
Use hourly pricing when scope is uncertain. Use project pricing when the deliverable is clear, such as a landing page, logo package, pitch deck, brand refresh, or design audit. The hourly calculator still helps you protect your minimum acceptable project fee.