UK Freelance Rate Calculator 2025/26
Find out exactly what day rate you need to charge to hit your income goals. Includes UK Income Tax and National Insurance calculations for 2025/26.
Software subscriptions, cloud hosting, equipment, training
This calculator provides estimates based on UK 2025/26 tax rates. For personalised advice, consult a qualified accountant.
or £48/hour · 188 billable days/year
Assumes £12,570 salary (personal allowance) with remaining profits taken as dividends. Your accountant may recommend a different strategy.
This calculator provides estimates based on UK 2025/26 tax rates.
For personalised advice, consult a qualified accountant.
Frequently asked questions
UK Freelance Day Rates by Profession
What freelancers actually charge. These figures come from YunoJuno's 2025 Freelancer Rates Report, IT Jobs Watch, and the ProCopywriters annual survey. Rates vary by experience, location, and client type.
| Profession | Junior | Mid-Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | £350–450 | £450–550 | £550–750 |
| Designer | £250–350 | £350–500 | £500–714 |
| Copywriter | £250–350 | £400–500 | £500–800 |
| Consultant | £400–500 | £500–650 | £650–900 |
| Photographer | £200–300 | £300–450 | £450–700 |
| Marketing Specialist | £300–400 | £400–550 | £550–750 |
London rates run 15–25% higher. Niche specialists command premiums. Enterprise clients pay more than startups. Your rate sits somewhere in these ranges based on track record, demand for your skills, and who you sell to.
Should You Charge Hourly, Daily, or Per Project?
Each billing model has trade-offs. The right choice depends on your work style and client relationships.
| Model | Best For | Advantage | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Consulting, ad-hoc support, uncertain scope | Paid for every minute worked | Income unpredictable, admin overhead |
| Day Rate | Embedded work, ongoing projects, agency contracts | Predictable income, simple to quote | Must fill the day, harder to scale |
| Project | Websites, branding, fixed deliverables | Higher margins when efficient | Scope creep, estimation errors |
Converting rates: Day rate ÷ 8 gives your hourly. Many freelancers use 6–7 billable hours as their true productive day, so divide by that if you want a more honest figure.
The scope creep trap: Project pricing rewards speed but punishes poor scoping. If you quote fixed fees, define deliverables with precision. "Website" means nothing. "Five-page brochure site with contact form and CMS" means something.
Salary vs Freelance: The Real Comparison
A £50k salary and £50k in freelance revenue are different animals. Employees get benefits paid for by their employer. Freelancers must fund everything from their day rate.
| Employed Salary | Equivalent Day Rate | What You're Covering |
|---|---|---|
| £40,000 | ~£200/day | Employer NI, basic pension |
| £50,000 | ~£250/day | Holiday pay, sick leave |
| £60,000 | ~£300/day | Training, unbillable time |
| £80,000 | ~£400/day | Equipment, insurance, software |
| £100,000 | ~£500/day | Business development, gaps between contracts |
An employee on £40k costs a company £55–60k when you add employer National Insurance (13.8%), pension contributions (3–5%), equipment, training, and office space. When a company hires you at £400/day, they avoid £15–20k in annual employment costs.
This explains the contractor premium. Freelancers typically charge 2–3× the equivalent hourly employee rate. The maths works out roughly even once you account for everything an employer provides.
What Affects Your Rate
The calculator gives you a floor: the minimum you need to charge to hit your income target. Where you actually land depends on six factors.
- Experience and track record
- Years matter less than results. A portfolio of successful projects, testimonials, and recognisable client logos lets you command senior rates regardless of time served.
- Market demand
- Hot skills fetch premiums. AI, cybersecurity, and specialised compliance work currently command 20–30% above generalist rates. Yesterday's hot skill becomes tomorrow's commodity.
- Location
- London rates run 15–25% higher due to cost of living and corporate demand. Remote work has compressed this gap, but local presence still commands a premium for certain clients.
- Specialist vs generalist
- Narrow expertise beats broad competence for pricing power. "React developer" earns less than "React developer for fintech trading platforms." The tighter your niche, the less competition you face.
- Client type
- Enterprise clients pay £600–1,000/day. Startups and SMEs cluster around £250–450. Agencies sit in between. Match your target client to your target rate.
- Project complexity
- Simple execution commands baseline rates. Strategic work, tight deadlines, or high-stakes projects justify premiums. If failure would cost the client millions, your rate should reflect that.
Never lose a deductible receipt again
Join UK freelancers who've stopped thinking about receipt admin.
Get started for £10/month30-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.