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Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator Ireland
How the freelance hourly rate calculator works
Charging your "salary divided by hours" is the classic freelancer mistake — it ignores overhead and the days you can't bill. This tool works backwards from what you want to keep:
To keep €60,000, add 20% overhead to reach €72,000 of revenue, then spread it over 220 billable days — about €327 a day, or €41 an hour on an 8-hour day. Pure arithmetic, no tax data, so it never goes stale.
Want the take-home after tax on that income? Use the net salary calculator, and see calculators for freelancers in Ireland.
Freelance rate guide — Ireland (by target income)
Rough day and hourly rates needed to keep a given income, at 20% overhead over 220 billable days:
| Income you keep | Revenue needed | Day rate | Hourly (8h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €48,000 | €218 | €27 |
| €50,000 | €60,000 | €273 | €34 |
| €60,000 | €72,000 | €327 | €41 |
| €80,000 | €96,000 | €436 | €55 |
| €100,000 | €120,000 | €545 | €68 |
Adjust the overhead % and billable days above to match your own situation — a specialist with low utilisation needs a higher rate than these midpoints.
Why your freelance rate must beat a PAYE hourly wage
A €41/hour freelance rate is not the same as a €41/hour job. As a self-employed contractor in Ireland you cover things an employer would otherwise pay:
- No paid holidays or bank holidays — you only earn when you bill.
- No employer pension or employer PRSI — you fund your own pension and pay Class S PRSI yourself.
- Your own equipment, software, insurance and accounting.
- Gaps between contracts and unpaid admin/sales time.
- Once your service turnover passes the Revenue VAT registration threshold, you must register for and charge VAT.
That's why the calculator starts from the income you want to keep and works up — not down from a salary. To compare a contract rate with a permanent salary side by side, use the contract vs permanent calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge as a freelancer in Ireland?
Add overhead to the income you want, then divide by billable days. €60,000 + 20% = €72,000 ÷ 220 days ≈ €327/day (~€41/hour).
How many billable days should I use?
After weekends, holidays, admin and sales, many full-time freelancers bill 200–230 days a year. 220 is a realistic default.
What should overhead include?
Software, equipment, insurance, accounting, pension, training and unpaid time — anything you must cover before you keep a cent.
Related Ireland calculators
A pricing aid, not tax or financial advice. See our methodology; for take-home pay use the net salary calculator.