Freelance Retainer Pricing Calculator
Turn your hourly rate into a monthly retainer number that actually accounts for scope creep, tool overhead, and taxes — not just hours times rate.
Calculate your retainer
How to use this tool
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1
Enter your numbers. Your hourly rate, expected hours per month, and your typical software/tool costs for this client.
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2
Adjust the buffers. Drag the scope creep and tax set-aside sliders — the math updates live as you move them.
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3
Quote the recommended number. That's what to actually charge, not just hours multiplied by your rate.
About This Tool
Straight hours-times-rate math almost always underprices a retainer. Clients rarely stay exactly within the originally scoped work, software and tools cost money that a straight hourly number doesn't account for, and self-employment tax isn't withheld automatically the way it is at a W-2 job — so the sticker number needs to cover more than just your time.
This tool builds those three factors into the price so what you quote is closer to what you actually need to earn, not just what the raw hours add up to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not just charge hours times rate?
Retainers rarely stay exactly within scope. The buffer protects you from effectively working unpaid overtime when a client's requests creep past the original estimate.
What is a scope creep buffer?
Extra percentage padding built into the price to partially cover the unplanned extra work that tends to show up over the course of a retainer.
Is the tax number exact?
No — it's a simplified planning estimate based on the standard self-employment tax rate. Your real number depends on total income, deductions, and state. Talk to an accountant for exact figures.
Is my data stored anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser and disappears when you close the tab.