Freelance Quote Calculator
Build a project quote from estimated hours, your rate and a risk buffer.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
Scenario estimate from your hourly rate, overhead, revisions, expenses and optional buffer or rush fee. These percentages and the suggested 50% deposit are editable planning assumptions, not standard contract terms or a guaranteed profitable price.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Estimated work hours 40 h · Your hourly rate 75 $/h · Meetings and admin not in the estimate 15 % · Risk buffer 20 % · Included revision rounds 2 · Hours per revision round 4 h · Direct expenses 0 $ · Rush fee 0 % Total hours including overhead and revisions 54.0 h · Base cost 4,050.00 $ · With risk buffer 4,860.00 $ · Quoted price 4,860.00 $ · Effective hourly rate 90.00 $/h · Suggested deposit (50%) 2,430.00 $
General background references
Disclaimer
These calculators give general date results. Public holidays, working-day conventions and time-zone rules are set locally and change, so confirm against the official calendar for anything legally or contractually binding.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
P = (B x R + e) x (1 + b/100) x (1 + f/100), B = h x (1 + o/100) + r x rh; deposit = 0.5 x P; rate_eff = P / B
- B
- billable base hours
- R
- hourly rate
- e
- extra expenses
- o
- overhead %
- b
- risk buffer %
- f
- rush fee %
Overhead, revisions, risk buffer, rush fee and the suggested 50% deposit are user-editable planning assumptions, not universal pricing or contract standards. Effective hourly rate = quoted price ÷ base hours.
Frequently asked questions
Why are meetings and revisions added on top of work hours?
The model adds overhead hours as a percentage of estimated work, then adds revision rounds × hours per round. For example, 40 hours, 15% overhead and two 4-hour revision rounds produce 54 base hours. Buffer, rush fee and the 50% suggested deposit are editable planning assumptions, not universal pricing or contract rules.