Day Rate Calculator

Find the day rate you need to hit your income goal as a consultant or freelancer — taxes, expenses and realistic billable days included.

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$
days

261 weekdays minus vacation & admin; 230 is typical

Tax handling

Solves for the day rate using 2026 U.S. federal tax (SE tax, brackets, QBI). Assumes an 8-hour day. Filing status: single.

Required day rate
$786.85
covers tax & expenses
Hourly equivalent
$98.36
based on an 8-hour day
Monthly revenue
$15,081
gross, before tax
Annual gross revenue
$180,976
230 billable days

How this day rate calculator works

The math mirrors the hourly rate calculator, but per day:

Day rate = (income goal + expenses) ÷ (1 − tax rate) ÷ billable days

Why 230 billable days is the sensible default

A year has 261 weekdays. Subtract 20 vacation days, 8 holidays and a few sick days, and you are at about 230 — before any time spent on sales, admin or skill-building. If you bill by the day, every non-billable day comes directly out of your income goal, so the buffer matters more than it does for hourly work.

Tax mode

The Automatic mode solves for the day rate using 2026 U.S. federal tax — self-employment tax, income brackets, standard deduction and the 20% QBI deduction — assuming an 8-hour day. If you already know your combined tax rate, switch to Manual and enter it directly. Either way, the day rate shown is what you must charge to hit your goal, not a guess.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate a day rate from a salary?

Take your income goal plus business expenses, divide by (1 − tax rate) to gross up for taxes, then divide by your realistic billable days. Example: a $120,000 goal with $20,000 of expenses, a 25% tax buffer and 230 billable days gives about $812 per day.

How many billable days per year should consultants plan for?

There are 261 weekdays in a year. Subtract vacation (20+ days), holidays, sick days and non-billable time for admin, marketing and sales — a realistic target is 200–230 billable days. Planning on all 261 is how consultants end up underpaid.

What is a typical consultant day rate?

In the U.S., independent consultants commonly charge $500–$1,500 per day depending on specialty and seniority; junior specialists start around $300–$500. Agencies bill higher because they carry overhead. Your number should come from your income goal and billable days, not from what others charge.

Should I charge a day rate or an hourly rate?

Day rates suit project or engagement work where presence matters more than deliverables, and they discourage micro-billing of 15-minute increments. Hourly rates suit scoped, fluctuating work. Many freelancers quote both: a day rate for on-site or retainer work, an hourly rate for ad-hoc tasks.

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