Freelancer Client Kit / Rate calculators
Freelance Editor Hourly Rate Calculator
Find the minimum hourly rate that covers the income you want, taxes, business costs, time off and the hours you can really bill. Starting numbers are editable examples, not market averages.
Minimum hourly rate
Where freelance editors lose money
- The pitfall: The manuscript is longer or messier than the sample suggested.
- The fix: Quote after reading a sample and separate developmental from copy editing.
- Scope creep to expect: A second full pass requested after the first is done.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set my hourly rate as a freelance freelance editor?
Start from the take-home income you want, add tax and business costs to get the revenue you need, then divide by the hours you can realistically bill in a year. This calculator does that for you.
How many billable hours a week should a freelance editor plan for?
Far fewer than a full week. Sales, admin, revisions and gaps between projects are unbilled. 24 hours a week is used here as an editable starting point, not a market statistic.
Should I charge hourly or per project?
Use the hourly figure as your floor, then quote fixed prices that clear it with room for revisions. If a project takes longer than planned, the margin protects your real hourly pay.
Protect the rate once you have set it
A good rate means nothing if scope creep and late payments eat it. The Freelancer Client Kit has 53 copy-paste templates, scripts and AI prompts for quoting, scope changes and getting paid on time.
Also free: late payment fee calculator · tax set-aside calculator · scope change email generator. General guidance, not financial, tax or legal advice.