Project Pricing Calculator
Quoting a fixed price is risky when projects always take longer than planned. Enter your estimate, your rate and a safety buffer, and get a price that protects your margin.
The currency only changes the symbol. No exchange rates are applied.
Your result
How it works
The calculator adds a buffer to your estimated hours, multiplies the result by your hourly rate and then adds project expenses. The buffer is your protection against scope creep and underestimating.
Asking for a deposit before starting reduces the risk of non-payment and shows the client the project is serious. The deposit amount is simply a percentage of the final price.
Hours with buffer = Estimated hours x (1 + Buffer)
Price = Hours with buffer x Hourly rate + Expenses
Deposit = Price x Deposit %Example
40 estimated hours with a 20% buffer is 48 hours. At 60 per hour that is 2,880, plus 150 in expenses gives a price of 3,030. A 30% deposit is 909.
Frequently asked questions
Should I price per hour or per project?
Fixed prices reward you for working efficiently and make budgeting easy for clients, but they carry the risk of overruns. Hourly billing is safer when the scope is unclear. A buffer makes fixed pricing safer.
How big should the buffer be?
It depends on how well you know the work. Familiar, well-defined projects may need 10-20%, while new or vague ones may need much more. Track your past estimates against real hours to calibrate.
How much deposit is normal?
Many freelancers ask for around a third to half upfront, with the rest on milestones or delivery. Choose what fits your field and client.
What about taxes?
This price is before tax. To make sure your rate itself covers tax and expenses, calculate it first with the freelance hourly rate calculator.
Related calculators
This calculator gives estimates for information only. It is not financial, tax or legal advice, and real-world results depend on your local rules, contract and circumstances.