How much should I charge per hour as a freelancer?

It depends on your sector, experience, and net salary goal. A junior developer might charge €30-50/h, while a senior can exceed €80-100/h. An experienced consultant or designer can bill between €60-150/h. Use this calculator by entering your desired net salary to get your optimal rate.

Why does my hourly rate need to be so high?

Your rate must cover estimated expenses, contributions and income tax, as well as your target net income. Enter your own costs and billable hours; no universal percentage applies to every freelancer.

How many billable hours does a freelancer have per year?

Enter only hours you can bill to clients. For example, 40 billable hours per week over 48 weeks are 1,920 annual hours. Exclude administration, sales and other non-billable hours yourself.

Should I include VAT in my hourly rate?

No. VAT (generally 21%) is added to the final price but isn't your income—you must give it to the tax authorities. Your hourly rate should cover: your net salary + income tax + social security + expenses. VAT is separate and neutral (you collect it from clients and pay it to authorities, though you can deduct VAT from your expenses).

How do deductible expenses affect my rate?

Expenses reduce your tax base, so you pay less income tax and social security. If you spend 20% of billing on deductible expenses, your tax burden will be lower than if you spend 0%. But be careful: spending just to spend isn't profitable. Only include real and necessary business expenses. This calculator accounts for that expense percentage.

Should my rate be the same for all projects?

Not necessarily. You can have a base rate for standard projects and adjust based on: urgency (rush = more expensive), technical complexity, project duration (long contracts may get discounts), client type (large companies vs startups), exclusivity or required availability. The important thing is your weighted average rate covers your total costs.

What if my clients say I'm too expensive?

First, verify they're your target audience. If you bill B2B (companies), your €50-80/h rate is normal and profitable for them (you're saving them hiring a €40,000-50,000/year employee). Second, justify the value: don't sell 'hours', sell results. Instead of '€40/h', say 'this project will save you €X per year'. Third, if they still say it's expensive, they're not your client: find another one.

Does this calculator use correct 2026 Spanish tax data?

Income tax uses a reference combined scale and personal minimum, not an exact regional or foral calculation. The result depends on the assumptions and may differ from your tax return.

Hourly Rate Calculator

Estimate a rate using billable hours, expenses, contributions and reference 2026 IRPF. The breakdown shows the net income actually calculated.

Scope and limits of this estimate

Estimate a rate using billable hours, expenses, contributions and reference 2026 IRPF. The breakdown shows the net income actually calculated.

Assumptions and limits

Enter billable hours only, excluding administration, sales and unpaid work. The daily rate assumes 8 hours of billable work. The model uses minimum ordinary contributions for 12 months and IRPF with a reference combined scale, a €5,550 personal minimum, and no other income, deductions or family circumstances. It is not a regional or foral tax calculation. At 100% expenses, a positive net target is impossible. A rate is not displayed as successful unless a validated solution reaches the target.

Spain · 2026 rules · Last verified 2026-10-05 · Review by 2026-12-31

Desired annual net salary

€

What you want to earn after all taxes. E.g., €24,000 = €2,000/month net. Be ambitious: employees in your sector probably earn this or more.

Weekly billable hours

Billable hours only; exclude administration, sales and unpaid work.

Vacation weeks per year

weeks

Vacation + holidays + sick leave + training. Employees get ~5 weeks. You deserve rest too.

Deductible expenses percentage

Typical: 15-20% digital services, 25-35% with office. Includes: rent, software, accounting, insurance, materials, training.

Enter your desired net salary to calculate your rate

How to calculate your hourly rate (without selling yourself short)

Estimate a rate from your target net income, expenses and hours you can bill.

Set your target net income

Enter the annual amount you want to keep after estimated expenses, contributions and income tax.

Count billable hours only

Exclude administration, sales and unpaid work. Enter weekly billable hours and weeks without activity.

Enter your expenses

Use business expenses as a percentage of billing, excluding RETA and income tax: these are calculated separately.

Review the result

Check billing, the breakdown and calculated net income. The rate is a reference under these assumptions, not a commercial guarantee.

Why your hourly rate needs to be so high

Your rate must cover expenses, contributions, estimated IRPF and non-billable time.

Progressive Income Tax (19-47%)

We use a reference combined scale. Actual IRPF depends on your region and other circumstances.

Self-employed contributions

The estimate uses the minimum ordinary contribution produced by your inputs. Review any confirmed actual payment or reduction separately.

Deductible Expenses (15-50%)

Rent, software, accounting, insurance, materials, training, marketing. Employees don't pay this from their paycheck. You do. And if you don't account for them, you're working for free.