Your numbers
What a copywriter should include in expenses
Typical costs include writing and project tools, analytics subscriptions, courses. Add your own and keep receipts for tax time.
Where unbilled time goes
Copywriters commonly lose billable hours to discovery calls, briefs, research and rounds of feedback. Count these when choosing your billable hours per week.
Pricing models
Common choices are per project for landing pages and emails, day rates for workshops, retainers for ongoing campaigns.
Tip: Price on the value of the page to the client, using your hourly floor as the minimum.
The math
Gross revenue = ($85,000 + $3,500) ÷ 0.72 = $122,917. Billable hours = (52 − 5) × 22 = 1,034. Minimum rate = $122,917 ÷ 1,034 = $119 per hour. See the methodology. Example inputs are illustrations, not market data.
General hourly rate calculator · Tax set-aside · Retainer pricing · All professions
Frequently asked questions
What should a copywriter charge per hour?
It depends on your target income, costs and billable time. With $85,000 take-home, $3,500 expenses, a 28% tax set-aside, 5 weeks off and 22 billable hours a week, the minimum comes to about $119 per hour. These are example inputs, so enter your own.
How many billable hours does a copywriter really have?
Many freelancers bill fewer hours than they work because of discovery calls, briefs, research and rounds of feedback. The example uses 22 billable hours a week; track your own time to find your number.
How should a copywriter price work?
Common models are per project for landing pages and emails, day rates for workshops, retainers for ongoing campaigns.
Is this the rate I should quote?
No. It is the minimum that meets your targets. Add margin for demand, specialty and risk.