Your numbers
What a web developer should include in expenses
Typical costs include hosting and domains, code tools, testing devices, project and error-monitoring subscriptions. Add your own and keep receipts for tax time.
Where unbilled time goes
Web Developers commonly lose billable hours to scoping, debugging unclear requirements and client communication. Count these when choosing your billable hours per week.
Pricing models
Common choices are hourly for maintenance, fixed bids for well-scoped builds, monthly care plans for updates and hosting.
Tip: Charge separately for ongoing maintenance; it is the easiest recurring income to add.
The math
Gross revenue = ($110,000 + $9,000) ÷ 0.72 = $165,278. Billable hours = (52 − 5) × 26 = 1,222. Minimum rate = $165,278 ÷ 1,222 = $135 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 web developer charge per hour?
It depends on your target income, costs and billable time. With $110,000 take-home, $9,000 expenses, a 28% tax set-aside, 5 weeks off and 26 billable hours a week, the minimum comes to about $135 per hour. These are example inputs, so enter your own.
How many billable hours does a web developer really have?
Many freelancers bill fewer hours than they work because of scoping, debugging unclear requirements and client communication. The example uses 26 billable hours a week; track your own time to find your number.
How should a web developer price work?
Common models are hourly for maintenance, fixed bids for well-scoped builds, monthly care plans for updates and hosting.
Is this the rate I should quote?
No. It is the minimum that meets your targets. Add margin for demand, specialty and risk.