Project Quote Calculator

How to use the quote calculator

1. Enter your hourly rate. If you don't know it yet, work it out with the hourly rate calculator.
2. Break the project into tasks and estimate the hours for each.
3. Keep a buffer for revisions and messages. 20% is a good start.
4. Add a rush fee if the client needs it fast, and the platform fee if you're quoting on a marketplace.
5. Set the deposit, delivery time and revision rounds.
6. Copy the quote message, add the client's name, and send it.

Why every quote needs a buffer

Projects almost always take longer than planned. Clients ask questions, files arrive late and feedback needs another round. A 20–30% buffer covers this time, so you aren't working for free at the end of the project.

Fixed price or hourly?

For small, well-defined projects, a fixed price is usually easier for both sides. The client knows the total, and you earn more per hour as you get faster. For ongoing or unclear work, hourly billing is safer. Our guide on how to quote a freelance project explains how to choose.

Ask for a deposit from direct clients

When you work with a client outside a marketplace, asking for 30–50% upfront protects you if the client disappears. Marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork hold the client's money for you, so the calculator skips the deposit when you enter a platform fee.

Once the client agrees, put the details in writing with the free contract generator, and bill them with the invoice generator.

Frequently asked questions

What if the client says the price is too high?

Don't simply lower your price. Offer a smaller scope instead, such as fewer pages, fewer revisions or a longer timeline. That keeps your hourly rate fair.

Should I show the client my hours?

You don't have to. A fixed-price quote lists what's included and the total. Breaking it into tasks, as the quote message does, helps clients see the value.

Why round the price up?

A clean number like $250 looks more confident than $243.60, and rounding up covers small surprises.