Freelance Writer Rate Calculator
Know exactly what to charge per hour, day and project.
Learn more
Writers are often paid per word or per article, but those numbers only make sense once you know your hourly floor. Enter the income you want to keep and the calculator shows the hourly rate you need — then you can map it onto a per-word or per-piece price.
Research, interviews, edits and pitching are real work but rarely billed directly. Setting your billable hours honestly keeps your per-word rate from quietly paying below minimum wage.
What it helps with
- Turning a per-word offer into an effective hourly rate to check it is worth it.
- Pricing a long-form article or content package.
- Setting a monthly retainer for a regular client.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn an hourly rate into a per-word rate?
Estimate how many words you write per hour (drafting plus research and edits), then divide your hourly rate by that number. If you write 500 finished words an hour and need $60/hour, that is about $0.12 per word.
How much should a beginner freelance writer charge?
Beginners typically charge 60–80% of the market rate while building a portfolio, then raise rates as samples and testimonials grow. Use the calculator to set a floor you can live on.