Set your wished net income
What should remain each month after tax and health insurance? Include savings for your pension.
Hourly rate calculator for freelancers in Germany
Enter what should remain each month after tax. The calculator shows the hourly rate you need, after income tax, health and care insurance and business costs.
Your details
What should remain after income tax and health and care insurance.
Software, rent, hardware, insurance, training.
Holidays, public holidays and sick days.
Result
Your net hourly rate
€56
- With 19% VAT€67
- Day rate (8 hours)€447
- Required annual revenue€61,376
- of which taxes and health insurance€20,576
- of which business costs€4,800
- Billable hours per year1,100
Same assumptions as the net income calculator: 2026 income tax for a single person, statutory health and care insurance. Pension insurance and trade tax are not included. Open the net income calculator
Your hours, straight on the invoice
Write your invoices in Norman, in the browser or in the app for iPhone and Android. Unlimited e-invoices, free.
Start for freeHow your hourly rate comes together
Add your costs
Software, rent, hardware, insurance: everything your business costs each month.
Add the taxes
The calculator finds the profit that leaves your wished net income after income tax, solidarity surcharge and health insurance.
Divide by your hours
Count only hours a client pays for. Sales, bookkeeping and training do not count.
What the calculator assumes
Income tax: 2026 rates for a single person, without church tax and without other income.
Health insurance: statutory and voluntary, with the average additional contribution and care insurance without children.
Not included: pension insurance and trade tax. Freelancers (Freiberufler) pay no trade tax; traders can check it with the trade tax calculator.
VAT: comes on top of the net hourly rate unless you are a Kleinunternehmer. The calculator shows both values.
FAQ
How do I calculate my hourly rate as a freelancer in Germany?
Take the revenue you need per year: wished net income plus taxes, health insurance and costs. Divide it by your billable hours. At 25 hours a week and 8 weeks off, that is 1,100 hours a year.
How many hours can I bill per year?
Count only hours a client pays for. Sales, quotes, bookkeeping and training do not count. Deduct holidays, public holidays and sick days before you calculate.
Do I add VAT to my hourly rate?
Yes, if you are VAT-registered: 19% on the net hourly rate. As a Kleinunternehmer you charge no VAT.
Why is a freelance rate so much higher than an employee's hourly wage?
You pay health and care insurance alone, get no paid holidays and carry your own costs. All of that is in the hourly rate.
Is my pension included?
No. Include it in your wished net income or add your monthly savings to the costs. As a freelancer you usually pay for it yourself.