What should you charge per hour?

A cost-based hourly rate calculator for interior designers, design-build firms, and general contractors. Read the full methodology →

Who are you pricing?

Your numbers

Annual figures. Round numbers are fine — directional is the point.

What you want to pay yourself before tax.
$
SE tax, health insurance, retirement, disability.
$

Everything it costs to run your business that isn't salary or taxes. Includes office or studio rent, your software stack, business insurance, marketing, samples and memberships, travel, and professional development.

Most solo designers land between $8,000 and $25,000/year. The typical solo with light coworking, real insurance, and modest marketing is around $17,000.

Not sure where to start? Pick a preset, then fine-tune.

Office or studio rent
$
Software stack
$
Website & hosting
$
Phone & internet
$
Business insurance
$
Marketing & advertising
$
Trade memberships & sample library
$
Travel (trade shows, sourcing)
$
Professional development
$
Accounting & legal
$
Total overhead: $0 / yr
Most solo designers bill 1,000–1,200 hrs/yr. Not 2,000.
hrs
The profit percentage you add on top of cost to set your rate.A 30–40% markup works out to roughly a 23–29% margin.
%

Your rate, forming

The math, step by step. Numbers move as you type.

Fully loaded cost$0
÷ Realistic billable hours1,200 hrs
= Cost rate$0/hr
× (1 + markup)$0/hr
Enter your details to reveal your rate.

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Add a salary above first.