Estimate
Free Project Cost Calculator
Add your tasks, hours and hourly rate to calculate a project's total cost — with optional extra costs, margin and tax — plus your effective hourly rate. Free and instant.
What is the project cost calculator?
A project cost calculator is a free tool that estimates what a project will cost based on the work involved. You add each task with its hours and hourly rate, plus any extra costs, a margin and tax, and it calculates the labour cost, the total and your effective hourly rate. Slashit's calculator runs entirely in your browser, so your numbers stay private, and it works instantly as you type. It's ideal for freelancers and agencies putting together a quote, or anyone who needs a quick, defensible estimate before sending a proposal to a client.
How our free project cost calculator works
Add your tasks
List each task with the estimated hours and your hourly rate.
Add extras, margin & tax
Include any extra costs, a profit margin and a tax rate if they apply.
See the total
The labour cost, total estimate and your effective hourly rate calculate instantly.
What can you use the project cost calculator for?
Quoting a freelance project
Breaking a job into tasks with hours and rates produces a defensible number, rather than the guess most freelancers start with.
Deciding whether a fixed price is viable
Adding up the real hours often reveals a fixed-price offer that would leave you working below your hourly rate.
Showing a client where the money goes
An itemised breakdown makes a quote far easier to approve than a single lump sum, and reduces haggling.
Comparing two ways of doing the work
Pricing both a lean and a thorough version helps the client choose the scope rather than just negotiating the price.
Who uses our free project cost calculator?
Freelancers
Quote projects with confidence and know your effective hourly rate.
Agencies & studios
Build consistent estimates across tasks and team members.
Consultants
Turn a scope into a defensible number before sending a proposal.
Why use the project cost calculator?
Instant estimate
Totals update the moment you change hours, rates or margin.
Margin & tax built in
Add profit margin and tax so the total reflects what you'll actually charge.
Free & private
No sign-up, and your figures stay in your browser.
Tips for getting the best results
Estimate then add a buffer
Projects nearly always take longer than planned. Many experienced freelancers add 20–30% for revisions and unforeseen work.
Don't forget non-billable time
Calls, briefs, admin and revisions consume real hours. If your rate assumes only hands-on work, you're underpricing.
Include your costs
Software, stock assets, subcontractors and payment fees come out of the total. Add them as extras rather than absorbing them.
Set your rate from your target income
Work backwards from what you need annually, divided by realistically billable hours — typically far fewer than a full working year.
Quote a range for vague briefs
When scope is unclear, a range with stated assumptions protects you better than a precise number you'll regret.
Frequently asked questions
How is the cost calculated?
It multiplies each task's hours by its rate for the labour cost, adds any extra costs, applies your margin, then adds tax — and also shows your effective hourly rate.
Can I use my own currency?
Yes — pick your currency from the list and all amounts display in it.
Is it free?
Yes — it's free, needs no sign-up, and runs entirely in your browser.
How do I calculate the cost of a project?
List every task, estimate the hours each will take, multiply by your hourly rate, then add material costs, your margin and any tax that applies.
How much margin should I add?
Many freelancers and agencies add 15–30% to cover revisions, admin and the projects that overrun. The right figure depends on how predictable your work is.
Should I charge hourly or a fixed price?
Fixed prices suit well-defined work and reward you for being efficient. Hourly suits open-ended or exploratory work where scope can't be pinned down in advance.
Are my rates and client details private?
Yes. The calculation runs entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded, so your pricing stays confidential.
