Free Rate Calculator
Enter your income goal, weeks worked, and overhead — get your minimum rate, recommended rate, and day rate. Built for Australian tradies.
Free online tool
Most tradies undercharge because they don't account for overhead and profit. This calculator shows you the real numbers.
Most tradies undercharge because they forget to include overhead. This calculator builds up from your real costs — income target, overhead, and profit — to give you a rate that actually covers your business.
Your details
48 = allows 4 wks leave
Actual billable, not total hrs
Tools, fuel, insurance, phone
Buffer above cost
Don't want to type all this?
SMASH does this automatically from a 30-second voice description. No form, no typing, no GST maths.
Try SMASH FreeYour rate card
Minimum rate
$41.50/hr
Just covers your income — no buffer
Recommended rate
$61.50/hr
Covers income + overhead + profit margin
Day rate
$490.00
Full day on-site (40 hrs)
All figures ex-GST. Add 10% GST on top if you're registered.
How to use
Enter your income goal and working weeks
Enter the annual take-home income you want to achieve, and how many weeks you plan to work. 48 weeks allows 4 weeks leave.
Set your overhead and margin
Enter your overhead percentage to cover business costs like fuel, insurance, and tools. Add a profit margin to build your business surplus.
See your minimum and recommended hourly rate
Your minimum rate covers your income only. The recommended rate adds overhead and profit — that's the rate you should actually be charging.
30–50%
Overhead underestimated by most tradies
11.5%
Super you need to fund yourself
4.9★
App Store rating
Why it matters
Fuel, tools, insurance, phone, and accountant fees can easily add 20–30% on top of your base income. Most tradies forget to include these in their rate.
Quoting, driving, admin, and chasing invoices aren't billable. If you're 70% billable, you're really only charging for 28 hours of a 40-hour week.
Overhead covers costs. Profit margin is what you're building the business with — reinvestment, rainy day fund, and growth. It should be in your rate.
Compare rate setting approaches
From tradies using SMASH
"I was charging $65/hour for 4 years. Ran this calculator and realised I needed $95 just to break even after expenses. Game changer."
Brad S.
Handyman, Melbourne
"Knowing my actual numbers gave me the confidence to put my rates up. Best thing I did for the business."
Karen T.
Pool Technician, Perth
"I always underquoted jobs with materials. This made me realise how much overhead I was absorbing myself."
Dean M.
Tiler, Brisbane
From the blog
FAQ
SMASH applies your rates automatically. Set them once — every invoice is right from that point on.