Hourly → day rate formula
Day rate ≈ hourly rate × billable hours in a day. Many freelancers use 6–7 hours, not 8, because deep work days rarely stay fully billable.
When day rates win
- On-site or embedded work for several days.
- Workshops, implementations, and migrations.
- Clients who hate timesheets but accept day packages.
Half-day rules of thumb
- Half day ≈ 50–60% of day rate (not always 50% — context switching costs).
- Minimums protect you from “quick calls” that eat the morning.
Project fee → implied day rate
If a client has a fixed budget, divide fee by estimated days. If the implied day rate is below your floor, cut scope or raise the fee. Use the suite’s project mode: day rate calculator.
Open day rate tool Hourly rate guide
FAQ
Is a day rate better than hourly?
For multi-day engagements, often yes. For support retainers or unclear scope, hourly or weekly retainers can fit better.