Freelance Take-Home Calculator
Reverse-calculate what to quote a client so you actually keep your target amount — after the platform fee, withdrawal fee and currency-conversion loss.
How it works
Platform fee % = Upwork 10 / Fiverr 20 / custom · Quote = (target + withdrawal) ÷ [(1 − fee% ÷ 100) × (1 − conversion% ÷ 100)] · Fees lost = quote − target · Take rate = fees lost ÷ quote × 100
Freelancers usually quote a number and then wonder why the deposit is short. This tool runs the math backwards: you set the amount you want to keep, and it solves for the invoice that leaves exactly that after the platform’s commission, a currency-conversion haircut (when a USD payment is converted to your local currency) and a flat withdrawal fee. Because the platform fee and conversion loss are percentages, you cannot just add them to your target — you divide by their combined retention factor so the grossed-up quote nets out correctly. Enter the fee once and you always quote a rate that protects your real rate.
Worked example
You want to keep $1,000 on Upwork (10% fee), with a 2% conversion loss and a $2 withdrawal fee. Quote = (1,000 + 2) ÷ [(1 − 0.10) × (1 − 0.02)] = 1,002 ÷ 0.882 = $1,136.05. Fees take $136.05 — an effective take rate of 12.0%. On Fiverr’s 20% the same target needs a $1,278.06 quote.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I just add the fee percentage to my target?
Because the fee is charged on the larger quote, not on your target. If you want $1,000 net after a 10% fee, adding 10% gives $1,100 — but 10% of $1,100 is $110, leaving only $990. You must divide by (1 − fee), which grosses up correctly so the fee applied to the quote leaves your target intact.
How do platform fees differ across Upwork and Fiverr?
Upwork charges freelancers a flat 10% service fee, while Fiverr takes 20% of each order. The preset options apply these automatically; pick “Other” and enter a custom percentage for a marketplace or private arrangement with different terms. Fee models change, so verify the current rate.
What is the currency-conversion loss?
When a platform pays you in USD but withdraws to a local bank in another currency, the exchange typically costs 1–3% versus the mid-market rate. Entering that percentage grosses your quote up to absorb the loss, so the amount that lands in your local account still hits your target.
Related calculators
Estimate only — real payouts and returns depend on rates, taxes and factors outside this tool. Educational, not financial advice.