Rush Fee Calculator
Price expedited work fairly: add a rush surcharge to a base fee and see the effective premium per day saved.
How it works
Surcharge = base fee × rush% · Total = base + surcharge · Premium per day = surcharge ÷ (normal days − rush days)
A rush fee prices the real cost of urgency: overtime, bumped work for other clients and the concentration risk of a tight deadline. Adding a percentage surcharge to the base fee is the simplest fair structure, typically 25–100% depending on how much you must rearrange. Dividing the surcharge by the days you actually save turns it into a per-day premium — a useful sense-check that also gives the client a clear reason the number is what it is.
Worked example
A $5,000 project with a 50% rush surcharge adds $2,500, for $7,500 total. Delivering in 5 days instead of 14 saves 9 days, so the premium works out to 2,500 ÷ 9 ≈ $278 per day saved.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a rush fee be?
Commonly 25–100% of the base fee, scaled to how much you must disrupt to hit the deadline. A minor reshuffle warrants less than clearing your schedule and working weekends. Set a standard percentage so it is a policy, not a negotiation.
Why charge extra for fast work?
Speed has real costs: overtime, delaying or declining other clients, and the higher risk of a compressed timeline. The surcharge prices those costs rather than penalising the client for being in a hurry.
Should rush fees be in my contract?
Yes. Stating your rush surcharge and what triggers it up front turns urgent requests into a simple, expected calculation instead of an awkward last-minute conversation.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice.