Web Developer Hourly Rate Calculator
Not sure what to charge per hour as a freelance web developer? Enter your experience, stack and client country and get a defensible hourly range in about ten seconds — built on 2026 freelance market data for React, Next.js, WordPress and Shopify work.
Calculate my rate →How the web developer rate calculator works
Built specifically for web developer hourly rates. Every multiplier is tuned to real 2026 benchmarks.
Work across more than one discipline? Compare your number against the freelance mobile app developer hourly rate calculator, ui ux designer hourly rate calculator and the freelance graphic designer rate calculator.
- ✓Separate benchmarks for React, Vue, Next.js, WordPress, Shopify and full-stack work
- ✓Adjusts for years of experience and where your client is based
- ✓Shows monthly income at ~160 billable hours so you can sanity-check the number
- ✓Free to use, no signup and no email wall
Freelance web developer rate questions, answered
How much should a freelance web developer charge per hour in 2026?+
Entry-level web developers typically charge $30–$60/hr, mid-level $60–$100/hr, and senior full-stack developers $120–$200/hr. Niche stacks like Next.js, headless commerce or Web3 usually add another 20–40% on top.
Is React work paid more than WordPress work?+
React and Next.js work commands roughly a 25–40% premium over WordPress. WordPress is higher-volume though, so plenty of freelancers earn more per month at a lower hourly rate simply because the pipeline never dries up.
Should I charge hourly or per project as a web developer?+
Charge per project for well-scoped work like landing pages and integrations — clients get certainty and you keep the upside when you work fast. Keep hourly for retainers and discovery work where the scope genuinely isn't known yet.
What hourly rate should a junior web developer start at?+
Start at $30–$45/hr for direct clients rather than $15/hr on marketplaces. Two or three finished portfolio builds are usually enough to justify $50/hr, and your first rate increase should land within six months.
How do I raise my web development rate without losing clients?+
Raise rates on new clients first, then give existing clients 30 days' notice with a short note about what has improved (speed, testing, support). Most retain; the ones who leave were usually your lowest-margin work anyway.