Freelance designer rates
Price graphic, web and brand design from data and scope, not guesswork.
There's no official table of freelance designer rates. Published averages are usually self-reported surveys or marketplace listings, and they vary widely by specialism, client type and country. A defensible rate starts from employee pay data and adds the costs you now carry yourself.
Start from official pay data
- BLS: Graphic designers
- BLS: Web developers and digital designers
- UK: ONS earnings data. Canada: Job Bank wages.
Convert employee pay into a freelance rate with the method in how to set freelance rates, or let the freelance rate calculator do it.
Hourly, project or value pricing for design
| Model | Works best for | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | Ongoing production work, edits, retainers | Faster work earns less |
| Per project | Logos, brand kits, websites, packaging | Scope creep unless revisions are capped |
| Value-based | Brand and website work tied to a launch or revenue goal | Needs confident scoping and a trusted client |
What to put in a design quote
- Deliverables: file types, sizes and number of concepts.
- Revision rounds: how many are included and the rate for extras.
- Licensing: what rights the client gets, and whether you can show it in your portfolio.
- Third-party costs: fonts, stock images and plugins.
- Timeline and payment terms: a deposit before work starts is common.
Use the rate card template to publish packages.
Invoicing and getting paid
Invoice tools such as FreshBooks handle deposits, reminders and online payment. Compare options in accounting software for solopreneurs.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a freelance graphic designer charge?
Start from official pay data for graphic designers, add your business costs and taxes, and divide by realistic billable hours. Then package common jobs as fixed-price projects.
Should designers charge hourly or per project?
Per project usually suits defined jobs like logos and websites, with capped revisions. Hourly suits open-ended production and retainers.
Sources
- BLS: Graphic designers bls.gov
- BLS: Web developers and digital designers bls.gov
- ONS earnings data ons.gov.uk
- Job Bank wages jobbank.gc.ca
Checked 21 Oct 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Update history
- : first published; figures checked against the sources listed.