Project Quote Calculator
Last updated 2026-05-11 · Reviewed by Alex Torres
Out-of-pocket costs for this project (premium fonts, stock assets, paid APIs, subcontractor fees). Subtracted from your take-home.
Total Quote
Calculate your project quote and see what you'll actually keep after platform fees and taxes.
How to Price a $500, $2,000, or $10,000 Project
Using 20% contingency buffer and 15% profit margin. Quoted price formula: (base + contingency) ÷ 0.85.
| Project Tier | Base Estimate | Contingency (20%) | Profit (15%) | Quoted Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small ($500) | $500.00 | $100.00 | $105.88 | $705.88 | Try this scenario → |
| Mid ($2,000) | $2,000.00 | $400.00 | $423.53 | $2,823.53 | Try this scenario → |
| Large ($10,000) | $10,000.00 | $2,000.00 | $2,117.65 | $14,117.65 | Try this scenario → |
Contingency 20%, profit margin 15% (true margin formula). Adjust in the calculator for your costs.
Quoting a project is one of the hardest parts of freelancing. Price too low and you eat into your own margins. Price too high and the client walks. This calculator starts with your hourly rate, multiplies it by the hours you think the work will take, and adds a contingency buffer so you are covered when scope creeps.
How It Works
Enter your hourly rate — the one you calculated with our Hourly Rate Calculator or the rate you already charge. Add the number of hours you expect the project to take. Be honest. Include research, revisions, calls, and admin time. Then set a contingency percentage. We default to 15% because most projects take longer than expected. The calculator gives you a total quote to send the client and shows what you will actually keep after platform fees and taxes.
The Formula
The math is simple. Base cost is your hourly rate multiplied by estimated hours. The contingency buffer is a percentage of that base cost — our default is 15%. Total quote is base cost plus contingency buffer. Then we run the same fee and tax logic as our Net Income Calculator: platform fee is deducted first, then tax is applied to the remaining amount. What is left is your net income — the money that actually lands in your account.
Why Contingency Matters
Every freelancer has been burned by scope creep. The client adds 'just one small thing' and suddenly you have spent ten extra hours. A 15% contingency buffer is standard for fixed-price projects. For complex or unclear scopes, 20% or even 25% is not unreasonable. The buffer is not profit — it is insurance. If you do not use it, great. If you do, you are covered. Clients rarely complain about a well-explained contingency line item.
Platform Fees & Taxes
Your quote is the gross amount the client pays. Platform fees come out of that gross. Upwork charges 10%. Fiverr charges 20%. Direct contracts charge nothing. Then taxes apply to what remains after the platform fee. The calculator shows both numbers side by side: what you charge and what you keep. Use this to decide whether a project is worth taking and whether you should push for a direct contract instead of a platform job.
Tips for Project Quotes
Break the project into phases and quote each phase separately. This protects you from scope creep and gives the client flexibility. Always put your quote in writing — even a short email counts. Include payment terms, revision limits, and what happens if the scope changes. Use the total quote as your ceiling, not your floor. If the client negotiates down, remove scope instead of cutting your rate. And never skip the contingency. It is the difference between a profitable project and a loss.
How do I calculate a project quote?
Multiply your hourly rate by estimated hours, then add a contingency buffer for scope changes. GigProfit also factors in platform fees (Upwork/Fiverr) and taxes so you see exactly what you keep.
What contingency percentage should I use?
Start at 10–20% for new clients or projects with unclear scope. For well-defined work with long-term clients, 5% is fine. Never quote zero contingency — scope always shifts.
Why does the platform take a fee from my quote total?
Platform fees (Upwork 10%, Fiverr 20%) are charged on the gross amount the client pays. The calculator shows you the gross to charge so that after fees you still hit your net income target.
Can I quote projects in different currencies?
Yes. Select your billing currency at the top. All amounts — quote total, fees, and net income — are displayed in that currency consistently.
See what you actually keep from your quote? Try the Net Income Calculator
Try Net Income Calculator →Not sure what to charge? Try the Hourly Rate Calculator
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