Billable Utilisation Calculator
What share of your working week actually earns money — and your true effective rate.
About this calculator
Freelancers sell hours but only bill some of them: proposals, admin, marketing and email eat the rest. Utilisation — billable hours over total hours — explains why a £65/hour freelancer can effectively earn £35/hour. Track it monthly and it becomes the earliest warning that your business model, rates or boundaries need attention.
The formula
Worked example
Working 45 hours, billing 26 at £65: utilisation 57.8%, weekly revenue £1,690, true rate £37.56/hour.
Common mistakes
- Chasing 100% utilisation — with no sales time the pipeline empties and next quarter starves.
- Not counting evenings and weekends in total hours, which flatters the number.
- Fixing low utilisation with longer hours instead of better rates or less admin.
Frequently asked questions
Assumptions & limitations
Steady weekly pattern; seasonal businesses should measure across a quarter.
Sources & verification
This calculator applies the standard formula published above to the figures you enter — it relies on no external statutory data. The formula and the worked example were checked by hand against each other.
Spotted an error or an out-of-date figure? Report it — corrections are prioritised over all other work (see our corrections policy).