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Day Rate and Hourly Rate Tax Calculator (2025/26)
If you’re a tradesperson or freelancer, one of the hardest questions to answer is “What will I actually take home after tax?”
Whether you charge by the day or by the hour, this tool is built to give you a clear, simple picture in seconds, without any jargon.
This is ideal for:
- Builders, electricians, plumbers, roofers, decorators
- Self-employed trades working job to job
- Freelancers who swap between day rate and hourly rate work
- Anyone thinking about switching between sole trader and limited company
It takes your rate, your working pattern, and your expenses, and shows how much you’d keep in your pocket each year.
Try the calculator
Just drop your day rate or hourly rate in, add your working days and yearly expenses, and you’ll instantly see your estimated take-home as a sole trader and a limited company.
Quick disclaimer
This calculator is a simple guide based on 2025/26 tax figures.
Everyone’s situation is different, especially once you add things like CIS deductions, pensions, benefits, multiple incomes, or unusual expenses.
It’s your responsibility to make sure your tax is correct, so please use this as an estimate, not a full tax calculation.
(And if you want proper advice, you know where we are.)
What the calculator includes
- Day rate or hourly rate
- Working pattern (days per week, weeks per year, hours per day)
- Annual business expenses
- Income tax (sole trader)
- Class 4 National Insurance
- Corporation tax (limited company)
- Director’s salary (optimised)
- Dividend tax
- Employee and employer NI
- Full comparison of take-home between sole trader and limited company
What it doesn’t include
To keep it simple, this one doesn’t cover:
- CIS deductions
- Pensions or salary sacrifice
- VAT
- Multiple directors or shareholders
- Employment Allowance
- Company benefits, mileage, home-office claims, or capital allowances
- Anything too unusual or specific to one industry
If you need a version with more detailed options, we can build one.
Want proper help working out your rate?
If you’re unsure whether to stay as a sole trader, switch to a limited company, or just want someone to help you price your work properly, we can help.
Blue Rocket Accounting gives friendly, straight-talking support to trades and small businesses across Kent.
Book a chat or send us a message today.
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