Freelance business
Per-word rate to hourly
Turn a per-word rate and an article length into the hourly rate you earn, or find the per-word rate that hits a target hourly rate.
Hourly rate = per-word rate x words / total hours. $0.20 a word for a 1,500-word article is $300; with 2 hours of research, 3 hours of writing and 1 hour of revisions that is $50 an hour. To earn $75 an hour on the same article you need $0.30 a word.
Your numbers
Result
Worked example
$0.20 x 1,500 words = $300. The piece took 2 + 3 + 1 = 6 hours, so you earned $50 an hour and finished 250 words per hour. For $75 an hour you need $75 x 6 = $450, which is $0.30 a word.
How it works
A per-word rate only pays well if you write fast and research little. Time the research, interviews and revisions along with the writing; they are part of the job. Your words-per-hour figure is the key number to track.
The target rate is yours. This tool does not claim what writers typically earn per word.
Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-08): arithmetic on the numbers you enter. No published rates, tax rules or benchmarks are built in; any figure described as a rule of thumb is labelled as one. This is a planning estimate, not financial, tax or legal advice.
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FAQ
How do I convert a per-word rate to an hourly rate?
Multiply the rate by the word count to get the fee, then divide by every hour the piece took. $0.20 x 1,500 = $300; over 6 hours that is $50 an hour.
How much should I charge per word?
Work backward from the hourly rate you need and your usual hours per piece. For $75 an hour on a 6-hour, 1,500-word piece, $0.30 a word.
Should research count as time?
Yes. It is time you spend on the piece. Leave it out and the hourly rate looks better than it is.
Is a flat fee better than a per-word rate?
Depends on the project. A flat fee protects you when research is heavy; a per-word rate is simple to scale.