Designers’ Hourly Rates: Are You Charging Enough?

Most business-savvy graphic and web designers don’t charge by the hour like attorneys and auto mechanics do. So why bother calculating an hourly rate?

Simple: It’s the basis on which you estimate projects. Your hourly rate, multiplied by the number of hours you assume the job will take, yields the fee you’ll charge a client for the work you complete.

So we shed some light on the topic in HOW’s April 2008 issue in a Business column on hourly rates for designers. The information was gathered by an online survey conducted in October 2007 that drew 996 responses and shows what designers around the U.S. are charging for their design services. Below are the survey results.

• Calculate your hourly rate with the help of this free white paper on pricing by Marketing Mentor. Download the worksheet. 

Where do you work?

46%  Solo design practice or full-time freelance business
17%  Graphic design firm
31%  In-house design department

If you work in an in-house group, does your group charge the company back for your time?

77%  No
23%  Yes

What is your hourly rate (blended average, for solo practitioners)?

What kind of hourly rate do you use?

61%  Blended (a single, averaged rate for all billable functions)
32%  Different rates per task (such as proofreading, design, strategy)
2%   Different rates per seniority level (creative directors charge more than junior designers)
6%   Other

How did you determine your hourly rate?

28%  Based on a formula including overhead, salaries and other financial factors
46%  Based on common rates for design in my area
37%  Based on a best guess or gut feeling
13%  Other

Do you share your hourly rate with clients?

82%  Yes
18% No

Do you use a time-tracking system?

44%  Yes
56% No

Do you have a “Pain in the A@@” up-charge?

40%  Yes
60%  No

Do you have a rush fee?

40%  Yes
60%  No

More Pricing Resources

• “The Designer’s Guide to Marketing & Pricing” dishes advice on how to win clients and then what to charge them.
• Marketing Mentor’s Pricing Bundle will give you the down-and-dirty pricing info that creatives really want—and need.
• Master the Art & Science of Pricing with this exclusive download from HOW magazine.

Also, click here to sign up for our newsletter and get more awesome pricing resources like this delivered directly to your inbox!

What are designers saying about their rates?

“I usually give an all inclusive estimate based on this rate, but will specify that anything beyond the scope of the estimate will be billed per hour.”—Northeast

“I find clients prefer to get a quote for a job in its entirety. A per-hour fee makes them nervous, as they don’t know how many hours I will rack up. Quoting a project based on a good faith estimate of what it takes me to to the work assures I get paid fairly for my efforts. Working effectively and completing tasks in less time than I estimate is the equivalent of extra profit. This does not require a change to the original agreed upon fee, or the terms of delivery, and still allows me to meet the expectations of the client. Over the course of a year it also helps compensate for the projects which, take me longer than I expect.”—West

“For the most part people freak out when they hear an hourly rate. But are fine when you tell them a project will cost $X. Costs the same either way, but it focuses them on the big picture of pricing rather than the details.”—Midwest

“I don’t charge hourly rates, because it hurts the graphic design business as a whole.  I charge based on the task itself, and the value of the task, based on a multitude of factors, such as how and where it will be used, and what type of licensing I am contracting to the client.  Hourly charges make clients relate graphic design work to other jobs, and doesn’t include the artistic talent that is not hard-priced.”—South