Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Monthly retainer
$2,200
Effective hourly
$110.00
Contract value
$26,400
Discount given up
$3,600
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter hours included per month.
- 2Enter standard hourly rate ($).
- 3Enter retainer discount (%).
- 4Enter commitment (months).
- 5Read your monthly retainer on the right — it updates as you type.
- 6Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Retainers trade a discount for predictable revenue. This shows the monthly price, effective hourly after the discount, and annual value locked in.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Hours included per month: 20
- Standard hourly rate: 125 $
- Retainer discount: 12 %
- Commitment: 12 months
Results
- Monthly retainer: $2,200
- Effective hourly: $110.00
- Contract value: $26,400
- Discount given up: $3,600
What each field means
Inputs
- Hours included per month
- The hours included per month used in the calculation. Starts at 20 so you have a working example on load.
- Standard hourly rate ($)
- The standard hourly rate used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 125 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Retainer discount (%)
- The retainer discount used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 12 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–50 %.
- Commitment (months)
- The commitment used in the calculation, measured in months. Starts at 12 months so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Monthly retainer
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Effective hourly
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Contract value
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Discount given up
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How does the retainer pricing calculator work?
Retainers trade a discount for predictable revenue. This shows the monthly price, effective hourly after the discount, and annual value locked in. The underlying maths is: Monthly = hours × rate × (1 − discount).
What do I need to enter?
4 values: hours included per month, standard hourly rate, retainer discount, and commitment. Each field starts with a sensible default, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result move.
What does the monthly retainer result mean?
It is returned as a money amount in US dollars and updates live as you edit the inputs, so you can compare two or three versions of a scenario in a few seconds.
Is this calculator free, and do I need an account?
Yes, it's free, and no account is required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers — the maths runs entirely in your browser.
How accurate is the result?
It applies the standard formula exactly, so the arithmetic is precise. Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
Who is this tool for?
It's built for anyone doing everyday planning maths — a quick estimate that would otherwise need four browser tabs and a calculator app.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Retainer Pricing Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/freelance-retainer-pricing
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/freelance-retainer-pricing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Retainer Pricing Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Retainer Pricing Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/freelance-retainer-pricing) (2026).