Overhead Rate Calculator
Overhead as a percentage of direct costs.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Freelancers, consultants and agencies rely on the free Overhead Rate Calculator to nail Overhead Rate in seconds — no spreadsheets, no sign-up. Enter your numbers, get an accurate result instantly, and compare scenarios to make smarter pricing, budgeting and growth calls.
About Overhead Rate Calculator
Overhead rate expresses your indirect (overhead) costs as a percentage of your direct costs, so you can price work to cover them. The formula is simple: Overhead Rate % = Total Overhead ÷ Total Direct Costs × 100. For example, $50k of overhead on $200k of direct costs is a 25% overhead rate. The free Overhead Rate Calculator does the math for you — just enter your total overhead and your total direct costs and read the result instantly. It runs entirely in your browser with no sign-up, no limits and nothing to install.
How to use Overhead Rate Calculator
- 1Enter your total overhead and your total direct costs into the calculator.
- 2The Overhead Rate is computed automatically using the formula Overhead Rate % = Total Overhead ÷ Total Direct Costs × 100 — there's no button to press.
- 3Change any input to model a different scenario, then note or copy the result.
Why use Overhead Rate Calculator?
- ✓Calculates Overhead Rate instantly with the correct formula — no spreadsheet needed
- ✓100% free and unlimited, with no sign-up, login or paywall
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay private
- ✓Updates live as you type — perfect for comparing scenarios
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate Overhead Rate?+
Overhead rate expresses your indirect (overhead) costs as a percentage of your direct costs, so you can price work to cover them. The formula is: Overhead Rate % = Total Overhead ÷ Total Direct Costs × 100. For example, $50k of overhead on $200k of direct costs is a 25% overhead rate.
Why calculate an overhead rate?+
It tells you how much to add on top of direct labour and materials so every project contributes to rent, software, admin and other fixed costs.
Is the Overhead Rate Calculator free to use?+
Yes — it's completely free, with no sign-up, no login and no usage limits. You can run it as many times as you like.
Is my data private?+
Yes. The Overhead Rate Calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the figures you enter are never uploaded or stored on any server.
Embed Overhead Rate Calculator on your website
Want Overhead Rate Calculatoron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
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