Hourly vs Fixed Price: Which Earns More?
Free calculator to compare hourly and fixed-price project models. Find out which pricing strategy maximizes your earnings for any project.
Project Parameters
Actual Outcome
What it actually took — adjust to see scenarios
Earnings Comparison
Hourly Earnings
$4,500
45h × $100/hr = $4,500
Better for this projectFixed Price Earnings
$4,500
Effective rate: $100/hr
Earnings Difference
$0 more with hourly
Based on 45 actual hours
When to Use Each Model
✓ Use Hourly When
- • Scope is unclear or likely to change
- • Client makes frequent revision requests
- • Research-heavy or exploratory work
- • Ongoing maintenance or support
✓ Use Fixed Price When
- • Scope is well-defined with clear deliverables
- • You're experienced and can estimate accurately
- • You want to earn more by working efficiently
- • Client prefers budget certainty
More Variations
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I charge hourly or fixed price?▾
Fixed price works best for well-defined projects — you can earn more if you work efficiently. Hourly is safer for vague scopes or ongoing work where requirements may change.
When is hourly pricing better?▾
Hourly is better when scope is unclear, the client makes frequent changes, or the work is research-heavy. It protects you from scope creep.
How do fixed-price projects affect earnings?▾
If you complete a fixed-price project faster than estimated, your effective hourly rate goes up. If it runs over, it drops. Accurate scoping is critical.