Day rate
You sell whole days rather than hours, which removes the pressure to justify every minute.
Best for: On-site work, workshops, and clients who book you in blocks.
Avoid when: The work is a series of small, unpredictable tasks that never fill a day.
How it works
The client books your time in whole days. You don't track hours within a day — the day is the unit. Bookings are usually made in advance and, if you're sensible, are non-refundable inside a notice window.
What it looks like
A £600 day rate, four days booked for a discovery sprint, is £2,400 — invoiced whether or not day four runs to 5pm.
Example project
A two-day accessibility audit and workshop
A charity needs its site reviewed and its content team trained. You book two consecutive on-site days at £600 — day one auditing alongside the team, day two workshop and handover. £1,200 plus £150 travel, invoiced on booking, with a seven-day cancellation window in the terms.
Where it wins
- No time tracking, no line-by-line scrutiny.
- Easy for clients to budget and easy for you to schedule.
- Naturally prices in the fact that a booked day can't be sold twice.
Where it hurts
- Still trades time for money, just in bigger chunks.
- Half-days and short jobs get awkward.
- Cancellations hurt unless your terms cover them.
Day rate: frequently asked questions
What is a day rate and how does it work?
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A day rate sells your time in whole days rather than hours. The client books days in advance and pays for each one, whether it runs to seven hours or nine. There is no time tracking within a booked day.
How do I calculate my day rate?
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Take the hourly rate you need, multiply it by the hours you can actually sustain in a working day — six or seven, not eight — then add a premium for the fact that a booked day cannot be resold. Cross-check the result against contract rates in your market.
Should I offer half days?
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Usually not. Half days fragment your calendar and rarely free up sellable time in the other half. If you do offer them, price them at 60 to 70% of a full day so the client has a reason to book properly.
What happens if a client cancels a booked day?
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Whatever your terms say, which is why they need to say something. A common approach is full charge inside seven days, half charge inside fourteen, and free beyond that. Agree it in the contract before the first booking, not after the first cancellation.
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