Quote the project, not just the word count.

Project inputs

Why weighted words matter

New words, fuzzy matches, QA, and desktop publishing do not consume the same effort. This tool makes those assumptions visible so you can change them. It reports arithmetic, not a recommended rate or a promise that a project will be profitable. See the full quoting guide with a worked example, how this compares to a flat per-word rate, or to a CAT-tool platform like Smartcat.

Common questions

Why does a fuzzy match not count as half a word?

Because a fuzzy percentage is a discount on effort, not a rounding rule you apply after the fact. The calculator multiplies fuzzy words by the fuzzy rate before adding them to new words: at the default 1,800 new words and 1,200 fuzzy words at 50%, that is 1,800 + (1,200 × 0.5) = 2,400 weighted words, not the raw 3,000 — and it is that 2,400 figure the hourly-rate math actually bills against.

What's included in the quote besides translation time?

QA hours, desktop publishing, and a rush fee are added on top of translation labor, not folded into the per-word rate. At the defaults that is 2 QA hours × $45/hr = $90, plus a $75 DTP charge, for $165 of add-ons on top of the $270 translation labor — together the $435 direct cost the target price is built from.

What's the difference between direct cost and target price?

Direct cost is what the project actually costs you to deliver: labor plus add-ons, no margin. Target price divides that by (1 − your target margin), so at the default 25% margin the $435 direct cost becomes a $580 target price — the number that leaves 25% of the invoice as margin rather than 25% added on top of cost.

When does the minimum price actually take over?

Only when the direct cost of the work falls below it. At the defaults, direct cost is $435 against a $250 minimum, so the minimum changes nothing here; it exists to stop a very small job — a one-paragraph rush translation, say — from quoting below what it costs you to open the file at all.

Is my rate card or client's word count uploaded anywhere?

No. Every figure stays in your browser; there is no account, server, or analytics vendor involved in the calculation itself. Anonymous feature counts (which buttons were used) can be turned off entirely with the button in the footer.

Can I send the client a quote, not just a number?

Yes. Fill in your business details and the client’s, then “Print quote / Save as PDF” produces a one-page quote: what the project covers, the total in your own currency, the deposit split, how long the price stands, and a line to sign. Your hourly rate, direct cost, and target margin are not on it and are not printed — the client sees the price, not how you built it. Your business details are saved on this device so you type them once; the client’s details are never saved. The drafted scope is editable, and a line for work you priced at zero — no rush fee, no desktop publishing — does not appear at all.

Are my numbers saved, and can I share them?

Your last entry is saved in this browser's local storage, so refreshing the page or coming back later restores it — nothing is uploaded. “Copy shareable link” puts the same eleven inputs in the page's URL fragment (after the #) instead, so sending that link to a client or colleague opens this page with the exact same project quoted, without either of you retyping anything. A link takes priority over a saved draft when you open one.

Send the client a quote

The price above is for you. This is the page you print or save as a PDF and send the client — your details, theirs, what the project covers, the deposit split, and a line for them to sign. Your business details are saved on this device so you only type them once; the client's details are never saved.

Everything on the printed page is text you typed or a number this calculator worked out. It contains no warranty, lien, or cancellation wording — those depend on your jurisdiction and your contract, and this tool is not the place to invent them.