How much does Upwork take?
An independent calculator, not Upwork: nothing to sign in to and nothing to pay here. Enter a sale amount and read the fees.
On a $100.00 sale with the default settings, Upwork takes $10.00 and you keep $90.00 — an effective rate of 10.00%. Upwork takes a Freelancer Service Fee of 0% to 15% of your earnings, set per contract and shown before you accept. Withdrawing to a U.S. bank is free for US-based freelancers; other methods cost $0.99 to $50.00 per withdrawal.
| Sale | Fees | You keep | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10.00 | $1.00 | $9.00 | 10.00% |
| $25.00 | $2.50 | $22.50 | 10.00% |
| $50.00 | $5.00 | $45.00 | 10.00% |
| $100.00 | $10.00 | $90.00 | 10.00% |
| $250.00 | $25.00 | $225.00 | 10.00% |
| $500.00 | $50.00 | $450.00 | 10.00% |
| $1,000.00 | $100.00 | $900.00 | 10.00% |
Open the Upwork calculator → for your own price, shipping, category and options.
How the fee is built
Upwork charges freelancers a Freelancer Service Fee on earnings. The rate ranges from 0% to 15% per contract, is shown on the offer or proposal before you accept, and is fixed once the contract begins. Upwork Payroll and Any Hire contracts pay no service fee; Direct Contracts pay a reduced fee. Withdrawals cost nothing to a U.S. bank for freelancers with a US tax address, $2.99 to a U.S. bank for freelancers with an international tax address (from September 1, 2026), $0.99 to a local bank outside the US, $50.00 by U.S. dollar wire and $2.00 by Instant Pay.
In Upwork's own words
- It’s the fee you pay on your Upwork earnings. The fee ranges from 0% to 15% per contract, and helps us provide you with payment protection, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, and all the tools that help you run your business more smoothly.
- Once your contract begins, the fee is fixed and won’t change.
- You’ll see the fee percentage when a client sends you an offer, or you are submitting a proposal, so you always know the exact fee that applies beforehand.
- The 10% fee is $26.664 USD or $26.66 USD when rounded down to nearest cent
- Your net earnings are $239.98 USD ($0.02 less than estimated, 12 x $20 = $240 USD)
- The 10% fee is $33.336 USD or $33.34 USD when rounded up to nearest cent
- Your net earnings are $300.02 USD ($0.02 more than estimated, 12 x $25 USD = $300 USD)
- No, we are not offering any regular discounts.
Source: Learn about the Freelancer Service Fee – Upwork Help · How to get paid on Upwork – Upwork Help · What are the fees, limits, and timing of Direct to Local Bank payments? – Upwork Help · Direct to U.S. Bank: timing and fees explained – Upwork Help.