Upwork moved away from its older tiered freelancer fees to a simpler structure that, for most contracts, is reported to be around 10%. Rates can vary by contract type, so check the current fee page and your own contracts for the exact number.
Quote for what you keep
If the fee is about 10%, a $1,000 contract leaves you about $900. To take home a target amount, divide it by 0.9. A $900 target means quoting about $1,000.
Do not hide the maths
Clients see your rate, not your fee. Price so the number you send still feels fair to them and still works for you.
Keep the proposal about value
Avoid discussing fees in the proposal. Talk about the outcome, the timeline and the first step.
Sources
Details change often. Check the official pages for current information.
Keep reading
Upwork's Spring 2026 updates: what AI-powered tools mean for your proposalsWhy most freelance proposals get skipped, and what to write insteadThe 2026 Future Workforce Index: what it says about freelancing and AIThe first two lines decide everything: how to open a proposalHow to follow up with a client who went quietConnects explained: how to spend them wiselyPaid plans and visibility boosts: are they worth it?