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- Scope creep is extra work a client asks for that was not part of the agreed project. Unpaid, it lowers your real hourly rate.
- This calculator shows how many hours you gave away, what they were worth, how far your hourly rate fell and what change order to request.
- A second mode prices extra revision rounds when a client asks for more than the project includes.
- Use it to put a number on the problem before you talk to the client, not after the project is over.
How to use the scope creep and revision fee calculator
Choose a mode
Pick Scope creep cost to measure a project that ran over, or Extra revision fee to price rounds beyond the agreement.
Enter the project numbers
For scope creep, enter the agreed fee, the hours you estimated and the hours you actually worked. For revisions, enter the rounds included and requested.
Set your rate
Add an hourly rate for the extra work. For scope creep you can leave it at 0 to use the rate your fee implies (fee ÷ estimated hours).
Use the result
Send the change order amount or extra revision fee to the client, with the hours behind it.
How scope creep and revision fees are calculated
Scope creep cost
Planned hourly rate = (fee − direct costs) ÷ estimated hours
Effective hourly rate = (fee − direct costs) ÷ actual hours
Unpaid hours = actual hours − estimated hours
Value of unpaid work = unpaid hours × hourly rate
Margin erosion is how far the effective rate fell below the planned rate, as a percentage.
Extra revision fee
Extra rounds = rounds requested − rounds included
Fee per extra round = hours per round × hourly rate (or your minimum, if higher)
Extra revision fee = extra rounds × fee per round
If the client asks for fewer rounds than the project includes, there is no extra fee.
Scope creep and revision fee examples
Example 1: a project that ran 50% over
You agreed a $3,000 fixed fee for 30 hours of work. The project took 45 hours.
- Planned hourly rate ($3,000 ÷ 30) $100.00
- Effective hourly rate ($3,000 ÷ 45) $66.67
- Unpaid extra hours (45 − 30) 15
- Value of unpaid work (15 × $100) $1,500.00
- Margin erosion 33.3%
The extra 15 hours cut your effective rate by a third. A change order of $1,500 would have kept the project on target.
Example 2: with direct costs
The same project, but you paid $300 in direct costs out of the fee.
- Fee after costs ($3,000 − $300) $2,700.00
- Planned hourly rate ($2,700 ÷ 30) $90.00
- Effective hourly rate ($2,700 ÷ 45) $60.00
- Value of unpaid work (15 × $90) $1,350.00
Direct costs lower the rate you really earn, so include them when you work out the change order.
Example 3: extra revision rounds
A project includes 2 rounds of revisions and the client has asked for 5. Each extra round takes about 3 hours at $75 per hour.
- Extra rounds (5 − 2) 3
- Fee per extra round (3 × $75) $225.00
- Extra revision fee (3 × $225) $675.00
With a minimum fee of $300 per extra round, the same request would cost the client $900.
Where a scope creep calculator helps
Writing change orders
Turn vague extra requests into a specific hours and dollar amount.
Setting revision limits
Decide how many rounds to include and what extra rounds should cost.
Reviewing past projects
See which clients and project types quietly cut your hourly rate.
Pricing the next quote
Add a realistic buffer based on how far projects usually run over.
The easiest way to stop scope creep is a clear scope: list the deliverables, the number of revision rounds and what counts as an extra. This calculator gives estimates and is not legal advice. To price your next project, try the Freelance Project Quote Calculator or check your real rate with the Effective Hourly Rate Calculator.
Scope creep and revision fee calculator FAQ
What is scope creep?
Scope creep is when a project grows beyond what was originally agreed, usually through small requests that each seem reasonable. If the fee stays the same, the extra hours are unpaid and your effective hourly rate drops.
How do you calculate the cost of scope creep?
Subtract the hours you estimated from the hours you worked to get the unpaid hours, then multiply by your hourly rate. The calculator also shows your effective hourly rate and how far it fell below the rate you planned.
What is a change order?
A change order is a written agreement to add work to a project and adjust the fee or deadline. It records exactly what is being added so both sides agree before the work happens.
How much should I charge for extra revisions?
Estimate the hours one round takes, multiply by your hourly rate and charge that for each round beyond what the project includes. A minimum fee per round helps with small requests that still interrupt your schedule.
How many revision rounds should a project include?
Two or three rounds is common for many creative projects, but it depends on the work. What matters is that the number is stated in the contract and that extra rounds have a price.
Why do direct costs matter?
Costs such as stock assets, plugins or subcontractors come out of the fee, so they lower the money you earn per hour. Including them gives a more honest planned rate and a fairer change order.