Method & source: Per-page, per-entry, and hourly formulas per ASI, SI, and ANZSI guidelines. Estimate for guidance only — not professional financial or tax advice. Generated · supreminders.com
How to Use This Calculator
This tool helps freelance book indexers build a defensible, professional project quote in seconds. Fill in the left panel and the right panel updates live:
Enter total indexable pages — the count of text pages that need indexing (exclude blank, cover, and untextured figure pages).
Choose text type — this sets a contextual hint about typical speed ranges; your actual speed overrides it.
Set your indexing speed — how many pages you can index per hour at sustained working pace.
Choose billing method — per page, per entry, or hourly — and enter your rate.
Add rush and difficulty premiums if the project warrants them, and your combined tax rate for the net earnings figure.
Set your start date and hours/day to get a delivery date estimate.
The Method Comparison block shows what the same project would cost under all three billing methods simultaneously — useful when a publisher pushes back on your quote and you want to demonstrate equivalence.
Industry body guidelines differ by region. Use these as benchmarks when setting your own rate:
ASI (USA): $2.50–$5.50/page; $30–$52/hr (survey median); EFA suggests $50–$80/hr for experienced indexers.
Society of Indexers (UK): £32.70/hr or £3.15/page for non-specialist texts; higher for specialist.
ANZSI (Australia/NZ): A$70/hr minimum; NZ$55/hr minimum for competent indexers.
Indexing Society of Canada: C$20–$65/hr; typeset page rates C$1.85–$10.00.
Rush premium: 25–100%+ above base fee depending on timeline compression (ANZSI, AF Indexing).
Technical/medical specialist premium: $5–$12/page is common for medical or legal indexers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most freelance indexers charge per indexable page. The American Society for Indexing (ASI) cites a typical range of $2.50–$5.50 per page for non-specialist texts; the Editorial Freelancers Association suggests $5.56–$10.00 per page for complex material. Hourly rates typically range from $30–$80/hr depending on experience and region. Per-entry rates average around $0.74–$1.00 per entry. The best method is whichever lets you reliably hit your target hourly earnings once you know your own indexing speed. Use the Method Comparison block in this calculator to verify equivalence across methods.
Indexing speed varies with text complexity and the indexer's experience. A practical rule of thumb cited by multiple professional bodies is 3–10 indexable pages per hour. Trade non-fiction runs toward the faster end (7–10 pp/hr); dense academic, legal, or technical texts often run 3–5 pp/hr. Beginners tend toward the lower end. The ASI advises that indexing 3–10 pages per hour does not include editing, revision, or non-billable admin time — always add an overhead factor (typically 10–20%) when estimating total project time.
A rush surcharge compensates you when a compressed deadline forces you to reprioritise, work evenings or weekends, or set aside other projects. Common tiers: 25% surcharge for a moderately tight deadline; 50% when the timeline requires evenings/weekends; 75–100% for set-aside-everything urgency. The ANZSI explicitly notes that "complicated or urgent indexes may attract a higher hourly rate or a surcharge." Always disclose the surcharge and its conditions in writing before starting work. Some indexers include a rush-fee clause in their standard client agreement to avoid last-minute negotiations.
Per-page: Most common for back-of-book indexes. Both parties know the total upfront; incentivises the indexer to work efficiently. Best when page count is firm before you start. Per-entry: Compensates fairly when text density varies widely — a sparse page and a dense page each pay proportionally. Common in database and periodical indexing. Hourly: Suits embedded indexing or scope-uncertain projects. Protects you against scope creep but requires client trust. Converting any method to an effective hourly rate — which this calculator does automatically — is the cleanest way to compare them and ensure you're not underselling complex work.
As a self-employed indexer in the US, you pay both the employee and employer portions of self-employment tax (15.3% as of 2024), plus federal and state income taxes. The ASI recommends assuming at least 40% of gross income goes to taxes and business expenses. Enter your actual effective combined rate in this calculator — the default is 30%, which is a conservative minimum; adjust upward if your income bracket and state taxes apply. For non-US indexers, enter your relevant self-employment and income tax rate. The resulting "after-tax net" is a rough guide — consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
At a moderate pace of 5 pages/hour for standard trade non-fiction, a 300-page project requires about 60 indexing hours. Adding 15% for revision and editing brings total project time to ~69 hours — roughly 11–12 working days at 6 hours/day. At a faster pace of 8 pages/hour (lighter text), the same project takes ~37 indexing hours plus overhead, or about 7 working days. Professional indexers typically tell clients to expect 1–4 weeks depending on their schedule and concurrent commitments.
An indexable page is any page containing text that needs to be reflected in the index. Non-indexable pages include blank pages, full-page photographs or figures with no accompanying text, the title page, copyright page, table of contents, and front matter that won't be indexed. The difference can be meaningful: a heavily illustrated 300-page art history book might have only 180–200 indexable pages. Always clarify with your client what the indexable page count is, or ask for a PDF sample to estimate it yourself, before finalising your quote.
Estimates for guidance only. This calculator implements standard indexing pricing formulas referenced by the American Society for Indexing, Society of Indexers, ANZSI, and Indexing Society of Canada. Actual project fees, times, and earnings will vary. Tax calculations are simplified estimates; consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation and jurisdiction.