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Free calculator

Kill Fee Calculator

A client cancelled the project — what do they owe? Enter the fee, how much is done, and your kill fee to see the balance due, ready-to-copy invoice lines, and a clause for your next contract.

Calculate a kill fee

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How the kill fee is calculated

Estimate by milestones delivered or hours worked against the plan.

%

Applied to the unfinished balance. 25–50% is a common range.

$
$

Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.

Client owes you

$1,800.00

You keep 55% of the original fee.

Where the original $6,000.00 fee goes
  • Work done $2,400.00
  • Kill fee $900.00
  • Not paid $2,700.00

Breakdown

Work completed (40%)
$2,400.00
Kill fee (25% of $3,600.00)
$900.00
Total owed on cancellation
$3,300.00
Already paid
−$1,500.00
Balance due
$1,800.00

Invoice line items

Work completed (40% of $6,000.00): $2,400.00 Kill fee (25% of unfinished $3,600.00): $900.00 Less amount already paid: −$1,500.00 Balance due: $1,800.00

Kill fee clause for your contract

Cancellation (kill fee). If Client cancels this project for any reason other than Contractor's material breach, Client will pay Contractor (a) for all work performed up to the date of written notice of cancellation, pro-rated against the total project fee, plus (b) a cancellation fee of 25% of the remaining unpaid project fee, within fifteen (15) days of that notice. Client will also reimburse any pre-approved expenses incurred before the cancellation date. Deposits are non-refundable and are credited against these amounts. Rights in unfinished work transfer to Client only after these amounts are paid.

How it works

What is a kill fee in a freelance contract?

A kill fee is what the client pays if they cancel before the project is finished. It pays for the work done and for the time you reserved and can't easily resell.

Without one, a cancelled project can leave you unpaid for work in progress, with an empty calendar you turned other clients away to fill. Kill fees are standard in journalism and publishing and increasingly common in design, development, video, and consulting contracts.

How is a kill fee calculated?

There are two common structures. The calculator supports both.

  • Work done + % of the remainder. The client pays for the completed share of the fee plus a percentage of what's left. On a $6,000 project that is 40% done with a 25% kill fee: $2,400 + 25% × $3,600 = $3,300.
  • Flat % of the total fee. The client pays a fixed share of the agreed fee, whatever the progress — common for articles and commissioned pieces. At 50% of $2,000, that is $1,000.

Both methods then add reimbursable expenses and subtract any deposit or milestone payments already received.

How do I ask for a kill fee?

Raise it before signing, as a normal part of your terms — not after a cancellation.

Frame it around scheduling: you are reserving time for the client and turning down other work. Pair it with a non-refundable deposit that is credited against the kill fee. If the client pushes back, a lower percentage or a cap is a reasonable compromise; zero protection is not. Run the whole agreement through our freelance contract review to check cancellation, payment, and IP terms together.

Clause examples

Cancellation terms that leave you exposed — and fairer versions

Illustrative examples to help you negotiate. They are not ready-made contract language.

Cancellation at will

Risky

“Client may cancel this project at any time without further obligation.”

Safer

“If Client cancels, Client will pay for all work performed to the cancellation date plus 25% of the remaining project fee, within 15 days of written notice.”

“Without further obligation” can mean you're paid nothing for weeks of reserved time. A kill fee prices in the work you turned down.

Refundable deposit

Risky

“Client's deposit will be refunded if the project does not proceed.”

Safer

“The deposit is non-refundable and will be credited against any fees or cancellation fee owed.”

A refundable deposit protects only the client. Making it non-refundable and creditable turns it into the minimum kill fee.

Ownership of cancelled work

Risky

“All drafts and work in progress become Client's property upon creation.”

Safer

“Rights in unfinished work transfer to Client only once the amounts owed on cancellation are paid in full.”

Tying ownership to payment stops a client from cancelling and still using your half-finished work.

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FAQ

Kill fee questions

  • What is a kill fee?
    A kill fee is a payment a client owes when they cancel a project before it is finished. It compensates the freelancer for work already done and for time reserved that could have gone to other clients.
  • How much should a kill fee be?
    Commonly 25% to 50%. In design, development, and other milestone work, it is often the value of work completed plus 25%–50% of the unfinished balance. In publishing, a kill fee is often a flat 25%–50% of the agreed fee. Choose a figure that reflects how hard it would be to fill the time.
  • How do I calculate a kill fee?
    Under the common progress method: total fee × percent complete, plus the kill-fee percentage × the unfinished balance, plus expenses, minus anything already paid. A $6,000 project that is 40% done with a 25% kill fee comes to $2,400 + $900 = $3,300; after a $1,500 deposit, $1,800 is still owed.
  • Can I charge a kill fee if my contract doesn't mention one?
    Usually you cannot add a kill fee after the fact, but you can generally still invoice for work already performed. Whether you can recover more depends on the contract and local law. Add a kill fee clause to your next contract.
  • Is a kill fee the same as a deposit?
    No. A deposit is paid upfront; a kill fee is owed on cancellation. A good contract makes the deposit non-refundable and credits it against the kill fee, so the deposit acts as a minimum.
  • Is my information saved?
    No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser and nothing you type is sent to a server.

FreeContractReviewer.com provides AI-generated information to help you understand possible contract issues. It is not legal advice and does not replace a qualified lawyer.