Project Cost Estimator

How the project total is built

This estimator adds labor and materials first, then applies profit markup and contingency to that direct cost. Markup and contingency are calculated separately from the same direct cost, so a 18% markup plus an 8% contingency is 26% of direct cost, not 18% followed by 8% of the already marked-up amount.

$$\text{Direct} = \text{Labor} + \text{Materials}$$

$$\text{Total} = \text{Direct} \times \left(1 + \frac{\text{markup}}{100} + \frac{\text{contingency}}{100}\right)$$

What to enter

Each labor task is hours times an hourly rate. Each material line is a quantity times a unit cost. Leave a numeric field blank to treat it as zero. Negative numbers and percentages above 100 are rejected so a typo does not produce a silent total.

The sample job is a small carpentry package: 8 hours of site survey at $72 and 36 hours of framing at $58, plus 42 cedar boards at $6.40 and 4 boxes of screws at $12.50. With 18% markup and 8% contingency the project total is $3,758.33. Replace those rows with your own scope.

Where this fits with other pricing tools

Use the Hourly Rate Calculator when you still need to turn a salary into a billable hour before you fill in a task. The Markup Calculator and Margin Calculator explain the difference between markup on cost and margin on price. When the estimate becomes a bill, move the figures into the Invoice Generator.

Worked check

Labor is \(8 \times 72 + 36 \times 58 = 2{,}664\). Materials are \(42 \times 6.40 + 4 \times 12.50 = 318.80\). Direct cost is $2,982.80. Markup is $536.90 and contingency is $238.62. The total is $3,758.33.