Hourly Job Quote Calculator

Build a quote for any trade: crew hours × your hourly rate, plus materials, equipment, travel, markup and sales tax, with a line-item breakdown.

h
workers
$per worker-hour
Example rate — enter your own. BLS reports a May 2025 median wage of $22.44/h for construction laborers and $29.12/h for carpenters; a billed rate must also cover payroll taxes, insurance, tools and overhead, so it is higher than the wage.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
$
Your cost for materials on this job.
$
$per trip
Covers drive time and vehicle cost. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
%
Added to direct costs (materials + labor + fees) to cover overhead and profit. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
%
Your combined state + local rate. Example rate — enter your own.
Your rate is remembered on this device.
Whether labor and services are taxable depends on your state. Check with your state revenue department.
Estimated TOTAL
$1,424.00
Total worker-hours
16.00 h
Labor (16 worker-hours)
$880.00
Materials
$300.00
Equipment / rentals
$0.00
Travel
$40.00
Direct cost (before markup)
$1,220.00
Overhead & profit (15%)
$183.00
Subtotal
$1,403.00
Sales tax (7% on materials at cost)
$21.00

Estimate generated with SortedSums: https://sortedsums.com/hourly-job-quote/. For informational purposes only; verify before relying on it.

Estimate only. This tool is for informational and educational purposes. Results depend on your inputs and simplifying assumptions, and are not a substitute for professional engineering, design or financial advice. Always verify with a qualified professional and applicable codes before purchasing, building or making decisions.

How it’s calculated

A time-and-materials quote adds up your direct costs, applies one overhead & profit markup, then adds sales tax.

Labor = hours × crew size × rate Direct cost = labor + materials + equipment + trips × travel charge Overhead & profit = direct cost × markup % Subtotal = direct cost + overhead & profit Tax = tax % × (materials, or the whole subtotal) TOTAL = subtotal + tax

Example: 2 workers × 8 h × $55 = $880 labor; materials $300; 1 trip × $40 travel. Direct cost = $1,220. 15% markup = $183, subtotal $1,403. 7% tax on materials = $21. TOTAL = $1,424.

All rates shown are examples. Enter your own; prices, markup and tax rate are remembered on this device. This is a planning estimate only. It does not include anything not entered above, such as permits, inspections, engineering, site preparation, demolition or disposal (unless entered), access or equipment problems, regional surcharges, contingency or price changes. Get written quotes before committing.

Frequently asked questions

What hourly rate should I charge?

Start from what you pay per hour (wage plus payroll taxes, workers’ comp and benefits), add your share of overhead (vehicle, insurance, tools, office) per billable hour, then add profit. Billable hours are fewer than paid hours, so the rate is usually well above the wage.

Is markup the same as margin?

No. A 20% markup on cost gives a 16.7% margin on price (20 ÷ 120). Use a markup calculator to convert between them.

Should I charge sales tax on labor?

It depends on the state and the kind of work. Many states tax materials but not installation labor; some tax certain services. Choose “Materials only” or “Whole subtotal” to match your state’s rules.

How do I account for travel?

Either charge a flat trip fee (as here) or bill drive time at your hourly rate plus mileage. A mileage cost calculator can help you set the per-trip figure.

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Sources

Formulas are taken from the free public references above. Results are provided “as is” for informational and educational purposes only. See our disclaimer.

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