Job pricing calculator
Price every job to actually make money — load your overhead, set the margin you want, and get the number to put on the quote.
Use the calculator ↓Price a job
Overhead loads your indirect costs onto the job before margin is added. Set margin on price, not cost — a 20% margin is not a 20% markup.
How builders use this
Stop underquoting
Round-number quotes quietly lose money. Start from cost, add overhead and margin, and quote a number that pays.
Load your overhead
Your ute, insurance, tools and downtime are real costs. Load them onto the job before margin, not after.
Know the profit first
See the profit in dollars before the quote goes out, so a materials price rise does not wipe it out.
How to price a job properly
A price that only covers materials and labour is not a business — it ignores the overhead that keeps you running between jobs: vehicles, insurance, tools, admin, quoting time and the days it rains. This calculator loads an overhead percentage onto your direct job cost first, so those indirect costs are actually recovered.
Then it prices to a target margin. The important distinction is that margin is a share of the price, not a markup on cost. Charging cost plus a 20% markup does not give you a 20% margin — it gives less. Pricing to the margin you actually want protects the profit on every job.
The result is the price to quote (before and after GST), the profit in dollars, and the total cost the price is covering — so you can quote knowing exactly what you keep.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Markup is profit as a percentage of cost; margin is profit as a percentage of price. A $100 cost at a 20% margin sells for $125, not $120 — pricing on margin is what protects your profit.
What overhead percentage should I use?
Add up your annual indirect costs — vehicle, insurance, tools, admin, non-billable time — and express them as a percentage of the work you actually bill. That is the overhead each job should carry.
What margin should I aim for?
It depends on your trade, risk and overheads. The key is to know your true costs first, then set a margin that leaves real profit after them. This tool prices to whatever target you choose.
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This calculator is a pricing aid for general information only. It does not capture every cost of your business. Set prices from your full cost base and circumstances.