Every general contracting estimate is really five numbers. Here’s how the calculator uses each one to build your price.
Track lumber, drywall, fixtures, and finish materials across every phase of a multi-trade job, so nothing gets left off the estimate.
Enter your crew’s hours and hourly rate for framing, finish work, and job-site coordination to capture your real labor cost.
Add electrical, plumbing, and other subcontractor bids as their own line so their cost flows straight into the total job cost.
Include permits, dumpster and debris removal, insurance, and equipment rental so overhead is priced in before you quote.
Set the profit margin you want to hit and the calculator solves for the selling price that actually delivers it — instead of guessing at a markup and hoping it covers your costs.
A kitchen remodel that runs through materials, your own crew’s labor, two subcontractor trades, and job overhead.
| Cost Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Materials (cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures) | $6,200.00 |
| Labor (120 hrs × $65/hr) | $7,800.00 |
| Subcontractors (electrical + plumbing) | $3,500.00 |
| Overhead (permit, dumpster, insurance allocation) | $650.00 |
| Total Job Cost | $18,150.00 |
| Target Profit Margin | 30% |
| Selling Price | $25,928.57 |
| Built-In Profit | $7,778.57 |
How the selling price is calculated: Selling Price = Total Costs ÷ (1 − Profit Margin). Here, $18,150.00 ÷ (1 − 30%) = $25,928.57, which builds in $7,778.57 of profit at the target 30% margin.