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Free Job Costing Calculator · QuickLaunch Tools
Free Tool

Job Costing Calculator

Calculate project costs with overhead, contingency, and profit margins. Set profitable prices and compare against competitor quotes.

Build your estimate

DescriptionTypeQtyRateTotal
Fixed costs
Risk buffer
Profit goal

Competitor quotes

Your pricing

Direct cost
$0
Total cost
$0
Your price
$0
Profit
$0
Profit margin 0% Price incl. tax $0

Price comparison

About Job Costing Calculator

Calculate accurate project costs and set profitable prices. Add overhead, contingency, and target margin to ensure every job makes money.

Who it's for

  • Contractors & tradespeople
  • Service businesses & consultants
  • Agencies & freelancers
  • Construction & renovation pros

What it calculates

  • Direct costs (labor + materials)
  • Overhead & contingency
  • Target profit margin
  • Final selling price

Why use it

  • Stop underquoting jobs
  • Build in profit margin
  • Compare competitor prices
  • Export estimates
job costing calculator project estimator profit margin calculator contractor pricing quote builder

How to calculate job costs

1

Add all costs

Enter labor, materials, and other expenses with quantities and rates.

2

Set overhead

Add percentage for fixed costs like rent, insurance, admin.

3

Add contingency

Buffer for unexpected costs or scope changes (typically 5-10%).

4

Set target margin

Your profit goal (20-40% typical for service businesses).

5

Compare quotes

Add competitor prices to see how you stack up.

6

Export & send

Download CSV or print your cost breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate the selling price?
We add overhead and contingency to your direct costs to get total cost. Then we back-solve for your target margin: Price = Total Cost ÷ (1 - Margin%). Tax is applied after the price calculation.
What margin should I use?
Service businesses typically target 20-40% depending on industry, risk, and demand. Construction: 20-25%, consulting: 30-50%, agencies: 25-40%. Higher risk or uncertain scope needs higher margin.
What's the difference between overhead and contingency?
Overhead covers fixed business costs (rent, insurance, admin, tools) that exist whether you're working or not. Contingency is a buffer for unexpected project costs, scope changes, or delays specific to this job.
Can I save my calculations?
Yes. Click "Save draft" to store your estimate in your browser. Click "Load draft" to restore it later. Your data stays on your device only.
Should I show my cost breakdown to clients?
Generally no. Send the final price in your quote or proposal. The cost breakdown is for your internal planning. Clients care about value and deliverables, not your cost structure.

Unlock exports

Get instant access to export CSV, print, and copy your cost breakdowns. Takes 10 seconds.

Calculated!