Practical tools for measured work
Bid Price Builder
Build a bid price from labor, material, other cost, overhead, contingency and target profit margin, with a visual cost stack.
Calculate the layout, check the diagram, then print the result for the shop or jobsite.
Use a fully loaded rate if you have one - see the loaded labor rate calculator.
Permits, equipment rental, subcontractors.
% of direct cost (labor + material + other).
% of direct cost, for unknowns/scope risk.
Margin on the bid price, not markup on cost.
This builds a bid price from your own cost estimates - it doesn't look up material or labor prices for you. Print or download the breakdown as a bid-ready line-item reference.
How it works
How to use it: enter your estimated labor hours and rate, material cost, and any other job costs (permits, equipment, subcontractors), then your overhead recovery, contingency and target profit margin percentages. This chains the pieces most bids need into one number, with the full breakdown shown underneath.
Calculation. Direct cost = labor + material + other. Overhead and contingency are each a % of direct cost. Cost subtotal = direct cost + overhead + contingency. Bid price = cost subtotal ÷ (1 − profit margin %) - profit is a margin on the bid price, matching how the loaded labor rate calculator treats profit, so the two tools stay consistent if you use both.
Current-input example
The result above uses these exact values. This snapshot is included when the page is printed so the output can be checked against the original measurements.
- Estimated labor hours
- 40 hr
- Labor rate
- 55 $/hr
- Material cost
- 2200 $
- Other cost
- 300 $
- Overhead recovery
- 12 %
- Contingency
- 5 %
- Target profit margin
- 18 %
Primary result: Bid price: 6706.10 $.
Before using the result
- Measure from the datum or reference edge described by this tool, and do not mix inside, outside and centerline dimensions.
- Keep inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final cutting or purchasing tolerance requires.
- When the result is close to a limit, verify it with a test piece, field measurement, manufacturer drawing or qualified project professional.
Limitations
This is a cost-stacking calculator, not an estimating or takeoff tool - it doesn't measure quantities or look up current material/labor prices. Contingency here is a flat percentage; a detailed risk register will usually be more accurate for a large or unusual job.
Frequently asked questions
What contingency percentage should I use?
5-10% is common for straightforward, well-scoped work; unusual, older-building, or poorly defined scope jobs often warrant 15% or more. Track your actual overruns against contingency job-by-job to tune this over time.
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