The maths, explained
A bid needs enough available crew time, not simply enough calendar weeks. This model multiplies crew size, weeks and paid weekly hours, then applies your entered productive utilisation. Multiplying productive hours by a loaded cost per productive hour gives a labour budget. The result is a staffing scenario, not a promised production rate or a detailed programme with task dependencies.
Productive hours = crew × weeks × paid hours per week × utilization; labor budget = productive hours × loaded hourly cost
A worked example
The worked example below uses the calculator’s initial inputs and the same calculation function as the live interface. Replace example amounts with your own records; changing currency does not convert the numbers. Physical reference dimensions are stored in metric units, and the interface can display their imperial equivalents. Rounded display values may differ slightly from the full precision retained in the calculation.
| Your inputs | Editable example — not a market quote |
|---|---|
| Crew size | 5 |
| Project duration (weeks) | 8 |
| Paid hours per person per week | 40 |
| Productive utilization (%) | 75 |
| Loaded labor cost per productive hour (USD) | 48 |
| Available productive crew hours | 1,200 |
| Estimated labor budget | $57,600.00 |
| Paid crew hours | 1,600 |
Assumptions used
All cost inputs must cover the same period and use one currency. Employer charges and overhead remain business-specific inputs. Defaults are educational scenarios, not market averages. This model does not determine tax obligations or contractual rights. Ratios with a zero denominator are marked as undefined rather than presented as a misleading zero percent.
On your side of the Atlantic
Use your state and local sales-tax treatment, payroll records, and supplier quotes. A national default cannot describe every US job.
Common mistakes
Reduce availability for other committed work, holidays, travel and expected delays. Do not mix a cost per paid hour with the requested cost per productive hour. A team size must be a whole number in this interface.
Before ordering or tendering, compare at least two scenarios: your base takeoff and a realistic alternative. Keep assumptions with the result so differences are explainable. Save an estimate only on a suitable device. A shared link contains the entered values, so avoid including confidential information. An exported estimate is a snapshot and does not update when a supplier changes a price.
Questions from the jobsite
What does this calculator measure?
What is the first mistake to avoid?
Are the example prices supplier quotes?
Which tax assumptions apply in United States?
How should I handle waste and contingency?
Can I use the result in a tender or estimate?
Planning estimate only. Not a substitute for a professional quote or local building-code compliance. Verify quantities, tax treatment and contract requirements.
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