Labour Calculators
Use these labour calculators to estimate hours, labour cost, and hourly rates for your jobs. Built for tradies who need fast, accurate numbers when quoting labour, hiring crews, and pricing jobs.
Labour Tools
- Labour Cost Calculator
- Hourly Rate Calculator
- Crew Labour Cost Calculator
- Overtime Cost Calculator
- Subcontractor Rate Calculator
- Decking Labour Cost Calculator
Which Calculator Should I Use?
| I want to… | Use this calculator |
|---|---|
| Set my hourly rate based on expenses + profit | Hourly Rate Calculator |
| Estimate total labour cost for a job | Labour Cost Calculator |
| Calculate costs for a full crew | Crew Labour Cost Calculator |
| Work out overtime costs | Overtime Cost Calculator |
| Set the right rate as a subcontractor | Subcontractor Rate Calculator |
| Estimate labour for a decking job | Decking Labour Cost Calculator |
Who These Labour Tools Are For
- Solo Tradies — set your hourly rate and price jobs confidently
- Small Business Owners — calculate crew costs and job profitability
- Contractors — estimate labour for quotes and tenders
- Subcontractors — know your minimum hourly rate to stay profitable
How to Use These Calculators for a Real Job
- Start with the Hourly Rate Calculator to determine your break-even rate (including overhead and profit).
- Move to the Labour Cost Calculator to estimate total labour for the job based on hours and crew size.
- Use the Crew Labour Cost Calculator to add crew members and get a complete labour total.
- Fine-tune with the Subcontractor Rate Calculator for specialised rates on different work types.
💡 Pro Tips from Tradies
- Don’t forget overhead — your hourly rate needs to cover insurance, vehicle, tools, and admin time, not just your take-home pay.
- Add travel time — for jobs outside your normal area, include travel time in your labour estimate.
- Crew efficiency matters — two tradies might complete a job in half the time, but your labour cost stays the same per person.
- Always round up — estimate hours slightly higher than you think. Jobs almost always take longer than expected.
Common Labour Cost Questions
How do I calculate my hourly rate as a contractor?
Add up all your annual expenses (overhead, insurance, vehicle, tools, super, tax) plus your desired salary, then divide by billable hours per year. Most tradies use 1,500–1,800 billable hours annually. Use our Hourly Rate Calculator to do this automatically.
What’s the difference between labour cost and job cost?
Labour cost is just the hours × hourly rate for workers. Job cost includes labour + materials + overhead + markup + profit. Always use job cost when quoting clients.
How much should I mark up labour?
Most contractors add 15–30% markup on labour for profit, depending on risk, complexity, and market rates. Some bill labour at cost and make profit on materials. Know your numbers either way.
Should I charge different rates for different work?
Yes — many tradies charge a standard rate for general labour, a higher rate for specialised work (electrical, plumbing), and a lower rate for helpers or apprentices. Use the Subcontractor Rate Calculator to work out the right rate for each.
Why Getting Labour Costs Right Matters
Labour is usually the biggest cost on any job. Underestimate it and you’re working for less than you should. These calculators help you:
- Set an hourly rate that actually covers all your costs
- Quote labour accurately so you don’t lose money
- Understand the true cost of adding crew to a job
- Price overtime and specialised work correctly