Subcontractor Cost Estimator
ANA›Life Services Authority›National Calculator Authority›Subcontractor Cost Estimator
.calc-container { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0; padding: 1.5rem; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif; } .calc-container h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.15rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 0.5rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.75rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; flex-wrap: wrap; } .calc-row label { min-width: 160px; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #333; font-weight: 500; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { flex: 1; min-width: 120px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0.5rem 0.6rem; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; color: #1a1a1a; background: #fafaf8; } .calc-row input:focus, .calc-row select:focus { outline: none; border-color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(26,74,138,0.12); } .calc-row .unit { font-size: 0.82rem; color: #888; min-width: 30px; } .calc-btn { display: inline-block; margin-top: 0.5rem; padding: 0.55rem 1.5rem; background: var(--ac, #3d5a80); color: #fff; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; } .calc-btn:hover { opacity: 0.9; } .calc-result { margin-top: 1.25rem; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; background: #f0f6fc; border-left: 3px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0; display: none; } .calc-result.visible { display: block; } .calc-result-label { font-size: 0.78rem; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: #666; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .calc-result-value { font-size: 1.6rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-result-detail { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555; margin-top: 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; } .calc-note { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #888; font-style: italic; } .calc-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem; } .calc-grid-item { padding: 0.6rem 0.8rem; background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #eee; } .calc-grid-item .label { font-size: 0.75rem; color: #888; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } .calc-grid-item .value { font-size: 1.1rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-row label { min-width: auto; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { max-width: 100%; width: 100%; } .calc-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } } .calc-chart { margin: 1rem 0; text-align: center; } .calc-chart svg { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .calc-chart-legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 0.6rem 1.2rem; margin-top: 0.6rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #555; } .calc-chart-legend span { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-chart-legend i { display: inline-block; width: 10px; height: 10px; border-radius: 2px; font-style: normal; } .calc-related { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0 1rem; padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius: 8px; } .calc-related h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; padding-bottom: 0.4rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-related-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.4rem 1.5rem; } .calc-related-list li a { font-size: 0.88rem; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-related-list li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .calc-browse-all { margin: 0.5rem 0 0; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; } .calc-browse-all a { color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-browse-all a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-related-list { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }
Subcontractor Cost Estimator
Calculate the total cost to hire a subcontractor, factoring in labor hours, material costs, overhead rate, and desired profit margin.
Total Labor Hours
Hourly Labor Rate ($/hr)
Material Cost ($)
Overhead Rate (%)
Profit Margin (%)
Contingency Reserve (%)
Calculate
Labor Cost
Material Cost
Direct Cost Subtotal
Overhead
Cost Before Profit
Profit
Contingency Reserve
Total Bid Price
Effective Markup on Direct Cost
function subCalc() { var errEl = document.getElementById('sub-error'); var resEl = document.getElementById('sub-result'); errEl.style.display = 'none'; resEl.style.display = 'none';
var hours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sub-labor-hours').value); var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sub-hourly-rate').value); var materials = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sub-material-cost').value); var overheadPct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sub-overhead-rate').value); var profitPct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sub-profit-margin').value); var contingPct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('sub-contingency').value);
// Validation var errors = []; if (isNaN(hours) || hours 100) errors.push('Overhead rate must be between 0 and 100.'); if (isNaN(profitPct) || profitPct 100) errors.push('Profit margin must be between 0 and 100.'); if (isNaN(contingPct) || contingPct 100) errors.push('Contingency must be between 0 and 100.'); if (hours === 0 && materials === 0) errors.push('Enter at least labor hours or material cost.');
if (errors.length > 0) { errEl.innerHTML = errors.join(''); errEl.style.display = 'block'; return; }
// ── Core Formula ────────────────────────────────────────────── // 1. Labor Cost = Hours × Hourly Rate // 2. Direct Cost = Labor Cost + Material Cost // 3. Overhead Amount = Direct Cost × (Overhead % / 100) // 4. Cost Before Profit= Direct Cost + Overhead Amount // 5. Profit Amount = Cost Before Profit × (Profit % / 100) // 6. Pre-Contingency = Cost Before Profit + Profit Amount // 7. Contingency Amt = Pre-Contingency × (Contingency % / 100) // 8. Total Bid Price = Pre-Contingency + Contingency Amount // 9. Effective Markup = (Total Bid Price / Direct Cost - 1) × 100 // ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
var laborCost = hours * rate; var directCost = laborCost + materials; var overheadAmt = directCost * (overheadPct / 100); var costBeforeProfit= directCost + overheadAmt; var profitAmt = costBeforeProfit * (profitPct / 100); var preContingency = costBeforeProfit + profitAmt; var contingencyAmt = preContingency * (contingPct / 100); var totalBid = preContingency + contingencyAmt; var effectiveMarkup = directCost > 0 ? ((totalBid / directCost) - 1) * 100 : 0;
function fmt(n) { return '$' + n.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits:2, maximumFractionDigits:2}); }
document.getElementById('sub-out-labor').textContent = fmt(laborCost); document.getElementById('sub-out-material').textContent = fmt(materials); document.getElementById('sub-out-direct').textContent = fmt(directCost); document.getElementById('sub-out-overhead').textContent = fmt(overheadAmt) + ' (' + overheadPct.toFixed(1) + '%)'; document.getElementById('sub-out-before-profit').textContent = fmt(costBeforeProfit); document.getElementById('sub-out-profit').textContent = fmt(profitAmt) + ' (' + profitPct.toFixed(1) + '%)'; document.getElementById('sub-out-contingency').textContent = fmt(contingencyAmt) + ' (' + contingPct.toFixed(1) + '%)'; document.getElementById('sub-out-total').textContent = fmt(totalBid); document.getElementById('sub-out-markup').textContent = effectiveMarkup.toFixed(1) + '%';
resEl.style.display = 'block'; }
#### Formula
1. Labor Cost = Labor Hours × Hourly Rate 2. Direct Cost = Labor Cost + Material Cost 3. Overhead Amount = Direct Cost × (Overhead % ÷ 100) 4. Cost Before Profit = Direct Cost + Overhead Amount 5. Profit Amount = Cost Before Profit × (Profit % ÷ 100) 6. Pre-Contingency Total = Cost Before Profit + Profit Amount 7. Contingency Reserve = Pre-Contingency Total × (Contingency % ÷ 100) 8. Total Bid Price = Pre-Contingency Total + Contingency Reserve 9. Effective Markup on Direct Cost = (Total Bid Price ÷ Direct Cost − 1) × 100
#### Assumptions & References
- Overhead is applied as a percentage of direct costs (labor + materials), covering insurance, equipment, supervision, and administrative expenses. Industry overhead rates typically range from 10–25% (CFMA, 2023).
- Reference: Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) Financial Survey; Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Project Delivery & Contract Administration.
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