Free tool
Contractor Markup Calculator
Enter your cost and either a markup or a target margin. See the customer price, your profit, and the difference between markup and margin — instantly, in your browser.
Benchmarks
Typical markups by trade
Conservative middles from industry surveys (NARI, NKBA, regional trade associations). Your numbers depend on overhead, market, and competition — these are sanity-check ranges, not pricing advice.
| Trade | Markup | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor (residential) | 20–35% | 17–26% |
| Remodeling / renovation | 30–50% | 23–33% |
| Plumbing | 35–50% | 26–33% |
| Electrical | 30–45% | 23–31% |
| HVAC | 30–50% | 23–33% |
| Painting | 30–60% | 23–38% |
| Roofing | 25–40% | 20–29% |
| Landscaping | 25–50% | 20–33% |
| Flooring | 30–45% | 23–31% |
| Handyman / odd-jobs | 50–100% | 33–50% |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between markup and margin?
Markup is profit as a percentage of your cost. Margin is profit as a percentage of the customer's price. A 30% markup is only a 23% margin — the same dollar of profit looks bigger as a markup because you're dividing by the smaller number (cost) instead of the larger one (sell price).
Should I price by markup or by margin?
Most contractors think in markup because they build a quote up from costs (materials + labor + overhead). But you should track your business by margin, because margin tells you what percentage of every dollar coming in becomes profit. The calculator lets you do both so you can sanity-check your pricing either way.
What's a healthy markup for a contractor?
It depends on your trade and overhead. As a rule of thumb: 30–50% markup (23–33% margin) keeps a small residential outfit profitable after overhead. Specialty trades with expensive insurance or licensing (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) often run higher — closer to 50%. Handymen often run 80–100% markup on small jobs because the per-job overhead is fixed.
Does this calculator save my numbers?
No — this is a pure browser tool. Nothing leaves your device. If you want to turn these numbers into a real, branded quote you can text or email to your customer, that's what JobEstimator is for — 14-day free trial, no credit card to start.
Is the calculator free?
Yes — completely free, no sign-up, no email gate. Bookmark it and come back any time.