Contractor Cost Calculator
Know what to expect before you call a contractor. Estimate by hours below, or price the job by its size if you only know the square footage. Based on 2026 national labor rate averages by trade.
Price a Job by Size (Labor Only)
Don't know the hours? Most trades price by the square foot or linear foot anyway. Pick the task, enter the size, and optionally paste in the number from a quote you received to see where it falls.
Average Contractor Hourly Rates (2026)
| Trade | Hourly Rate | Typical Minimum Call |
|---|---|---|
| General Contractor | $50–$150/hr | 2–4 hour minimum |
| Electrician | $50–$130/hr | 1–2 hour minimum |
| Plumber | $45–$120/hr | 1–2 hour minimum |
| HVAC Technician | $75–$150/hr | 1–2 hour minimum |
| Carpenter / Framer | $35–$90/hr | 4 hour minimum |
| Painter | $25–$70/hr | Full day (often priced per sq ft) |
| Tile Setter | $30–$80/hr | Often priced per sq ft |
| Flooring Installer | $25–$65/hr | Often priced per sq ft |
| Roofer | $35–$85/hr | Often priced per sq ft / square |
| Landscaper | $25–$65/hr | 2 hour minimum |
| Drywall Installer | $25–$70/hr | Often priced per sq ft |
| Concrete Contractor | $30–$80/hr | Often priced per sq ft / cu yd |
How to Get Accurate Contractor Quotes
Hourly rates are a starting point, but most contractors quote projects on a fixed-price basis. To get an accurate comparison across multiple bids, always provide the same written scope of work to each contractor — including materials you've selected, dimensions, and any specific requirements.
Vague requests ("redo my bathroom") lead to vague quotes that can't be compared. Specific requests ("install 120 sq ft of 12×24 porcelain tile in a bathroom floor and 3-wall shower surround, using customer-supplied tile") get you comparable, binding quotes.
For large projects, require an itemized quote that separates labor from materials. This lets you see where the money is going and identify where you might save by supplying materials yourself.
What's Included in Contractor Costs?
Contractor hourly rates cover labor only. Most projects also require materials (lumber, pipe, wire, fixtures), permits ($50–$500+ depending on project and municipality), equipment rental, and in some cases subcontractors. Always clarify in writing what's included in any quote before signing a contract.
For large projects, general contractors typically charge 10–20% of total project cost as their management fee on top of subcontractor costs. This is standard and covers coordination, scheduling, and accountability for the finished product.
When Do Contractors Charge Per Square Foot?
Painters, flooring installers, tile setters, roofers, and drywall contractors typically quote per square foot rather than hourly. This protects both parties — the contractor knows their scope, and you know your total cost upfront. Per-square-foot pricing makes comparison shopping straightforward and removes the incentive to work slowly.
| Trade | Per Sq Ft Rate (labor only) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Painter (interior) | $1.50–$3.50/sq ft | Per paintable surface sq ft |
| Flooring installer | $2–$6/sq ft | Varies by material type |
| Tile setter | $5–$15/sq ft | Higher for mosaic or pattern work |
| Roofer | $3–$7/sq ft | Per roofing square (100 sq ft) |
| Drywall installer | $1.50–$3/sq ft | Includes taping and finishing |
Day Rates, Crew Rates, and Small-Job Minimums
Hourly rates only tell part of the story. Multi-day carpentry and trim work is often quoted as a day rate, which usually lands about 10–15% below eight times the hourly figure because a guaranteed full day removes scheduling gaps. That puts a carpenter around $250–650 per day and a general contractor around $360–1,080.
A crew is not priced per head at the lead's rate. A four-person finish crew is normally one lead, one or two mid-level installers, and a helper, which blends to roughly $150–280 per hour rather than four times a lead carpenter's $90. Ask for the crew composition, not just the headcount.
And on a very small job, the minimum call-out decides the invoice: typically 2–4 hours for a general contractor or carpenter and 1–2 hours for an electrician or plumber, whether the work takes that long or not. This is why a two-hour task can cost more per square foot than a whole-house job at the same trade rate.
Full labor-only breakdown by hour, day, crew, and square foot →
Why a Small Job Costs More Per Square Foot
The job-size calculator above prices each task two ways and keeps the larger number: the unit rate times the size, and the trade's minimum visit. A painter who blocks out a day for your hallway still loses that day, so a 60 sq ft hallway is billed at the day, not at $2 a foot. That is why the tool shows an effective rate when the minimum wins. It also reports the size at which unit pricing takes over, which is useful when you are deciding whether to bundle a second room into the same visit: below that size the extra room is nearly free.
The hourly equivalent line converts the job price back into one person's hours at the same trade rate. Tradespeople who quote per square foot are not charging a different price than those who quote hourly; they have simply measured how many feet they cover in an hour and built that into the unit. If the hourly equivalent looks absurd for the work (four hours to lay 600 sq ft of tile, for instance), one of the numbers in the quote is wrong.
How to Check a Contractor's Unit Price
Enter the labor figure from your quote in the optional box. The calculator divides it by the size to get the price per square foot or linear foot, then places it against the typical band for your location. Anything more than 30% below the low end is flagged, because deep underbids usually mean something is missing from the scope rather than a genuinely cheaper crew. A figure up to 30% above the high end is often legitimate once stairs, diagonal or herringbone layouts, subfloor repair, furniture moving, or tear-out are added.
Before comparing, make sure the quote is labor only. Many flooring and tile quotes bundle materials, and a bundled price will always look high against a labor band. If the quote lists one lump sum, ask for removal, prep, installation, and trim as separate lines; each can then be checked here on its own.
Contractor Red Flags to Watch For
- No written contract — Never start work without a signed contract specifying scope, timeline, and payment schedule
- Large upfront payment demands — Standard is 10–30% upfront, remainder tied to milestones
- No license or insurance — Verify at your state contractor board before signing anything
- Unusually low bids — Bids 30%+ below competitors often mean cutting corners, unlicensed subcontractors, or low-quality materials
- Pressure to decide immediately — Legitimate contractors don't use high-pressure sales tactics
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do contractors charge per hour?
General contractor labor typically runs $50-$150 per hour depending on region and specialty, with electricians and plumbers often at the higher end.
How much should I budget for contractor overhead and profit?
Contractors typically add 15-20% on top of materials and labor for overhead and profit — this is standard industry practice, not a red flag.
Should I get multiple contractor quotes?
Yes, get at least three written quotes for any job over $5,000 to spot outliers and compare scope, not just price.
What's a reasonable down payment for a contractor?
No more than 10% down before work begins is a standard, safe threshold. Requests for 50% or more upfront are a common fraud red flag.
Do trades charge hourly or by the square foot?
Both. Repairs and work with unknown scope are billed hourly; painting, flooring, tile and drywall are usually quoted per square foot, and trim and cabinets per linear foot. The unit price already contains the installer's hourly rate and expected speed, so the two methods land in the same place on a normal-sized job.
How do I check if a contractor's per-square-foot price is fair?
Divide the labor portion of the quote by the area, then compare it with the typical band for that task and your region. Above the band is often explained by stairs, patterns or prep; far below it usually means part of the scope is missing.